Duke of Ed Gold Trip Peru 2013: LCC Pride in Service

Posted on March 6, 2013 by dlevy

Reflecting on our experiences in Las Palmas, we are proud of the improvements. Even though there is still much more progress to be made, we have no doubt that their living conditions will continue to improve. While it is extremely upsetting to witness their lack of proper housing, food and other materials we are fortunate enough to have, the kindness and compassion the community has shown us has left us with fond memories.

Though the citizens of Las Palmas benefited from our efforts, we believe that they have impacted us to a much greater extent by demonstrating important, yet too often forgotten values in our society like teamwork, kindness and compassion. Even without commodities that we value, they have found happiness in their lives, and have reminded us how to do so in our own.

Although this was our final year of service with them, we hope that the micro-loan project will allow us to maintain contact with Las Palmas and continue to show our support. – Sarah Salzman ’13 and Kelsey Wiseman ’13

Student Exchange Thailand: The Meaning of Service

Posted on March 1, 2013 by admin

After a week and a half in Thailand, I began adjusting to the 12-hour time difference and the huge culture change in this beautiful foreign country. I have been staying in the boarding house at the Regent’s School and have met other boarders from many different places around the world from Russia to Lithuania. On February 16th the school had a 10- day break for their half term. During this time they offered a community service project trip to northern Thailand near the popular city of Chiang Mai. As an exchange this brought an amazing opportunity to travel the country more and I was excited to see cities other than Pattaya.

Once we got to the Ban Maelid School, our home for the next five days, we were greeted by about 100 young Thai students bowing at us as we passed by them in the cars. We got to meet the kids briefly and then toured the school. First, we were shown the bathrooms which were Thai style, meaning the showers were buckets of cold water that you pour onto yourself, and you had to squat for the toilet. This was a huge change and it was somewhat good news to hear that we were sleeping on the classroom floors.

Spending five days at this school was life-changing. We got to rotate between four activities throughout the day. The first was learning the students’ language and culture known as Karen, the second was teaching the children English, the third consisted of a P.E. class where we played sports with the kids, and the last was helping the community construct a water tank which included building a cement wall. Everyday surpassed the last as the kids were so friendly and eager to learn, and the staff were so welcoming and hospitable. It was very difficult to communicate with the students because we didn’t speak the same language, but I still had the opportunity to make many friends.

It was hard seeing the villages the students live in because it seems so unfair how these kids deserve so much but have so little. Yet despite this they are always so happy. I learned how skilled they become at inventing fun activities to do with their friends to pass the time while simply using rocks or sticks.

On our last night we had a bonfire with the small group of Ban Maelid students that board at the school. After eating, everybody started dancing and we got to experience traditional Thai dancing. It ended up being a huge dance party around the fire pit and everybody was having fun doing the Gagnam Style and the Macarena!

The following day we got ready to leave and had to say our farewells to the Ban Maelid family. As we said goodbye to the students, they gave us tons of bracelets and letters that they made and it brought tears to most of our eyes. It was sad leaving, but it made me realize how lucky I was to have done this trip and it didn’t truly feel like I was doing community service but more like I had been given the gift to meet these wonderful and unforgettable people. –Sarah Humes ’15

Le blog du MS Pride: Candy Grams Support Madagascar in My Heart

Posted on February 6, 2013 by admin

As the Activities Heads for Middle School Pride this year, Alyssa Obrand ’16 and Julia Garfinkle ’16 have been quite successful with the activities held so far. In total, $275 was raised after the Halloween candy raffle, the knockout tournament, the Halloween costume contest and the Halloween episode of “Modern Family” that was shown at lunch recess.

In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, an activity called “Candy Grams” is being held this week. Candy grams are notes that are bought by Middle School students for the purpose of writing a message to another student of their choice in grades 7 and 8. The notes can be anonymous (or not). They cost $1 each and attached to the note is a piece of chocolate! All money raised will be sent to the foundation Madagascar in My Heart, along with the money collected from previous activities, to bring educational opportunities to underprivileged children of Madagascar and help brighten their future.

À ce jour, notre expérience de leadership a été magnifique. C’est un excellent apprentissage. Nous sommes très fières des efforts investis pour faire les activités et de l’argent collecté pour cette fondation. Nous croyons que nous faisons un bon travail tout en maintenant l’intérêt des étudiants et en créant des activités amusantes et originales. C’est un privilège d’avoir la chance d’améliorer les expériences des étudiants du Middle School.

Nous espérons planifier les activités suivantes: vente de biscuits, plusieurs activités dans le gymnase, projection de nombreux films et plein d’autres encore!

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions of activities you would like us to plan in the near future, please do not hesitate to contact either one of us by sending us an email at [email protected] or [email protected]!

Merci! Thank you! We look forward to hearing any thoughts or ideas on how to make your Middle School experience more fun and enjoyable!

Middle School Pride: Grace Dart Community Service Concert

Posted on December 5, 2012 by admin

I haven’t been involved with Middle School Pride for long, but I’ve already put forward an initiative. Since the beginning of October, Zoe Doyle ’16, Rebecca Ross ’16 and I have been planning a community service opportunity for members of the grade 8 band.

Fifteen students signed up to perform a concert for the residents at the Grace Dart retirement home last Saturday. I have to say, I had fun! Helping the elderly has a different feeling to it than other community service opportunities, such as helping kids or collecting food for food drives. It’s different because I know one day I’ll be in their position, and having students volunteer allows for different relationships to flourish.

My friends who helped me with this project also found the experience rewarding. The whole time, everyone was smiling and willing to help the residents as much as they could.

Pendant deux heures de service communautaire, les élèves ont aidé les résidents. A la fin de notre concert, nous avons servi du jus aux résidents. Pendant deux heures, il y avait beaucoup de travail à faire.

Au début, Rebecca et Zoe ont contacté la tante de Rebecca, qui travaille à Grace Dart, puis pour les deux dernières semaines, j’ai travaillé sur les chansons pour le concert. Puis, Micheal Di Giorgio et moi avons interviewé Mme Corbeil, une des résidentes. On lui a posé des questions à propos du concert et on a décidé qu’avant la fin de l’année scolaire, on va revenir à Grace Dart pour faire un autre concert. — Christina Papageorgakopoulos ’16

Le blog du MS Pride. Le journal étudiant.

Posted on November 14, 2012 by admin

After two months of being The Wire head, I have realized the challenges of my responsibility. I have numerous plans for the upcoming weeks before the winter break, and they’re all going full force as of this week. Zoe Doyle ’16, Rebecca Ross ’16 and I have planned a community service opportunity at the Grace Dart retirement home, which will take place on December 1, 2012. A group of grade 8 students, who are enrolled in LCC’s band program, have signed up with me to play a few pieces of music for the residents at the retirement home.

Un autre projet sur lequel je travaille est un café équitable qui aidera la fondation « Madagascar In My Heart ». C’est une fondation qui aide les enfants à Madagascar pour aller à l’école, car c’est trop cher pour les familles. Alors, à LCC durant le mois de décembre, Ryan Hawa et moi allons vendre du chocolat chaud, du café, du thé et des muffins aux bananes cuisinés par les élèves de Middle School Pride. Je pense que ce projet va prendre beaucoup de temps car il y a beaucoup d’étapes à faire.

Soon, there will be posters around LCC advertising this café, so be on the lookout! Also, I’m very happy to say that Middle School Pride has already raised over 270 dollars for Madagascar In My Heart! –Christina Papageorgakopoulos ’16 (Wire Head 2012-2013)