Education Column: Service to the Community

ralphmayo

By Ralph Mayo

By the time that this article is published, we will have elected new town officials (Board of Selectmen, Board of Education and members of the Board of Estimate and Taxation). What is unique about the majority of these people is that very few of them are paid to oversee our town. They are volunteers who make Greenwich a great place to both live and work. I know that most of you are sick of all the lawn signs (who invented them anyway?). But by now they must all be down and hopefully everyone has made a smooth transition into their new positions.

Greenwich is a town that is run by many volunteers. Just look at the number social service agencies that we have that would not be possible if it were not for our volunteers. Look at our governing body, the RTM, all are volunteers and an example of democracy in its purest form.

Last week we, here at Greenwich High School, inducted two hundred and forty-eight members of our senior class into the National Honor Society. In order to be admitted in to the honor society, you must have a strong academic record, demonstrate leadership both in and out of the school, show good character (even when no one is looking) and provide service to the community. The new members of the honor society have provided the Greenwich High School community, as well as the broader Greenwich community, with over thirteen thousand hours of service this year. Add to that, the sixty plus hours that each student was required to have to be considered for membership, and that adds up to more than thirty-thousand hours of service to our amazing community in less than four years.

These young men and women have learned that giving of themselves without any expectation of a reward is the greatest gift that they can provide to the community and to themselves. Our new members will be part of the next generation of volunteers in their own communities as they grow in to adulthood. Yes, our expectations are high for each of them and that bar continues to be raised as we need them to carry on the tradition of service that has served this and many other communities so well. The young men and women that I met on the night of November 4th are problem-solvers and are emblematic of the Vision of the Graduate. The two hundred and forty-eight students are just a few of the many students at our great high school who serve our community and understand that they need to take care of people who for whatever reason are unable to care for themselves. Another GHS service organization that should be commended is called Roots and Shoots.

Over the years Roots and Shoots has collaborated with the Greenwich Department of Social Services to deliver full Thanksgiving meals to over one hundred and fifty families in need. This project is being highlighted because it is one of the best things we do here at GHS and it involves many students and adults. Over the next two weeks students will be raising funds to purchase turkeys and other fresh items for delivery day. They will also be decorating boxes, keeping an inventory of all the food and packing boxes. Our students with the help of faculty advisors make this happen for our community. So, when you hear about those high school kids and how self-absorbed they are, don’t listen, they are fully engaged, mature people who devote their time, effort and ingenuity to solving problems within our community.

I have witnessed these many acts of service since I began work in the Greenwich Public Schools. It is certainly something that this entire community should be thankful and proud of as we approach my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving.

Ralph Mayo is the former Interim Super Intendent of Schools and the current Interim Head of Greenwich High School.

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