George School has a new, though temporary, shelter on campus this month. Situated close to the student center, the welcoming, room-sized shelter is made of lumber, wrapped in protective green netting, and strung with dried cornstalks.
The shelter, or sukkah, was built in observance of the harvest festival, Sukkot, by members of Havurah, George School's Jewish student organization. This is the fourth year in a row that students have built a sukkah and urged their classmates, teachers, and teachers' families to spend time enjoying the temporary booth.
This is an attempt, said senior Jason Hellinger of Holland, Pennsylvania, "to help Jewish students celebrate the holidays and to educate the wider community about them." He urged students to "get outside while you still can" and explained that sukkah "are great for being in with friends, reading, studying, and eating."
On Friday afternoon, October 1, several students were already enjoying the space. Junior Alex Balme of New York City described it as "a separate world. It is a place where you can get away from everything. It's relaxing because of that."
Another junior, Ama Boateng of Parlin, New Jersey, described it as "a great place to bond with friends. Today the sun was shining and it was breezy, shady, and peaceful in there."
Randi Lawrie, director of the George School Student Health Center, complimented students for their hard work and described it as fantastic. "Every year it seems nicer and nicer. There were many students inside and lots more around it."
"The sukkah will remain a focal point at the center of campus for several weeks," said Head of School Nancy Starmer, "and will serve as a tangible reminder of the school's commitment to honor the religious diversity of our student population."
About George School
George School, founded in 1893 by members of the Society of Friends (Quakers), teaches that each person shares a responsibility for helping to make the world a better place. The student body is diverse, representing twenty states and thirty foreign countries and a variety of ethnic, racial, religious, academic, and economic backgrounds. Each year more than $4 million in need-based financial aid is provided to eligible students.