NewsStudent LifeServicePrimary Grades
Students focus on service during the holidays
Nov 9, 2009 3:33 PM
By Tannika King - Faculty
As the last of the autumn leaves fall from the trees and Thanksgiving Break quickly approaches, Darlington students in grades PK-12 are finding creative ways to give back to the community during the holiday season.
At the Lower School, students are already collecting winter items for the annual Warm Clothing Drive. Pre-K students are looking forward to cooking a special meal for the William S. Davies Homeless Shelter, an activity they try to do each month – not just during the holidays. On Dec. 4, Lower School students will deliver their Toys for Tots donations to the Armory, and just before school lets out for Christmas, they will help provide gifts to children from McHenry Primary through the Angel Tree Project.
"Angel Tree is longstanding tradition at Darlington whereby we 'adopt' approximately 160 local families," said Steve Bartholomew, director of Lower School. "A Christmas tree is placed in our dining hall with tags that describe what the families need. Our families take a tag or two and outfit the adopted family with clothes, toys, decorations and other items. The gifts are wrapped and brought to our school in time for delivery to the McHenry families."
The Middle School’s first holiday service project is also well underway. Students have been asked to bring at least one can of food and $1 to school between now and Nov. 19. Once everything has been collected, “Thanksgiving dinner bags” complete with turkeys and side items will be taken to the Boys & Girls Club for distribution. Middle School students are also looking forward to hosting the annual Christmas Party for the Rebecca Blaylock Childhood Development Center. Each year, Darlington students “adopt” children from the pre-school and provide gifts from their wish lists during a special party held at the Middle School.
In early December, Upper School students will be writing letters to several hundred soldiers who are currently serving active duty overseas. Students will also be ringing bells at Kroger on Dec. 5 to help raise money for the Salvation Army and volunteering as ushers for the Rome Little Theatre’s upcoming production of “Babes in Toyland” on Dec. 4. Also in December, Darlington students will host a birthday party for students at the Open Door Children’s Home and holiday parties at McHenry Primary and the Boys & Girls Club. The “Y” Cabinet will also sponsor its annual Darlington Christmas event, during which students “adopt” children and grandchildren of the school’s facilities and food services staff and provide gifts from their wish lists.
“Servant leadership is a year-round effort here at Darlington, but the impact of our program is particularly evident during the holidays when many different groups and classes sponsor service projects simultaneously,” said Reba Barnes, director of servant leadership. “It’s so meaningful to see students of all ages embracing the idea of service beyond self. From our pre-K students, who cook a Thanksgiving meal for the local homeless shelter, to our Upper School students, who adopt families for Darlington Christmas, everyone looks forward to giving back to our community in some way.”
At the Lower School, students are already collecting winter items for the annual Warm Clothing Drive. Pre-K students are looking forward to cooking a special meal for the William S. Davies Homeless Shelter, an activity they try to do each month – not just during the holidays. On Dec. 4, Lower School students will deliver their Toys for Tots donations to the Armory, and just before school lets out for Christmas, they will help provide gifts to children from McHenry Primary through the Angel Tree Project.
"Angel Tree is longstanding tradition at Darlington whereby we 'adopt' approximately 160 local families," said Steve Bartholomew, director of Lower School. "A Christmas tree is placed in our dining hall with tags that describe what the families need. Our families take a tag or two and outfit the adopted family with clothes, toys, decorations and other items. The gifts are wrapped and brought to our school in time for delivery to the McHenry families."
The Middle School’s first holiday service project is also well underway. Students have been asked to bring at least one can of food and $1 to school between now and Nov. 19. Once everything has been collected, “Thanksgiving dinner bags” complete with turkeys and side items will be taken to the Boys & Girls Club for distribution. Middle School students are also looking forward to hosting the annual Christmas Party for the Rebecca Blaylock Childhood Development Center. Each year, Darlington students “adopt” children from the pre-school and provide gifts from their wish lists during a special party held at the Middle School.
In early December, Upper School students will be writing letters to several hundred soldiers who are currently serving active duty overseas. Students will also be ringing bells at Kroger on Dec. 5 to help raise money for the Salvation Army and volunteering as ushers for the Rome Little Theatre’s upcoming production of “Babes in Toyland” on Dec. 4. Also in December, Darlington students will host a birthday party for students at the Open Door Children’s Home and holiday parties at McHenry Primary and the Boys & Girls Club. The “Y” Cabinet will also sponsor its annual Darlington Christmas event, during which students “adopt” children and grandchildren of the school’s facilities and food services staff and provide gifts from their wish lists.
“Servant leadership is a year-round effort here at Darlington, but the impact of our program is particularly evident during the holidays when many different groups and classes sponsor service projects simultaneously,” said Reba Barnes, director of servant leadership. “It’s so meaningful to see students of all ages embracing the idea of service beyond self. From our pre-K students, who cook a Thanksgiving meal for the local homeless shelter, to our Upper School students, who adopt families for Darlington Christmas, everyone looks forward to giving back to our community in some way.”
