Salmonberry students tour sacred sites

||| FROM PAUL FREEDMAN for SALMONBERRY COMMUNITY SCHOOL |||

Last week, Salmonberry Community School students returned to Seattle for a learning adventure that these fifteen 9-12 yr old students will never forget. Every three years, this classroom centers its studies on a year-long thematic exploration of world cultures and world religions. After being immersed in the geography, history, religion, and culture of regions as diverse as the Himalayas and the Middle East, these students got to experience several sacred sites in person.

The class first arrived at a Mosque, where they were guided through an appreciation of Arabic language, Islamic architecture, art, and Muslim faith. Then the class got to observe a call to prayer and an afternoon prayer session, including a beautiful recitation of the Qur’an by the mosque’s Imam.

The next day, the group toured a stunning Tibetan Buddhist monastery and temple where they learned about the particular iconography, rich symbolism, and faith traditions of this community.

Students practiced an extended meditation in the shadow of the throne of the monastery’s Head Lama. The class continued on to the Seattle Asian Art Museum to see both ancient and contemporary sculptures and images of the Buddha, various Hindu deities, and amazing creations of light and shadow. The day ended with a visit to a synagogue, where the group engaged in a two-hour dialogue with a Rabbinical student encompassing many elements of Jewish practice and the core tenets of Judaism.

The final day of this expedition included a visit to an early morning Islamic elementary school, The Cordoba Academy, where Salmonberry students listened to student presentations on the Five Pillars of Islam. The kids also joined Cordoba students in a collaborative craft project involving Arabic writing and art. On the way back north towards home, the group’s final stop was at a
Hindu temple and cultural center. Here, the visit included receiving gifts of blessed fruit and holy water, in addition to an unforgettable introduction to a number of Pujas, or Hindu faith-based rituals.

Teacher Kari Van Gelder reflected, “Learning expeditions like this one are so important in our school. They take what could be dry content and quite literally bring it to life.” Parent and trip chaperone, Sara Palfrey said, “It was such a privilege to be able to witness our kids engaging with various faith traditions in such a thoughtful and respectful way. There was a real spirit of
curiosity that they brought to each and every encounter.”

Head of School, Paul Freedman said, “It is so important right now that educators are helping children to appreciate diverse people, and a wide range of cultures. More than teaching ‘tolerance,’ we are striving to teach appreciation, care, and kinship with all our neighbors.” Student Taz Pechacek, recalling his time at the Cordoba Academy, simply said, “My highlight was making a new friend!”