Steward’s annual Middle School Community Week, a cherished tradition, is packed with experiences that stretch the imagination and inspire connection. New this year: Each Middle School grade had its own Community Week; each gave Spartans opportunities to spend time in nature, work together in team-building activities, and engage in service-learning projects.

“Community Week is a terrific way for students to expand their worldview, get to know one another better, and challenge themselves,” said Middle School Director Susan Atkinson.  

Sixth graders kicked off Community Week with a luncheon facilitated by Culture Encounters, a Richmond non-profit that uses food as a springboard for guided conversations. Spartans sampled dishes prepared by local restaurants that specialize in Balkan, Jamaican, and Filipino cuisine and learned about the traditions associated with the foods. As they nibbled on beef cevapi from Bosnia, fried plantains from Jamaica, and sweet rice biko from the Philippines, staff from Culture Encounters posed open-ended questions, which encouraged lively discussion about culture, identity, and community. The day was capped off with a musical performance by BanCaribe, a Richmond band that specializes in Latin music. 

The following day, sixth graders completed community service on campus in the morning and then traveled to Woodland Cemetery, a historic burial ground established in 1917, where Arthur Ashe is buried. There, they discovered partially submerged headstones, marking them with surveying flags and working in teams to excavate them. 

Middle School Social Studies Teacher Craig Redmond-Cilley, who, along with several sixth-grade colleagues, accompanied students to the cemetery, noted, “While we restored several of these unearthed headstones to a condition where they can once more be honored and visited, dozens and dozens more still need that care.” 

Community service “is an integral part of the Steward experience, and Spartans of all ages are encouraged to be caring stewards and share their time and energy by helping others,” said Ms. Atkinson. “The Woodland clean-up gave students the opportunity to learn about the cemetery, work together, and engage in a meaningful project.”

Ana Hunte ’32 said, “During Community Week, I really enjoyed getting to learn about so many different cultures. It was really cool to try different types of food, experience all kinds of music, and learn cool dances!” She added, “When we participated in community service at Woodland Cemetery, I helped out by cleaning off dusty headstones and uncovering buried ones. That experience made me realize that everyone deserves to be remembered, especially by their loved ones.”

Ana’s classmate, Tripp Oliff ’32, loved teaming up with friends during Community Week  — especially the Woodlawn visit.

“Cleaning the graves brought me so much joy,” he said. 

One of the highlights of the week was Friendsgiving — a gathering in the Bryan Innovation Lab that included food, crafts, and friendship. Students created fall-hued flower arrangements to adorn the table, sipped on sparkling cider, enjoyed the cookies they baked, and showed thankfulness for their classmates by composing meaningful notes and toasts. 

During an overnight trip to Triple C Camp in Charlottesville, Va., seventh graders spent lots of time outside as they challenged themselves in a variety of activities, including a climbing wall and archery. Teambuilding games focused on communication, leadership, and collaboration. Students worked together to build LEGO structures, and balanced on a small platform. They also teamed up to move a tennis ball, balanced on ropes, across a field. Spartans also had a great dance party and made s’mores under the stars!

On campus, students focused on the concept of growth as they partnered with Edible Education to cook together in small teams, started their year-long service initiative by ideating with Coordinator of Service Learning and Engagement Alexa Bolt, played competitive challenges focused on nutrition with School Nurse Kendall Hrabak ’04, and participated in service and nature-themed activities in the Bryan Innovation Lab gardens.

At Wilderness Adventure in the Blue Ridge mountains, eighth graders enjoyed four technology-free days filled with outdoor and indoor fun both challenging and educational. Students scaled new heights on a climbing wall, paddled through the cool waters of Craig Creek, discovered new terrain with mountain biking, fished in a pond, and explored the wonders of caving. In the evenings, campers met to chat about the day, enjoy s’mores, and play board games.

For Richmond Hamilton ’30, the week was packed with adventures and opportunities for friendship. 

“I really liked mountain biking,” said Richmond. “There were trails around the whole camp, with jumps and three levels of ramps! I think I circled the route at least nine times.” Richmond also appreciated the fact that Community Week was tech-free. “I learned a lot about people that I didn’t know too well before,” he said. “It was really cool to hang out in the evenings in the lodge, play board games, and talk. The lodge also had a piano … I didn’t realize that some of my friends know how to play!”

Back on campus, eighth graders, led by Middle School English Teacher Danny Spiziri, reflected on their experiences and lessons learned at Wilderness Adventure and then applied those lessons to service tasks on campus. They assisted the Admissions, Development, and Bryan Innovation Lab teams by making cards, packing snack bags, and cooking a meal for Daily Planet, a Richmond community health center that provides support services to populations in need. Spartans also prepped materials for school-wide events, cleaned up the trails at the Bryan Innovation Lab gardens, and at Gayton Kirk, Steward’s community partner.

Richmond said, “Helping others is the best part of community service. You give, but don’t ask for anything in return.”