School News

All School Meetings — Building Fayerweather's Community

Julie Winslow '87
As some of you know, I’ve worn many hats at Fayerweather Street School: student (Class of ’87), faculty child (’81–’90), parent (’11–’23), and now teacher (’13–present). In each of these roles, All School Meeting has been an integral part of my experience.

In the old building on Fayerweather Street, we used to gather on Friday mornings in the Unit classroom, before the third-floor gymnasium was built. I remember singing “Rise and Shine” with Willy Claflin, clapping hands with the neighbors on either side of me, and laughing when we got it wrong. As a teenager, I remember visiting ASMs, to watch Ted the Head (who was also my stepfather) step through the packed sea of children, like a daddy longlegs spider, making his way to the front to welcome us all. The joy was always palpable.
When my older son started Kindergarten, I was so excited to attend my first All School Meeting as a parent, curious about what had changed, and what had stayed the same. What had changed? We were in a big gymnasium now, with room for an aisle (no more stepping through crowds) and amplification for the presenters. There were new rituals, like our Funga Alafia song, the Lost and Found fashion show, and the Variety Show, to name a few. What was the same? The sense of community, with children at the center, remained. The joy was still palpable.

As a teacher at FSS, I’ve had the privilege of serving on the All School Meeting committee for over a decade. In that time, I’ve witnessed the thought, care, and hard work that go into planning these community gatherings. Every year, we have to make many decisions about what ASM will look like, but there is something we always agree on: All School Meetings are a vital part of our school. They bring us together, help foster the strong sense of community that defines FSS, give us a chance to share what we’re doing in our various corners of the building, and connect us to our larger community of families and friends.

With each passing year at FSS, my commitment to and involvement in All School Meeting has deepened. I look forward to it each week. Along with Kate Lee, Rob, and Junior, we “set the stage,” so to speak, so our emcees, presenters, musicians, and others can shine their light on the community. This year, we’re excited to introduce a few divisional ASMs, where the PreK–4 community has a chance to gather with programs tailored to our elementary students, and a separate 5–8 ASM designed to be more age-appropriate for middle schoolers.

As Fayerweather Street School winds up its sixth decade as a mission-driven, progressive independent school, All School Meeting has truly stood the test of time. It remains a meaningful and vital part of our weekly routine—and one thing is certain: the joy will continue to be palpable, we will make sure of it!
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    • Julie Winslow, '87

    • All School Meetings have been a tradition since Fayerweather's early days

    • Amanda Gorman, National Youth Poet Laureate, visits Fayerweather during our All School Meeting in 2018

    • All School Meetings have often showcased student talents

Fayerweather Street School | 765 Concord Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138 | 617-876-4746
Fayerweather is a private PreK, kindergarten, elementary and middle school. We engage each child’s intellect.