Parade Parking @ VCFA

If you would like to park your car at the Vermont College of Fine Arts, you may find their campus map here: http://vcfa.edu/sites/default/files/content-uploads/Campus-Map.pdf

No permits required for parking for this event!

Important Parade Information

We are all very excited about our lantern parade to celebrate 75 years of Union Elementary School.

Please keep in mind the following information for our special evening event on Wednesday, February 18th:

Timing:

The parade will leave from the lower playground at UES at 6:00pm and will end at approximately 7pm at the Vermont College of Fine Arts.  (See reverse side for parade map)  Please arrive between 5:15-5:30 pm at the school to collect your lantern and pole. You may want to carpool and/or leave extra time to find parking.

4th/ 5th Grade Students:  go to the BIG GYM to pick up lanterns which will be organized by class groupings.

Kindergarten through to 3^rd Grade Students: go to your classrooms.

All lanterns will be marked with students’ names so take a minute to make sure you have the right lantern. Instructions on how to turn on the LED lights will be supplied. You will also be given a bamboo pole to use for the duration of the parade (please return the pole at VCFA Green)

By 5:45pm at the latest, please make your way to Park Avenue to line up for the parade. Stewards will direct you as to where to line up for the parade with your class. 

Student Supervision:
Students MUST have a parent or another responsible adult accompany them throughout the parade on the parade route and during the event.  If you have children in different classes, you are welcome to choose to walk as a family together. Students CANNOT be dropped off at the UES to be met at the end of the parade.  

What to Wear:

DRESS WARMLY! You will be outside for a while. Waterproof shoes, thermals, gloves, hats, etc. Gloves are especially useful for carrying the bamboo poles for the lanterns.

At the VCFA Green:Hot chocolate and cider will be available and there will be a short ceremony. Please RETURN YOUR POLE TO A STEWARD(who will be wearing a yellow safety vest). You may keep your lanterns and lights to take home. You will go home directly from VCFA.  Parking is available in campus lots and on the streets around VCFA.  We will have maps of VCFA and the parking lots posted on our blog:  http://uesart.blogspot.com/
Please instruct your child to meet you at the hot chocolate/cider stand on the VCFA Green if you get separated.

Please be aware that the parade route goes up a hill – some family members may want to join the parade somewhere along the way or meet us at VCFA.

Lantern Parade Etiquette:

Please model and review following parade etiquette with your child before the parade:

- ALWAYS USE WALKING FEET!  You must walk BEHIND the band leading us to VCFA.  The band will set the pace for the whole parade.

- Hold the bamboo pole firmly with two hands – with the lantern out in front (like a fishing rod) and not back over the shoulder.  No swinging your pole.

- Please be aware of the people around you and hold your lantern as high as possible, where it can be seen and enjoyed by all.

Keep in tight formation, BE SAFE AND HAVE FUN!

One week to go until the Lantern Parade!

The school community is buzzing with excitement.  Our 487 K-5 student artists are working hard to finish our lanterns by next week!  Thanks to all the parents and community members who are volunteering to make this residency such a memorable and wonderful time.  After their lantern session today, a fifth grader exclaimed, "This is the best day in Art class, ever!" 

Third grade artist drawing details on her rectangular prism lantern

.
Volunteer mother
and fourth grade son 

Second grade artists were thrilled that Superintended Dr. Brian Ricca
visited Art class and helped us with stapling their lanterns for the parade!

First grade artist
finishing a globe lantern

Lantern Parade Route Map!

Make a lantern. Join our parade!

  

Artists working on their lanterns

The free community lantern making workshop yesterday at the Montpelier Senior Activity Center was truly wonderful.  Artists of all ages enjoyed creating their own lantern of willow branches and paper.  

Thanks to MSAC for hosting us in their beautiful studio space!




We invite the entire Montpelier community as well as families and friends to create your own lanterns at home and join our parade!   There are still spots available for our free lantern making workshop with visiting artist Gowri Savoor next Saturday, February 14th.  See below for details:

- Workshops are from 10:00-3:00 with an hour break for lunch

 

Gowri leading a demonstration

- Workshops are free to attend for all.  Donations will be welcome.
- All tools and materials will be provided. If you have a pair of hand-held pruning shears, please bring them along, you'll find it useful to have a pair of your own.
- Children must be accompanied by an adult.  Not suitable for children under six.
- There will be a limit of 20 participants per workshop
- For more information and to book your place, please contact Gowri Savoor at info@gowrisavoor.com or call 802-778-0334

Thanks again to our sponsors for these free workshops: Montpelier Alive, Coldwell-Banker Classic Properties,  Hunger Mountain Coop, Montpelier Senior Activity Center, and A River of Light

Lantern Making Begins!

Our lantern making art residency started today! We had such a wonderful and exciting time making globe lanterns with kindergarten and first grade students, cube lanterns with second and third grade students, and pyramid lanterns with fourth grade students.  Thanks to Gowri Savoor, our visiting artist, and all of the parent volunteers and classroom teachers who joined us! It promises to be a memorable and fun-filled couple of weeks in the art room.  Here are some photos from our studio ...

Gowri demonstrates making a globe lantern
for kindergarten artists in Mrs. Bates' class

Ready to get to work!

Fourth graders constructing
pyramid lanterns with willow branches

Focused on construction!

UES Lantern Parade - Wednesday February 18th @ 6:00pm

Union Elementary School invites the entire Montpelier community to celebrate the 75^th anniversary of our school building!  Please join us for an evening lantern procession on Wednesday, February 18^th.  

Our lantern procession will begin at 6:00 pm at Union Elementary School.  Led by the samba band Sambatucada, we will parade from the school to the Vermont College of Fine Arts, where we will celebrate on the VCFA Green with rainbow ice sculptures, live music by Sambatucada, and hot cider and cocoa. This is the main event of our first-ever UES Winter Carnival, which will take place the week of Monday, February 16 through Friday, February 20.  

Sambatucada leading the Waterbury River of Light Parade.  Photo courtesy of Gowri Savoor

Local artist Gowri Savoor is guiding UES students in making their lanterns during a ten day art residency, thanks to the “Artists in Schools” grant awarded by the Vermont Arts Council as well as the support of the UES Parents’ Group and The River of Light in Waterbury.  All K-5 students will create a hand-made lantern from sustainable materials including willow and tissue paper. Lanterns will be suspended from bamboo poles and lit with battery operated LED lights. 

Our parade is made possible with the support of the Vermont College of Fine Arts and Coldwell-Banker Classic Properties.  The event is funded in part by a “Community Arts Grant” awarded by Montpelier Alive and funded by the Downtown Improvement District Assessment.  We thank Diamond & Robinson P.C. Attorneys at Law for their support.  We also thank Lake Champlain Chocolates and Champlain Orchards for their donations. 

To learn more about Gowri Savoor and her residencies, visit her website:
 http://www.gowrisavoor.com/