At Crossroads, the tradition of service is thriving. As always, we kick off the month of November with a focus on the Core Virtues of gratitude and stewardship. We continue to impress upon our students of all ages the importance of each. This is demonstrated on our Gratitude Tree, located in the Fanger Center Middle School. Students are encouraged to write what they are grateful for and hang it on the tree. By the end of the month, our gratitude is bursting from its branches. Gratitude is thankfulness for the gift of life and the gifts in life. Stewardship is caring well for the gifts given to us–our life, our world, our talents, and those entrusted to our care. With that in mind, each of our grade levels participates in a community service effort of some kind.
The Middle School students serve as leaders and role models for the younger students. Every sixth through eighth grade student participates in our annual service day in the beginning of November. This year, students first initiated a supply drive for the Upper Valley Humane Society and then visited their facility to deliver supplies and help with projects. Other students visited Cedar Circle Farm for a tour, and helped plant garlic. Students who visited the Listen Center helped hang and prepare items for the upcoming Christmas Sale event, and before visiting David’s House, a group of students spent an afternoon baking treats in the Crossroads Café, and delivered them for the children who are currently patients at Dartmouth Health. Middle Schoolers who visited the Upper Valley Haven first prepared a meal in the nearby St. Paul’s Church kitchen and then delivered it to the Haven before learning about the reach that the Haven has on the community.
In addition to off-campus trips, Middle Schoolers were also involved in helpful activities on campus. Students helped organize library shelves, hung new artwork on bulletin boards, helped our Physical Education teacher Matt McGuigan install a new tetherball pole, and worked on repairs on the Gaga Ball pit. These projects are important efforts that instill a sense of pride in our place. Taking care of the facilities that we use every day allows us to appreciate them a bit more.
After an inspiring day of service led by the Middle School students, our Lower Schoolers are motivated to do their part to help the community. Students in each class are involved in a different service project. From a pajama drive, to collecting items for the Upper Valley Humane Society, to the annual “Stuff-a-Truck” coat drive, to a gingerbread house (or colosseum) competition for The Family Place, to our “Operation Gratitude” candy collection for veterans, to activity kit creating for local senior citizens, these projects stretch far and wide into the community.
Each of these activities is beneficial in teaching our students about the importance of sharing with those in need. Small efforts like these can have a huge impact on our surrounding communities. When students regularly can take part in helpful activities, they grow in empathy and compassion, and will better appreciate how fortunate we are to live the lives we do. It is a truly humbling experience, and is one that makes a Crossroads education stand out.
