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Community Gives Thanks Through Service |
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 Thanksgiving means more than just football and turkey for Agnes Irwin students; it means a celebration of their community and an opportunity to give thanks together through service to others.
Throughout the month of November, each division has been working diligently to prepare for the holidays. The fourth graders in the Lower School began the season of giving by stocking the shelves of the Ardmore Food Pantry with the more than 755 food items that they had collected as a group. The Upper School then participated in the community Can Drive to support the missions of Philabundance and several other local hunger organizations. They contributed more than 2,500 cans, which were added to the 3,000 cans collected and $5,000 raised at the Can Dance from AIS, The Haverford School and The Episcopal Academy combined.
Participants from the Middle School Can Drive and Thanksgiving Project sorted, packed and delivered 704 cans and 30 turkeys to the Upper Darby Food Cupboard to ensure that others will be able to enjoy a complete Thanksgiving dinner this year. The Upper School’s Student Outreach Services (SOS) Board also organized a collection of Thanksgiving goods. The Lower School faculty, staff and students contributed 24 of the 70 baskets that the Board filled with turkeys and all of the holiday fixings for Family Support Services in Philadelphia.
These “simple gifts” will make a big difference on Thanksgiving Day for many people in the Greater Philadelphia area. The students were reminded of this as they began the Thanksgiving Assembly on Tuesday morning, November 22, with an All-School rendition of the Shaker classic “Simple Gifts,” written by Elder Joseph Brackett. In her opening remarks, Head of School Dr. Mary F. Seppala commented, “The Agnes Irwin School is the place ‘just right’ because of the people who make up our community…We all have a lot to be thankful for.” She then offered a special welcome to the international members of the community who are celebrating their first Thanksgiving this year.
Following Dr. Seppala, fourth grader Waring Fleitas confidently stood before the assembly and shared what Thanksgiving means to her. “Thanksgiving is a time when you can get together with the people you love and actually stop and think how lucky you are…So maybe at this Thanksgiving, take a longer moment of thanks and actually think of what you have and what you can do to help, instead of quickly digging right into the turkey.”
With this message in mind, eighth grader Deja Lewis-Nwalipenja beautifully performed an interpretive dance to “Amazing Grace” as she expressed her thanks through the arts. The members of the Bel Cantos a cappella group also sang their new arrangement of “Homeward Bound,” a melodic piece written by Marta Keen Thompson.
Junior Anne Mentzinger closed the assembly by telling all who had gathered why Thanksgiving remains her favorite holiday. “Perhaps the best part of all is that [Thanksgiving is] a celebration that includes everyone. I can go anywhere in this country, and I can wish the person next to me a Happy Thanksgiving. No one’s left out; we unite in an effort to appreciate something in our lives…This brings me to one of the things I am most grateful for every day of the year – the community that surrounds me at Agnes Irwin…Let’s practice compassionate care within the walls of our comfortable school and prepare to take this commitment to others on the road.”
In the spirit of Thanksgiving and with a strong sense of community, Agnes Irwin students, faculty and staff continue to display how thankful they are by sharing their time, talents and treasures with others. As the holiday season continues, events like the Middle School Service Bazaar and SOS Board Winter Clothing Drive will work to serve various needs in the Greater Philadelphia area - bringing holiday cheer to all! |
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