At the end of September, Glasshouse College in Stourbridge celebrated both the Michaelmas festival and the 25th anniversary of Glasshouse College. The celebrations began with the return of the newly re-casted Glasshouse Bell being rang and apple pressing took place. Two former students, Lewis and Tim, opened the evening celebrations, both delivering moving speeches about how Glasshouse has helped them overcome their barriers to learning and achieving their higher education and employment goals.
Michaelmas is a special festival that brings the whole of Ruskin Mill Trust together, it marks the beginning of the festival cycle within the Trust’s practical skills therapeutic curriculum. The festival celebrates the Hero’s journey within us as we begin to face our individual challenges of the new year ahead, as we and nature begin to turn from inwardly on ourselves leaving behind the outwardness of summer towards the darker days ahead.
Drama tutor, Justin worked with some of the students at Glasshouse to put a performance together of the Michaelmas story. The Strong boy, who himself must go on a journey with Knight Michael, come face to face to with a wolf, and a Dragon to learn how to use his strength in the correct way, not to slay but to be face his fears and transform and make friends. Students rose to the challenge to put together the story and perform to a college audience and to a public audience in the evening.
Reflecting on the celebration, Principal Alex Griffin says: “Our 25th anniversary celebration/ Michaelmas event was a great success! The newly re-casted Glasshouse Bell has had the words “Glasshouse Gives Life – 25th Anniversary” inscribed around its perimeter. This statement resonates as over the last 25 years we have seen the lives of hundreds of young people transformed through their immersion in the unique Practical Skills Therapeutic Education curriculum at Glasshouse College. Attendees enjoyed a delicious organic and biodynamic supper along with a private view of the new staff and student craft exhibitions, a wonderful student Michaelmas play and a preview of our new Metal Colour Light Therapy Studio.
A brilliant evening was had by all!”
