The theme for the 2023 Umbrella Project Celebration is Peace. Also known as “Umbrella Night,” the evening is a celebration of student work across all grades, unified by a common theme. This year, from preschool to Grade 8, teachers and students have been contemplating “peace” and have, through a hundred languages, made manifest some of their ideas. From a “peace party” to the “Museum of Peaceful Sounds,” from a Trading Post Peace Spot to the study of peace and protest through an historical lens, students have been engaged in rich and inspiring work—discussion, research, projects—as they consider what makes peace, how we contribute peace, what might threaten peace, and how we can keep, spread, and celebrate peace.

“Umbrella Night” is a unique kind of gallery walk and exhibition—much like an open house, or self-guided tour though outdoors, as weather allows.

Cross-grade connection has been an unexpected (though not surprising) gift of this year’s project work. The scene above is from the 3rd grade’s Trading Post/Peace Spot, built from hand, which many—our youngest to our oldest — have visited.

Other projects on display include First grade’s “caterpillar playplace," a place "for caterpillars to have fun on the caterpillar wall. We made it to make peace for caterpillars. PLEASE DO NOT TOUCH!”

Guided by our atelieristas Anna & Richard, and teacher-researchers in every grade, there has been an ongoing dialogue in the quest to make meaning of the question: “What is Peace?”For additional images as glimpses into this year-long project work, click HERE. 

Umbrella Night is one way our students have of  making their learning– and their thinking–visible. What began as teacher provocations, evolved through co-construction, dialogue, inquiry, and representation. No one has solved the problem of war and aggression; but there has been a depth of thinking, question-asking, and understanding that offer hope for a more peaceful future in the hands of Sabot students. There are a hundred languages for Peace.