The hall was filled with reds, yellows, and rich, golden browns – all the colours of autumn, as students at the Primary site of Cayman Prep and High School celebrated Harvest Festival.

Cardboard boxes of ripe fruit, vegetables, and tinned foods piled high alongside the children’s artwork made a spectacular display, as the children filed into the hall for a special Harvest Festival assembly.

Principal of the school Mr. Brian Wilson began the assembly by thanking the children for their “lovely boxes.”

Then the children led the assembly, taking it in turns to come to the microphone, and one invited the children to “reflect on all the blessings” that God had provided them with.

“Welcome to our harvest festival celebration. Today we give thanks to God for our food,” a young girl said.

The school’s String Ensemble, followed by the choir led the children in some songs and hymns, including Light up the Fire.

“Let us sit for a moment in silence reflecting on all the good gifts that God has given us,” another child suggested.

The service turned out to be a real blessing for others too, as representatives from the Department of Children and Family Services were present to receive the boxes with a large van parked outside the hall, and to distribute them to needy families.

Debbie Webb-Sibblies, Research and Programme Development manager in the Department of Children and Family Services said: “Thank you boys and girls for your wonderful donations. They would distribute to needy families with young children, and some also to elderly people in the community”, she explained.

Reverend Rohan Forester, of the Webster Memorial Church blessed the boxes.  The service finished with the traditional Harvest Festival hymn, “We Plough the Fields and Scatter.”

At the end of the assembly, Year 6 pupils helped to carry the beautifully decorated boxes of food out to the awaiting truck where they were carefully loaded, ready to pass on the blessing to others.

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