September marks a return to school routines, new classes and fresh opportunities. It can also bring the pressures of college application deadlines, lesson planning and long days on campus.

Community Day offered something different: a day that puts a pause on the regular school schedule and obligations to spend time trying new things, breaking outside of comfort zones and connecting with new and familiar faces across the George School community. 

Prioritizing Community

The first of its kind, Assistant Head of School for Community Life Mb Duckett Ireland, with the help of the members of the office of student life, envisioned a day that reflected the values that make George School unique.

“The goal was to build the opportunity to be in community with people they may not know very well while doing something they may not know how to do very well,” shared Mb. “We were thrilled by the possibilities for George School’s first Community Day, and grateful to have had the schoolwide support to make it a success.”

 

Throughout the day, more than 50 hands-on workshops were led by George School community members and outside experts. Students, faculty and staff selected sessions based on their interests and were encouraged to try something unfamiliar or share talents that might not otherwise be part of their daily work.

 

“Yes and …”

In the Walton Auditorium, Theater Teacher Cheryl Hufnagle and English Teacher Kyle Abbott shared the stage with students, introducing them to the art of improv. 

“Sharing the improv stage with 20 mostly ‘new-to-me’ friends captured the power of being part of the GS community,” reflected Kyle. “We took risks together, we were vulnerable together and we belly-laughed together; I learned almost as much about myself as I did about my scene partners.”

Fun, games and life lessons

The possibilities for exploration expanded on all categories. Participants learned drumline techniques from professional musicians, worked in the ceramics studio and woodshop, tried their hand at pétanque and other strategy games, made mooncakes and cinnamon buns from scratch, tackled jigsaw puzzles and even designed their own escape rooms.

Julian Angolo stepped beyond his typical Spanish curriculum to lead a workshop called “Adulting 101: Don’t Go Broke,” helping students navigate practical life skills.

“It gave me the opportunity to connect and interact with students whom I do not typically have the chance to work with, as it pushed me out of my comfort zone leading a discussion on a topic that is unrelated to my usual role at GS,” said Julian. “Experiences like this help strengthen the GS community by creating meaningful connections between students and faculty members who might not otherwise interact, fostering a greater sense of belonging and community across the school.”

 

Cupcakes and community-building

For staff members like Leadership Gifts Officer Anna Deschamp, whose role is not always student-facing, the day created new opportunities for connection that fuel her work behind the scenes. Her cupcake decorating workshop, the highest-requested workshop for the day, brought students together through creativity, conversation and plenty of frosting. 

“It was such a joy to be a part of creating an experience for our students that sparked conversation and allowed them to proudly showcase their creativity through edible works of art. The energy and enthusiasm in the room was a great reminder of why I do the work I do, and why we are all here,” she said.

 

The read-a-thon is on!

The library launched its campus read-a-thon, which will continue throughout the fall. Students sampled new books alongside caffeinated treats at the “Star-Books” station, learned the processes of photo archiving and papermending and created their own mini ‘zines and graphic novels. “We want George School to be a place where opening a book is part of everyday life,” shared Director of Library Services Alex Pfundt ’03.

 

Creating core memories

Between workshop sessions, the “Community Zone” buzzed with lawn games, nail painting, bag decorating, metal stamping and a collaborative art project. You could even spot students playing a George School “Guess-Who” game, complete with faculty and staff faces. Nearby, food service partner Meriwether Godsey hosted a barbecue lunch on Red Square, giving everyone another reason to gather and enjoy a beautiful afternoon together.

The day of celebration ended with the annual club fair – inviting students to keep exploring new interests, skills and connections all year long.