Including an excerpt from Grace Garri, Eighth Grade Student
One of the delights of working with our student community is the variety of interests our students bring with them to campus. We have students and families who invest in 4H with all it’s opportunities of focus. Several of our students engage in equestrian training and events. Some of our students are passionate about art (as Mrs. Lewis shared recently in our Ambleside Update). It is not an isolated event to have families purchase a bird as a pet after 4th-grade Ornithology. (Yes, it happened at our house, too.) STEM is an interest to some of our students and we’ve highlighted different events through the years as our students were involved. Our student body includes actors, actresses, musicians, vocal performers, dancers, sports enthusiasts, poets, and writers. Please enjoy the excerpt included below, taken from an unfinished novel, by our own Eighth Grade student, Grace Garri.
…
The queen and those surrounding made small talk for a time until a slight commotion was aroused within the crowds to the right. A horse decorated in colors and gold walked down the road to the square with its rider being a man dressed just as fine. The crowd parted on either side, making a path for the horse and its person. The man rode tall and handsome, giving polite nods to certain individuals within the crowd. Though his face was serious and proud, one could tell he very much enjoyed the attention, the fashion, the praise. It was a sight to see, and everyone saw.
The man atop the horse continued into the square. He was dressed in a vest of dark blue, woven with golden threads and beads. His sleeves were pure white and clean. His collar was worn high and his hair pulled back. This man was William Shakespeare. He strolled across the square, over to the elevated section where sat the royals of London. As he dismounted the horse, the queen arose to greet him. He bowed low and said his fair share of praises and greetings before leading the queen down to introduce the show. The excitement was aroused and cheers could be heard here and there.
Behind him had followed a parade of swordsmen adorned with the most well-crafted blades and sheaths. They had walked with their heads high and were not as formally dressed so as to be able to have the utmost flexibility in their fights. There stood twenty of them in counting, but only ten would have the honor of winning…and living. Behind them were a group of dancers. These young women wore flexible yet beautiful dresses, made for dancing. They smiled with amazement at the queen and Shakespeare, giggling amongst themselves.
“Your majesty,” said Shakespeare with a tone of confidence. “On this fine day, I have prepared, for thy Highness’ own entertainment and pleasure, a fine assembly of the most skilled individuals within the categories of swords fighting and the dancing of the maypole. I have the utmost hope that I shall please you and your company.”
“I have faith in you, Shakespeare. You have yet to leave me unsatisfied with your work,” said the queen, partly reminiscing about past plays written by him. There was something charming about his passion towards the direction of people on a stage, or the creation of a real and possible piece of art. He often spoke in a confident way whenever such passion was rising to the surface.
“I thank you my queen,” he said in the same tone. “Now, I introduce the finest dancers in London. They, for your enjoyment, Your Majesty, will perform the maypole. May they not fail to impress your graciousness.”
“Let us see.” said the queen.
…
And, we shall indeed see as we continue to follow our students’ interests and activities with all the delight they deserve.