13.07.2020

Online “Arraial” brings fun to families at home

Beacon celebrates its 10th anniversary and could not miss one of the most significant events of our community: Arraial Beacon! The Arraial in a very special moment where our community works in a collective activity to assemble, entertain and comfort. It is when experiences of each one mixes and matches, expressing through music, dances, games, flavors and smiles what our school essence is.

In this challenge scenario, hosting this party has become even more special, as a way of keeping tradition alive, providing moments of affection, art, beauty and fun without leaving home.

The theme will be “Bumba Meu Boi”, a festivity of popular Brazilian folklore, with fantastic characters. It was first reported in Pernambuco, but it is more popular in Maranhão. By spreading across the country, the event acquired different names, rhythms, ways of presentation, costumes, characters, instruments, props and themes. Therefore, nothing better than starting our Arraial with a Live with Teo Menezes, who is a musician, composer, dancer and artisan from Maranhão. Besides singing his original songs, he spoke about legends and told stories of the regional culture and introduced us to props and instruments made by the people.

The party had several games, workshops, cooking class, storytelling and lots of art! Planned and prepared with care by all age groups, the workshops embraced from traditional games such as “bingo” and shooting, to building toys and objects related to this festival, such as São João’s balloons, wooden horses and flags. The tradition remained alive even with “Correio Elegante”: even though it was virtual, the game did not lose the essence and richness of exchange and affection.

Our party also had many other surprises: a Poetic Soiree, which brought poetry, storytelling, songs, dances, and several performances; a video about childhood memories related to “festas juninas”, recorded by Beacon staff members and teachers; an exhibition of all the students’ music and art works carried out during the learning process prior to the Arraial; and a musical performance of each grade level.

And, to end with a flourish, we reaffirm our commitment and value of a party that celebrates the collective. We believe that it is in moments like these that we reiterate ourselves as a true community, with memories, stories and resilience. We invited the Beacon Community to sing and play for a Solidarity Live that helped with donations to vulnerable people due to the pandemic.

We keep looking for new ways to be together and celebrate collectively. Even online, the feeling was one of union and mutual strengthening, living the best of what is possible at the moment, leaving marks, building and bringing back memories.