The Putney School News

Kristin Dawley’s ESOL U.S. History class had a hands-on Thanksgiving feast lesson on Friday when they rolled up their sleeves and helped Executive Chef Marty Brennan-Sawyer prep for dinner on Saturday afternoon, featuring our newly revived “March of the Turkeys.” (Click here to see a gallery of images from the Saturday feast.)

Before they were marched around the KDU dining room, Chefs Jerry Tevolini and Dave Caulkins performed a bit of interpretive dance (see the main news page photo) in honor of the turkeys and, we think, maybe deer hunting season, which started the previous weekend here in Vermont.

The Bluegrass Ensemble performed traditional American songs to kick off the festivities, followed by a communal singing of “How Can I Keep from Singing” and Bill Monroe’s “Summertime is Past and Gone.” Director Emily Jones then took the mic for a few opening remarks, ever reminding us to be grateful for the good fortune we enjoy as members of this community. The Jazz Combo provided the soundtrack for the March of the Turkeys, performed by faculty, administration, and staff members. Mozart’s “Dona Nobis Pacem” was next, sung by the Putney Singers and Madrigals, under the direction of James Wallace. Rob, who just cut a demo CD for his college application, sang ” Climbing Up the Mountain,” a traditional American spiritual. The Madrigals sang “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” in a style reminiscent of Manhattan Transfer.

The March of the Carcasses followed dinner, performed to an improvisational dirge by Art Teacher Gordon Jones on the piano. Lucy played fiddle tunes for the March of the Desserts and Zhoumin ended the program with an incredible flute performance of traditional Chinese songs. Despite the uniquely American flavor of the holiday, we remain an international community.

We all then went home to veg out and do the March of the Antacids before waving goodbye to students and faculty for the Thanksgiving week break on Sunday morning.