We were invited to celebrate Soup Day at Plymouth Preschool earlier this week. Instead of your typical Thanksgiving re-enactment, Plymouth Preschool, a play-based neighborhood preschool founded in 1972, has been celebrating the holiday with Soup Day, for the past three decades or so according to long-time teacher Fran Hentz.
“It started out as just one class, and I don’t even remember when it became a project of the whole school, but it’s been at least 30 years!” Hentz told the Buzz.
This year’s Soup Day featured two delicious soups, both vegetable based, made by volunteer parent Amber Boumenot, a professional caterer. She was assisted by the preschoolers, who cut up vegetables under careful supervision of parents and teachers. This year some of the older students, the four-year-olds, were allowed to add ingredients. Boumenot made soup for 50 that served about 150 cups to family and friends.
The students also read the book “Stone Soup,” the European folk story, where poor villagers each share a small amount and everyone enjoys a wonderful meal. The story teaches the students the value of sharing and helping each other, explained Megan Drynan, the school’s director.
The Soup Day tradition is also fondly remembered by several graduates, now high schoolers, who returned this year for the celebrations.
“My children have really fond memories of Soup Day,”said Sondi Sepenuk, a Plymouth teacher and former parent.
And now, we do too!
