Prompted by the switch to online school, Thanksgiving Happening has followed suit with major adaptations, the biggest changes yet to this beloved annual event that has evolved throughout the years.
Historically, Moorestown Friends School has celebrated Thanksgiving Happening annually with students and faculty coming together in rooms throughout the school to create crafts to be distributed to elder communities in the area. The event comes to a close when the smaller groups join together in larger gathering spaces in the school like the gym and the Dining Hall Commons to hear a story and to engage in silent worship.
One of the most notable changes to Thanksgiving Happening this year is the structure of the event. There will be a decrease in the number of students and faculty in groups and a new schedule. The scheduling for the event is one hour and thirty minutes, with the first thirty minutes reserved for interdivisional Zoom groups.
Additional changes include a reduction in crafts and an introduction of letter and card writing. These changes were made because of the large number of people working from home. Students at school will make crafts, while students at home may write letters and cards to relatives and special friends.
When asked about the changes and their impact on the future for Thanksgiving Happening, MS and US Art Instructor Nicole Edmund stated,“We are encouraging more time for reflection and encouraging thoughtful inquiry about intergenerational connections.”
When asked about the overall changes, Edmund said, “It is a disappointment not being able to gather as a community and see faces from other divisions. It is our hope that through Zoom, we will be able to reinforce that sense of community. And by keeping certain traditions like the telling of the story ‘Stone Soup’ and making crafts that our hearts can all be together even if we are not in the same physical spaces.”
When asked about Thanksgiving Happening, US/MS Computer Science teacher and Service Coordinator Gail Barna said, “Since the number of COVID cases is rising so quickly in our area I understand the need to go fully virtual. I’m glad that we are still able to gather together in some fashion for the Thanksgiving Happening. Hopefully our recent alumni will be able to join us.”
Mathematics teacher, Ronald Obermeier, who was very excited for Thanksgiving Happening, also reacted to the recent changes.
“I think the school has worked very hard to try to come up with a format that will work, and I think there is value in gathering as a community for thanks, any kind of thanks. I think that students are going to have to buy in a little bit more. I think sometimes during Thanksgiving Happenings traditionally they get to sit back and just enjoy, but I think this is going to be an event that you only get out of it what you put into it” said Obermeier. “I think that at our school we do a very good job at being thankful and knowing there is a world outside of the classroom, I think we can get a lot out of it, and I think our students will embrace it.”
Despite the changes to Thanksgiving Happening, many of the core aspects of the event remain unchanged. Aspects that are consistent with previous years include creating mini pumpkins and group garlands.
