by Julie Gowel ·
Friday, December 19, 2025
From left: Eleanor Jennings-Heal cuts tissue paper for her lantern while her mom, Arielle Jennings, helps Elise Morgado with glue. Augusta Morgado paints while her mom, Angelica Morgado watches at the Parent Teacher Organization’s solstice celebration and lantern-making fundraiser to benefit the Harvard Public Schools, Dec. 11. (Photo by Julie Gowel)
The Harvard Parent Teacher Association for the Hildreth Elementary and Bromfield schools hosted a Winter Solstice Celebration Thursday evening in the HES cafeteria. More than 75 attendees enjoyed a night of socializing, lantern making, and hot cocoa as well as photo opportunities and winter-themed decorations.
The event was the brainchild of organizers and PTO members Katherine Thompson and Jessica Ely. During the fundraiser, Ely shared with the Press the backstory of how the event came to be, which actually spanned a number of years. Ely and Thomspon attended Wesleyan College together and were friends who spent a lot of time in the art studio but had lost touch after graduation. Two years ago, Ely moved to Harvard and ran into Thompson on the town beach. After reconnecting, and joining the PTO, they became known as the go-to “art girls” for PTO events.
“We started thinking about what would be an inclusive, community-building [event] where we could also incorporate a more sustainable approach to the giftgiving season,” said Thompson. “How could we celebrate at this time of the year in New England, when it’s the shortest days and the longest nights? [The lantern making] was a nice way to get people together and do something fun and also hopefully raise a little money.”
The idea was to use glass mason jars, glue, and tissue paper to create a lantern. A candle could be placed inside at home, allowing for a warm glow to shine through the translucent tissue. The event’s turnout exceeded expectations, according to Ely. The cafeteria was packed with adults and children all partaking in the craft.
Thompson and Ely had hung a blue felt background with a snowy scene of a tree and the moon, adorned with colored lights. They provided props meant to look like woodland creatures such as deer antlers and a wolf mane that participants could use to take photos on the selfie stand set up for that exact purpose.
“Since it’s our first time [hosting this event], we are hoping we can meet the level of funding that the PTO received from [the discontinued] Square 1 Art fundraiser,” said Ely. “But I think this already feels pretty successful with there being so many people here, and we managed to bring a little ambience to the Hildreth Elementary School.
There’s a lot of happy kids right now working on their lanterns.”
The PTO was still tallying the amount raised, but PTO president Amy Nutt said the event brought in roughly $1,200 for the organization.
Many children were working diligently on their craft, while others used the time to run around with friends. The two activities did not necessarily work well together, if the sound of shattering glass was anything to go by. But a few lantern casualties seemed a reasonable price to pay for a fun evening out, at least according to a husband and wife sitting together and enjoying the craft.
Marietta Apollonio and Nick Conte were attending the event with their son Henry Conte, who is in the fourth grade at HES. Henry was working on his lantern with friends at another table, so the parents said they enjoyed a “date night” of sorts. “I’m enjoying just sitting, chilling, and laughing with my wife,” said Conte.
“I like creative things,” said Apollolino. “And I especially like that [the PTO made it an event] for the winter solstice.
It’s a cool little crafty project, and we can make sure Henry has [a gift] for his grandmother.”
Abby Rueter, a second-grader, enjoyed many aspects of the night. “It was really fun making a lantern, and I had a very great time,” she said. “I used glue and tissue paper, some fancy stuff. I’m going to take [my lantern] home and put a candle in it and use it as a decoration in my room. The best part was being with my friends.” Shortly after speaking to the Press, Rueter joined said friends at the photo wall set up to capture memories of the season.