Jake Bennett reflected back on some great memories as a student at Chancellor Livingston Elementary School while he was spreading some mulch with four of his peers on the CLS playground as part of Rhinebeck High School’s annual Day of Service.
“It’s super nice to be back at the elementary school where we all grew up,” the high school senior said. “We went inside to grab water and we saw a couple of our old teachers. We saw the STEM room and forgot how much stuff we did in there. It was awesome.”
Bennett continued, “My dad is a helicopter pilot and one time he landed in that (school) field over there to show third graders for STEM what he did. I forgot all about that until I was walking around here and I started getting memories of that.”
Spreading mulch on the playground was only a part of what the high school students were doing to give back to their school and the greater Rhinebeck community. Students were working on the grounds at the high school/middle school, and were serving in various roles in the community at the Rhinebeck Reformed Church food pantry, The Woods at Rhinebeck and the Pollinator Garden in Rhinecliff.
“The vision of the Rhinebeck Central School District is to create, connect and contribute,” said Ed Davenport, high school principal. “Our annual Day of Service gives students and staff the opportunity to put that vision into action by giving back to the community. I am proud of the meaningful work they accomplished this year!”
A few hundred feet from where high school students were spreading mulch, high school student-athletes were teaching elementary school students the fundamentals of their favorite sports. Elementary students had the opportunity to interact with high school students and try several sports such as golf, flag football, baseball/softball, volleyball, basketball and rowing.
“I was very excited they were coming,” said fourth grader Zoe Freeman.
CLS Principal Brett King is hopeful several of his students will be back as high school students participating in the Day of Service.
“I’m hoping we’re planting the seed that they’re going to be in that position in a couple of years,” he said. “We want you to come back and make this day even better.”