Seasonal Sundays #201

Each year my school district hosts a tea for senior citizens. This is the fifth year. The tickets are free and despite increasing the number of tables every year, there is always a waiting list. This year we had over 150 people attending. Some of the food is donated by local merchants and some of it is prepared by our cafeteria staff. I design and lend my china for the tea related centerpieces. We have approximately an hour and half from when the High School cafeteria is filled with 300 or so students to transform it for afternoon tea. The custodians descend, clean the room, and change out the table. Then a bevy of volunteers help set the tables. The individual plates and cups and saucers are lent for the day by our local hotel. High School students volunteer to serve the tea, scones, tea sandwiches, and dessert.

This is after the lunch tables were stacked away and the floor was cleaned.

Tables set.

Guests are seated. The grand prize of the Hat Contest was Brunch at the Local Hotel.

The entertainment included snippets from school plays.

Orphans from the Middle School production of Annie.

The High School Chamber Orchestra performs, as does the Middle School Late Night Jazz Band. Art work from all of the schools is displayed. The High School ceramics class made fused glass necklaces that were given out as door prizes. Other items donated by local merchants were additional door prizes. In our planning this year, we realized that other than in photographs our Primary Schools weren’t represented so the Primary School students made book marks that were laminated and handed out by these precious students.

It is a huge undertaking, with many people working in various capacities, and a huge success! Now to put it all away!

- The Tablescaper