Plymouth Holiday Parade

The Family Committee and MVCS community is constructing a float to enter in the annual Plymouth Holiday Parade, Saturday Dec. 1 at 5pm! In the Montessori tradition and the spirit of MVCS, we will be creating an oak “peace tree.” In North America, white oak trees are long-standing symbols of peace and calmness. The trunk of our tree will be fashioned out of paper mache; real oak boughs will be attached to form the crown of the tree. We are asking each student to write a wish or promise of peace in gold or silver marker on oak leaves that will be attached to the oak boughs. Our float will be finished with our peace flag banners and many, many white lights. Children who would like to walk or ride in the parade are asked to carry battery-powered tea lights or other non-lit candle-like lights.

Obviously, the creation of this spectacular, peaceful float will take a lot of work and many hands. We will have two construction days (Nov. 17 (paper mache trunk construction) and 24 (painting)), as well as need help assembling the float the day of the parade (Dec. 1). MVCS families, faculty, and staff are encouraged to lend a hand!

construction

saturday, november 17.

Where: The Goldsteins, 255 Main Street, Rumney

When: 9am to whenever we finish! Come when you can to help out for an hour or two.

What we’re doing: creating the trunk of the tree- wood frame with chicken wire and paper mache

What to bring:

1. food, if you’re planning on staying a long time

2. kids- it would be great to get them involved in the tree making and we have a great sledding hill when they’ve had enough (bring sleds)!

3. if anyone has a compound miter saw, bring it!

4. any materials from the materials list for trunk construction (see below).

saturday, november 24

Where: The Goldsteins

When: 9am to whenever we finish! Come when you can to help out for an hour or two.

What we’re doing: Painting our tree trunk; scavenging for oak boughs at MVCS; drilling holes for oak boughs; restringing Eaglet and Sapling peace flags for display on the float

What to bring:

1. food, if you’re planning on staying a long time

2. kids- it would be great to get them involved in the tree making and we have a great sledding hill when they’ve had enough (bring sleds)!

3. Any materials from the materials list for painting (see below)

assembly

saturday, December 1

Where: Green Street

When: 12pm

What to bring: Warm clothes and a smile!

breakdown

saturday, december 1

Where: Green Street

When: After the parade

parade

saturday, December 1

If you will be joining us IN the parade on Saturday, a few things to note:

  1. Please be prepared to WALK in the parade and please prepare you kids to WALK in the parade. It may be possible that some people can ride, but since we still haven’t fully assembled the float, we are not sure how much space will be available on the float. We don’t want to have any disappointed kiddos (or adults) who are expecting to ride on the float and then don’t get to for some reason.

  2. If you have MVCS gear, wear it! Layer up and finish it off with your finest MVCS apparel, so everyone knows who we are!

  3. Speaking of layering, please dress warmly! The forecast has a high of 34F for Saturday.

  4. We will have available tea lights for people to carry if you do not have one of your own; however if you use an MVCS tea light, please remember to RETURN it to the box after the parade (they will also be used in the Solstice concert).

  5. The parade starts at 5pm; however, please meet at our float on Green Street from 4:30-4:45pm. Green Street is the street that runs below Main Street, by the river. Our float will be the one with the big tree!

  6. Please take the time to read the safety guidelines for the parade (page 3).

Thank you to everyone who has worked so hard to make this come together!

what we need (supplies)

Tree Trunk painting:

Paint- 2 shades of brown, white, black-  about 5 gallons

oak boughs- at least 20, 5-12 feet long, roughly 1-5inch diameter- bushy boughs preferable

silver and gold markers

silver or red sparkly cord or ribbon for hanging leaves

Day of parade assembly:

Lights- white, as many as we can get




Tree Trunk construction:

1   8’ 4x4

3-6   8’ 2x4

¾” plywood sheet

Lots of 3” and 4” screws

Chicken wire- 30 ft plus

Newspapers- lots

2 gallons of glue or 10lbs of flour

Classroom leaf writing:

Silver and gold markers

Oak leaves

If you have any questions, please e mail Robin Goldstein at robincoleman2009@u.northwestern.edu

Thank you!!