Night Of 1,000 Tulips And Guests for GBRSS

Rachel Louchen reports from Lenox. After years of requests from parents to have a big fundraising event like many other schools in the region, the Great Barrington Rudolf Steiner School held its first annual spring gala on Saturday, May 9. Dubbed Tulipalooza, those flowers (donated by Ariella Chezar) and more greeted guests as they walked to the hay barn at Stonover Farm, which was outfitted with chandeliers spotlighting an impressive spread catered by Marianna Morrison. Local band Quiet In The Head performed as guests arrived and enjoyed cocktails and hors d'oeuvres while they perused the auction goods which included a big hot ticket item — a week stay in Barcelona. Dancing closed the evening with music by DJ Tayo Kaufman. Support for the new event, which raised money to benefit school programs, was predominately parents, with faculty and some alumni, but they all added up to a sizable crowd, making a second spring gala a guarantee. Above, Tom Sternal, vice president of the school's board and Jenna Lamond, development and event coordinator.

Nursery teacher Jo Valens and kindergarden teacher Laura Lin; First grade teacher Pamela Giles and music teacher Sigrid Mitchell.

Steiner parents Mike Bissaillon and Gary Casarsa; Great Barrington resident Amy Humes and Christina Casarsa.

Kari Harendorf, Kirstin Morgan, Jessica Oakley, Anne Novick and David Logan, all of whom have children at the Steiner School.

Shiva and Bob Lucido; therapist Seth Morrison and third-grade teacher Rebecca Morrison.

Iovan and Chrissy DeRis; Honey Sharp with her husband, David Lippman, whose mother, Betty Krainis, founded the school in 1971.

Austin Banach with first grade teacher Veronica Horowitz; Faculty administrator Michael Junkins and farm and garden teacher Hadley Milliken.