High Mowing School held its May Day celebration on the Wilton campus under skies friendlier than promised.

Dancing, circus performances and a soccer game filled a day that was capped by a student performance of “Mamma Mia!” Saturday evening.

High Mowing employs a holistic approach to learning founded by Rudolf Steiner, and the May Day event is a “homage to both community and the rhythms of nature.” 

After Morris dancing, a traditional English folk form of movement, students performed a skit titled “Will King and Queen Winter go away or will they linger?” Maypole dancing followed, which saw girls in white dresses and flower crowns for the day. Buxton Gunter, a junior from North Carolina, explained the departure from the clothing students typically wear at school.

“It's a nice excuse to dress up,” she said. 

Live music and carnival-like games of skill sprinkled the campus, while students displayed their handiwork for sale. In the pottery studio, parents, alumni, students and friends of the school admired and purchased creations for the kiln.

“These have been made by alumni, many of whom have gone on to become professional artists,” said pottery teacher David Graham. “They come back to the school and demonstrate their craft to students,” he said.

Outside, Nancy Teng, a junior from New Jersey, displayed her photography and jewelry creations, which were also for sale. 

“As part of an economics class, I did a business proposal, and created an actual business -- and here it is,” Teng said.

At another table, Brianna Danis of Milford was creating goods for her own jewelry project.

“I’m thinking about selling them on Etsy,” she said. 

A jump rope-making demonstration fused three colors of yarn for a new toy for 4-year old Saoirse Dubois of Amherst. Ana Lopes of Milford, the parent of a third-grader attending her fourth May Day on campus, called the event “A great opportunity for the community to come together.”

At a table weaving flower crowns, Melissa Lewis, head of the school parent association, lauded the older students for their role in making the day happen.

“The high-schoolers are really leading the show today,” she said, pointing to juniors Eve Bechard and Jean-Mar Joseph, who had a line of students awaiting colorful head wear.

Early afternoon saw jugglers practicing their skills for circus performances. High Mowing offers a circus studies program and houses the Flying Gravity Circus, a nonprofit youth organization.

“Flying Gravity provides opportunities for students to perform off campus,” said founder Jacqueline Davis as students on stitls meandered nearby. “Getting them to develop circus skills really helps young people with their confidence.”

Circus Program Coordinator Jon Roitman was the base of a “three-high tower” which had a student standing on his shoulders and another on that student’s shoulders.

“All fourth-graders learn how to ride a unicycle,” added Mike Rhine of Peterborough, a parent of students  Sam, Alison and Emerson.

A puppet show was also part of the day, and Temple-Wilton Community Farm provided wagon rides. The High Mowing boys soccer squad took on LaLiga Academy Vermont in the afternoon. The final score was 0-0, with Athletic Director Scott Miller explaining, ”We had to end early due to lightning in the area. The boys played really well and had a number of chances to score but unfortunately just couldn’t get one in.”

The evening saw “Mamma Mia!” on stage at the Pine Hill auditorium.

Parent Andrea Dubois spoke very fondly of the schools’ efforts toward community such as the May Day celebration.

“We moved nearby from Massachusetts to be closer to this,” she said.