Each year Sarah Smith travels to distant, exciting lands as part of their international immersion week. The school and curriculum is transformed to give the students a wholistic experience from food, culture, history, music, and more. This year students at Sarah Smith Elementary kicked off an exciting journey to India by hosting a Holi Festival Party.
Holi is popularly known as the Indian “festival of spring”, the “festival of colors”, or the “festival of love”. The festival signifies the arrival of spring, the end of winter, the blossoming of love, and for many a festive day to meet others, play and laugh, forget and forgive, and repair broken relationships. The festival also celebrates the beginning of a good spring harvest season. Sarah Smith kicked off its own Holi Festival for students, families and the staff and included color throwing, water fun, great music, arts and crafts.
The festival was encouraged by Sarah Smith PTA leader Ami Naidu who stated that you can’t go to India without experiencing Holi.
Students, staffs and parents – Including Principal Emily Boatright – all shared in the fun and were doused with colorful powders which have significance. Red symbolizes love and fertility; yellow is the color of turmeric, a powder native to India and used as a natural remedy; blue represents the Hindu God Krishna; and green is for new beginnings.
In addition to the Holi Festival, Sarah Smith students engaged in a wide variety of activities throughout the last week of school to learn about the culture, people, and historical aspects of India.
