During our annual leadership symposium, one student group was assigned to generate ideas for improving the community service program at Tabor Academy. Both this group and the newly formed Community Service Board discussed the theme of using Tabor’s facilities to benefit the wider community. This led to the idea of a “Learn to Skate” event.
Last Sunday, February 8, the Varsity Hockey players taught kids in the community to skate in the Fish Center.
The Service Board has weekly meetings with Director of Community Service, Lauren Boucher, and Amelia Wright. The board is made up of two co-heads and two representatives from the sophomore, junior, and senior classes.
The group has been very productive this year in advertising service opportunities around school and planning a variety of new opportunities for students.
“In our Community Service Board meetings, we realized that we had plenty of community service opportunities in New Bedford and surrounding areas but that we weren’t utilizing our own campus,” said Jenna Weyant, a senior representative on the board. “So, this year we wanted to focus on bringing the community to Tabor.” Weyant continued, “With a campus like Tabor’s, there are endless possibilities. We had Alma del Mar students come to play kickball; we’ve had the community come to the Braitmayer for arts and crafts.”
Furthermore, a group of students spend Thursday nights in Greater New Bedford with children of the Big Brother Big Sister Program. Now, the students are going to be spending more time at Tabor doing activities with their Big Brothers and Sisters.
Recently, the students came to Tabor for dinner and to watch one of their “Big Brothers” play in a hockey game.
“Tabor is like a whole new world for these kids,” says senior Matthew McFaul, who is a co-head of the service board and a big brother. “The kids get really excited when they come. It’s really special for them. For instance, some had never seen a live hockey game.”
The day was special for the kids, who were excited to eat dinner with their big brothers and sisters and to watch one of them in action on the ice.
In a few weeks, the students will visit again for the annual Asian Dinner to enjoy some of the culinary treats prepared by our international community.
The use of Tabor’s facilities, such as the hockey rink, is becoming increasingly appealing to the service board and community members, given the success of events like “Learn to Skate” and Sunday Skates for the town.
The service board has helped to create programs and to improve the utilization of Tabor’s campus to benefit the wider community.
By Julia O’Rourke
