On Monday, Aug. 22, all KO faculty and staff participated in a community-building event to kick off the start of a new year.
The faculty and staff chose to participate in a service or learning project, each with a connection to the Hartford community. Activity options included a tour of the Hartford capital, a faith and justice walking tour, a tour of Cedar Hill Cemetery, a tour of the Harriet Beacher Stowe house, a gardening initiative at an elementary school, a tour of Forge City Works, or a trail cleanup on the Metacomet trail with the Connecticut Parks Association.
This event allowed KO to form and strengthen partnerships with nonprofit organizations in Hartford. Head of the Upper School Dan Gleason, who worked with Head of the Middle School Ann Sciglampaglia to plan this special day, reflected on the importance of spending the day in our local community. “I think we always want to do something local because that’s a big part of our identity as a school,” Dr. Gleason said. “It’s a nice way to start the year, so I think we will definitely continue the trend.”
Dr. Gleason chose to spend his day devoted to the cleanup of the Metacomet trail, which runs all the way from Long Island Sound to Canada. The group was assigned a section of the trail and tasked with clearing a path. “We got to do a section that really needed it,” he said, mentioning that the area was very overgrown when the group started.
Upper School Administrative Coordinator Lindsay Perkins picked a learning project, a tour of the Hartford Capitol building. Ms. Perkins, along with her group of about 15 others, was led by a tour guide as they learned about the history and significance of the building. “We went into every room and heard about the judicial process that puts such a bigger context to the government that happens locally,” Ms. Perkins said. “So, it was great to see the office spaces where our senators and elected officials have their important meetings.”
Aside from the educational aspect, Ms. Perkins enjoyed spending time with her colleagues outside of school. “It brought us all closer together,” she said. “We have shared experiences now.”
Math teacher Nicole Baratz spent the day with Forge City Works, a non-profit organization in Hartford working to help people get back on their feet by offering job training and food access. Currently, they have a cafe with an integrated job training program and are opening a restaurant and supermarket, where customers pay based on their income.
The group of eight received a tour of the Forge City Works facility and got to view their design plans for their restaurant and supermarket. Later, they walked around Hartford and handed out flyers.
Overall, each group spent the day making meaningful connections with a Hartford-based organization and enjoying time with their colleagues before a new school year. “Hartford is right next to us and there’s so much in there,” Ms. Baratz said. “So, I think it’s such an awesome opportunity for students, faculty, and everyone to be involved.”
