At the Ethical Culture Fieldston School, spring brings more than blossoming gardens and warmer weather — it welcomes two joyful celebrations of community and creativity. Though distinct in location and format, Spring Festival at Fieldston Lower and Spring Fest at Ethical Culture share a similar purpose: to extend classroom learning about nature, climate change, and sustainability into meaningful, experiential experiences that students can share with their families. Rooted in ECFS’s core tenet of interdependence, these events illuminate the heart of progressive and ethical education in action.
Spring Festival at Fieldston Lower
At Fieldston Lower, Spring Festival culminates months of interdisciplinary exploration and creative expression in art, music, and Social Studies Workshop (SSW) classes. This year, 3rd Graders created seeded wildflower paper from recycled copy paper, while 5th Graders used a casting technique to make recycled paper bowls to hold seeds. It’s one of the many ways students connect their classroom learning about sustainability practices to real-world applications. “I love having the students think about making something as a gift to our community,” SSW teacher Kate Elliot shares.
Music also plays a central role at Spring Festival. Students from all grades performed a mix of original compositions and global tunes, all centered around loving and appreciating our planet. “One of my favorite parts of preparing for Spring Festival is working with students who hadn’t previously been enthusiastic about music,” shares Music Teacher Angela Dixon. “I’ve seen so many of them step up at rehearsal, taking ownership of their musicality, and ultimately performing with pride.”
The art showcased at the festival reflected both individuality and shared themes of environmental care. “This was the year of the portrait,” explains Art Teacher Shari Fischberg. “In 3rd and 5th Grade, students explored every aspect of the face through drawing, collage, painting, and even sculpture. It’s powerful to see all of their work displayed together, celebrating the many faces of Fieldston Lower.”
2nd and 4th Grade students also contributed imaginative works, including sea-creature themed collages, kite-inspired structures, and translucent wire structures that represented the themes of pollination, flight, and seasonal change. “My goal is always to allow students to learn new means of creative expression, understand new concepts, and then share their work with the community,” shares Art Teacher Corinne Farkouh. “This illuminated artwork appeals to our younger students’ sense of wonder and inspires everyone who walks through the halls.”
Spring Fest at Ethical Culture
Meanwhile, in Manhattan at Ethical Culture, Spring Fest transformed the School into a vibrant carnival of color, sound, and hands-on fun. Students enjoyed a bouncy house and games, got their faces painted, explored the rooftop, and gathered to watch a live magic show. An energetic live band composed of ECFS parents/guardians provided the day’s soundtrack, while students and their families moved between stations to create nature-inspired art projects.
“We wanted the kids to walk into the building and feel like there was color and flowers and joy everywhere they looked,” says co-organizer and 1st Grade parent Risa Needleman. “The entire event is about being delighted to get together with our Ethical Culture community.”
Needleman and fellow parents Barbara McDwyer and Jean Wang designed a ‘60s-themed atmosphere, complete with rainbows, flower blossoms, and endless opportunities for joyful play. “The live music totally set the tone for the day,” Needleman added. “It really felt like a festival!”
Both events embody ECFS’s mission to nurture intellectually curious, socially conscious, and emotionally intelligent students while strengthening the connection between home and school. Elliot put it best: “Seeing the joy and excitement in students as they create for their community is what makes these spring celebrations truly special.”
