The Festival of Lights came to Willow! A Gillispie family recently visited to share their beautiful Diwali traditions with our PreK students.
They shared a traditional Diwali greeting, Namaste, a peaceful gesture where you bring your palms together and say the word. It can mean “hello,” “goodbye,” or “thank you,” and is a way to recognize the light or goodness in each other—a lovely lesson in respect and connection.
Students enjoyed a read-aloud of Happy Diwali (Peppa Pig) and lit Diyas, small clay lamps with cotton wicks, used to decorate homes and welcome the new year with positivity. They also got to see a Diwali doll dressed in a traditional Indian Kurta.
Students then explored a Rangoli puzzle, learning about this intricate Indian folk art where colorful patterns are created on the floor using materials like colored powder, rice flour, flower petals, or sand.
Another highlight was a giant table coloring sheet that everyone contributed to, a wonderful reminder of the joy of collaboration and community.
We also want to extend a heartfelt thank you to another Gillispie family who treated our faculty to a beautiful Diwali lunch and shared stories of their family celebrations. Together, we felt the joy and light of Diwali.
Our sincerest thanks go to these families and the many others who take the time to share a piece of their world with us!