Submitted by the Salmonberry Community School.

In this season of shortening days, light becomes precious. Children are rising for school before the sun, and often returning home in darkness. In addition to making space for the traditional American seasonal holidays, Salmonberry Community School utilizes nature’s rhythms to call attention to the universal celebration of light.

Last week, in the context of their extended multidisciplinary study of Hinduism, Buddhism, Nepal and Tibet, Salmonberry’s fifth, sixth and seventh graders gathered families together to honor Diwali, the Hindu festival of light. Students created beautiful geometric designs called Rangoli, which edged the classroom and were punctuated with hand-crafted sesame oil candles, called diyas. Visiting family members were guided on a journey of light that ended with a meal of dal bhat and almond cookies, along with a student-led telling of The Ramayana story.

Later this month, on Nov. 11, Salmonberry will gather with the Orcas community in a lantern walk. This event celebrating kindness and generosity during times of darkness will begin at the Stage on the Green in Eastsound at 4:30 p.m. Salmonberry will host a lantern-making workshop on Saturday, Nov. 8, from 9 a.m. to noon, led by Salmonberry teacher Tabitha Rose Marks. Warming foods will be offered to all. As darkness falls, attendees will walk with their lanterns along North Beach Road to Salmonberry School, to enjoy warm drinks about campfires.

On the winter solstice, Dec. 21, Salmonberry invites the community to join at Parish Hall for the annual Orcas Spiral Walk. The ancient tradition welcomes visitors to mindfully walk the spiral of cedar boughs and, one by one, light candles.

Salmonberry’s herbalism teacher Lily Ostle, said, “It is deeply human to connect to the earth and her seasons. The Winter Solstice is the longest night of the year, and an opportunity to spiral inward for connection and light. Celebrating the return of the light reminds us that even in this darkest corner of the year, we exist within cycles.”

Salmonberry Community School looks forward to welcoming friends, old and new, to this season of light, in this, its 25th year.