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Around the Campfire: Lower School Students Zoom under the Stars
Antonia Ehlers, director of communications


Although they couldn’t actually roast s’mores and camp under bright stars last Thursday, Nueva Lower School students did the next best thing—they Zoomed in to participate in Campfire Night. Even though they were not together in person, the students enjoyed an evening filled with exciting games, virtual snacks, and storytelling.

“The campfire night was really fun,” said third grader Jake B. “Everyone was participating, so it seemed like we were all there.”

"This was a really fun activity to do as a whole Lower School,” agreed third grader Natalie D. “I wish we could do this more often—I would love it if we could even do this every day!"

Master storyteller Jim Weiss, who visited Nueva last winter,  joined the campfire and delighted students with classic favorites—PreK and kindergartners enjoyed The Three Little Pigs, The Little Red Hen, and The Hare and the Hedgehog. First through fourth graders had fun listening to A Guest Who Ran and Things Could Always Be Worse.

“He told a few classic tales, always with his unique spin,” noted Interim Humanities Center Director & WRC Director Jen Paull. “It was wonderful to see how the students were quickly swept up in his stories! He even revealed a secret talent: He can wiggle one ear at a time! The older students also had a funny moment of making animal noises all together—there was a chorus of barking and mooing, all part of one of Jim’s folktales.”

Third grader Reed C. actually Zoomed from a tent! “Camping Night was so fun because there were great stories, singalong music, and so many funny activities,” he said. “Being in nature while Zooming with my friends was so fantastic.”

“Full of creativity and joy, the Lower School camping night spotlighted our amazing community,” said third-grade teacher Erin Metcalf. “We had so much fun laughing together during Megan’s bandana/banana skit, solving rebus puzzles in grade-level trail groups, and soaking in stories from professional story-teller Jim Weiss. Events like the camping night help me feel closer to my students and colleagues, as well as overflow my bucket.”

 

 

 

 

 


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