Rhinebeck High School students were community leaders and game-changers as participants in the high school’s day of service June 10.
High school students took part in various activities at district campuses and various locations in the Rhinebeck community. They did garden/yard work and maintenance; prepared sandwiches for food banks, and student-athletes taught Chancellor Livingston Elementary School students the fundamentals of various sports offered at the modified, junior varsity and/or varsity levels.
Melkitu Dentico was one of the members of the Section IX Class C girls flag football championship team teaching flag football to third, fourth and fifth graders. Girls flag football, a growing sport in New York State, was added as a varsity sport in 2023.
“I’m having so much fun,” the senior said. “I hope they can see and experience flag football because we didn’t get to until my sophomore year. It’s such a fun sport. I just hope they feel inspired by it and want to join in the future.”
CLS students had the opportunity to try different sports over the 40-minute session. Claire Capalbo tried flag football, tennis and track.
“I chose flag football because I love to play football,” the fourth grader said. “It was pretty cool seeing the players. I knew some of them from just seeing them around town and watching their games.”
Sarah Walker tried lacrosse for the first time and is planning to try it again.
“I love to run and I thought it would be perfect for me,” she said.
Etta Grande added, “I always wanted to try volleyball and I didn’t know what crew was until I saw the rowing machine.”
Weston Berryann appreciated what the high school students did for him and his peers.
“It was very fun having the high school kids down here,” he said. “They helped me learn new sports and enjoy them.”
Kevin Yarnell, CLS physical education teacher, said his students enjoyed learning from the high school athletes and look up to the older students as role models.
“We surveyed the students at the end of the session and over half of the students raised their hands that they learned a new sport and they were excited to find a way to play it out in the community and continue to learn,” he said. “I think this day is going to really help Rhinebeck athletics so we can start them at a young age to build a love for the various sports.”