On November 2 we welcomed members of our community and beyond to remember those who have crossed the threshold between life and death.
Rudolf Steiner offered that death is perhaps the most significant stage of human development and provided glimpses of human life after death. Our embodied life on earth provides us the opportunity to spirited, moral action that lives on.
We remember some individuals from our Orchard Valley Community whose deeds in life created and nourished this learning environment.
Jim Grundy was one of the first renewable energy leaders in the whole state of Vermont. He drove a big blue grease powered truck, long before anyone was fueling their vehicles with biodiesel. He created a business, “Elemental Energy,” and was the individual who installed our radiant floors and our solar panels. His work at Orchard Valley represents a strong environmental ethic that has always lived in our school. He is the “Star Daddy” of Ava and Esme in our 5 / 6 Grade.
Tony French was a hydrologist who faithfully attended to the water testing and the quality of our drinking water at Orchard Valley. A dedicated member of the Grace Farm Committee, Tony helped organize pruning workshops and participated substantially in the tending of the apple trees. He is the father of two alums, Piper and Eli French and the spouse of Julie Henderson who served on the Board and provided dedicated support for many years to the birth of our school.
Kathy Clark served Orchard Valley from the first days. Administrative Assistant, Office Manager, Operations Manager are a few of the roles she served with dedication until the last day of her life. Kathy had run a home child care program as a mother, and she was specifically dedicated to the creation and development of the Sweet Clover Nursery. Her daughter Mary Kathryn (Molly) was in the first graduating class of our school and she continues sharing her gifts as a high school music teacher.
