Hello, hello!

Its a fun fact that our town has the only ski-in, ski-out elementary school in North America (maybe the world)! It is super cool and as a parent whose children attended school there I can attest it makes for happy kids. Physical education classes in the winter mostly mean skiing. Lunchtimes were a toss up of skiing, snowfort building in the deep deep snow, or tubing on the nearby tubing runs. Sounds like a dream – and it is until the inevitable late-season ennui begins.

Alas, this idyll’s days are numbered. It is becoming clear that the community is outgrowing the facility (the school has branched out to two other campuses for its older students). Starting with only 11 students as a private, community funded school, it has been a bit of a victim of its own wonderfulness. As it attracted more and more families to the municipality it also ensured that it would not be sufficient for much longer. And now, as soon as the school district can cough up the cash, the grades that the on-hill campus hosts (now K-gr. 4) will be moved to town level.

But oh boy – there will be fond memories. That little school’s specialness is inexecorably tied to the the history and identity of this place. There are extra good memories for me as I worked there for a few years. It was such a beautiful and meaningful job. There was such a sense of shared purpose and joy working with our towns’ little ones. Mind you, it was not always an easy job. That is where this little painting comes in.

This painting depicts a scene from my (sometimes) morning commute walk up our bunny hill (Gentle Giant) to the school site. I would do this morning walk especially when I knew I might have a tough day ahead and it would never fail to fortify and uplift me. On this morning in particular the early fog was burning off – letting the sun through and leaving the cedars off the edge of the trail a glowing red. I stopped for a moment, taking several deep breaths (and then photos) and committed it to memory.

And now, even when the little school is moved, I will come to this page and remember this wonderful place, how it tied the community together, and how my children (and we, as parents) were so fortunate to have been a part of it.

Have a happy weekend,

Peggy