It was the end of the day and children were heading out of
their classrooms to go home. As I was rushing around my office trying to wrap
up my day, a first grader walked in and said he wanted to talk to me about
something important.
“Mrs. Wollum, I was thinking we could do a coin drive, and
that kids could collect money for the food bank to help people who are hungry.
Could we start tomorrow?”
Talk about a way to melt the head of school’s heart!
As the holidays approach and the year draws to a close, one
of the things I am most grateful for is the opportunity to be part of a school
whose students love to serve. Whether it’s helping a friend feel better when
he’s skinned a knee on the playground or taking part in a community service
project like the Pierce County Hunger Walk, our students want to make a
difference.
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| This first grader went door-to-door in his neighborhood to collect this food! |
The student and his family participated in this fall’s Hunger
Walk as part of Team Seabury. Several weeks later, his class took a field trip
to visit one of the local food banks to see an example of how the money they
had raised had helped families in our area. They heard about the people the
food bank helps, and about how the numbers of families, especially families
with working parents and children, have increased during the difficult economy.
They also saw empty shelves where there wasn’t enough food to meet all the needs.
When they got back to school, the children immediately decided we needed to do
a school-wide food drive to provide more help – an initiative that was
supported by their teacher and so our November food drive began. Our first
graders made posters, talked with classes, went door to door in their
neighborhoods, tracked and graphed donations every day and ended up bringing in
nearly 900 items. It was incredible. But it is clear from my first grade
friend’s visit yesterday that we aren’t done yet!
A December service project was also student led this year. Inspired
by a project her family supports every year, and seeing through the food drive
what can happen when you involve your friends, a third grade student asked if
she could ask our students to help her gather toys and coats for Allen A.M.E.’s
Christmas House. This was another student led project – our staff just made the
time and space for her to work with her friends to make it happen. And as a
result, her family filled their car – twice – with donations for needy families
in our community.
Service has become part of Seabury’s program across all our
grade levels. Fostering our children’s desire to serve and providing opportunities
for them to see that they can make a real difference in their community are
important parts of Seabury’s program – and play key roles in the
social-emotional development of our children. But it is times like this when we
see our children take these lessons to heart that light up our days.
We often hear that gifted children have the potential to
make a difference in the world. I believe that is true. But ultimately, the
choices they will make in their lives and the work they will do as adults will
be determined not just by their potential, but by the opportunities they have
had to be inspired, to be challenged, to think deeply, to wonder, and to serve.
When we provide children with opportunities to experience what is possible when
we care and are willing to work together, and give them a chance to ‘try on”
what it feels like to be involved in meaningful ways, they are inspired and
want to do more. When we introduce them to those in their community who are
using their gifts to inspire and lead and create positive change, they put a
face on what is possible. The choice will be our children’s, ultimately. But if
they have positive experiences in leading and serving as children and young
adults, how much more likely will they be to continue to seek opportunities to
serve as they grow up? It is exciting to consider.
So as we get ready to say goodbye for our winter break, I
will be thinking about my first grade friend. And my third grade friend. And
all our children. I am grateful to be part of their lives. And I am hopeful
about our future. Because they are not only going to be great leaders and
servants in the future - they are leaders and servants right now!
Happy Holidays!!
-- Sandi Wollum, Head of School
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