Medieval Times Hit the Meadowbrook School

Capping off their studies of the Middle Ages, The Meadowbrook School students held a Medieval Festival June 2.

Meadowbrook School’s sixth-grade “seniors” participated in the school’s traditional Medieval Festival, where they immersed themselves in the Middle Ages by dressing in costumes from the period, and by performing several customary medieval practices. The festival was based on their studies of the Middle Ages over the past year.

Joe Gaines, a sixth grade teacher, led the event. According to Gaines, the festival has been going on for 25 years. He said he believes it’s one of the first schools to hold a traditional medieval festival.

Some of the events included a knighting ceremony, game demonstrations, maypole dancing, a jousting tournament and an authentic medieval feast — all held in the school’s gym.

The feast included roasted chicken, Tuscan bread, grapes, and a ginger ale-cranberry juice mix to drink. It was eaten authentically, with their hands, using lemons to wash their fingers. Jackie Howard, the chef at Meadowbrook School, has been preparing this feast for the sixth graders for a decade.

“I’ve spent 10 years preparing the food and 10 years watching them eat the food,” Howard said. “It’s a rite of passage, for sure. I cried when my daughter graduated [from Meadowbrook] and I’ll cry this year too.”

Susan Shirasb, a parent of a participating student, said, “”It’s an amazing experience, merging the students into the medieval life.

“The nurturing that goes on in this school is amazing; they help and guide with such kindness. What else could you ask for in a school?” she said.

Tina Shirasb, who attended The Meadowbrook School since first grade, said, “It’s more exciting, I’m going to miss everyone. It’s a tight community here.”

Another sixth grader, Tristen Mordan, said, “It’s really a bittersweet feeling. I’ve been here so long, and I’m comfortable here, but at the same time I’m excited to move on."

Courtesy of Thomas Lange/The Communication Solutions Group/The Meadowbrook School