Service & Sustainability

Upper School environmental students flew to Qatar last month for a three-day fact-finding mission aimed at gleaning information about sustainable development practices in emerging countries.

Six boys and two teachers flew to Doha just after exams ended in January — four sophomores and two freshmen were joined by Arabic teacher Mimi Melkonian and Biology teacher Oliver Bierman-Lytle for the trip.

Among the sites visited by the group were the National Museum of Qatar, the Museum of Islamic Art, Education City, and Lusail Stadium and other sites built for the FIFA World Cup.

Students Leo Gazal ’25 and Sayah Trahanas ’25 summed up their reflections in a letter to Head of School Tom Philip.

“The National Museum, located on the Doha Corniche, is surrounded by a reflecting pool and the Arabian Gulf, with views of the downtown filling the rest of the skyline,” they wrote.

“The museum’s brilliantly illuminated facilities displayed Qatar’s rich history, extending from its nomadic past to its sustainable future, showcasing countless artifacts and innovations. Here, we learned about the financial workings of Qatar’s economy, as well as Qatar’s plans to sustainably regulate and diversify the future of its thriving energy sector.

“The Education City mosque is designed to show the people of Qatar that the country can develop and become more sustainable while preserving its century-old traditions.

“Overall, our first-ever excursion to the Middle East was a success, as we discovered the new virtues of sustainability and financial literacy through the unique lens of the Arab World,” they wrote.

“There was more to the trip than visiting their plans for a more sustainable future. Instead, it allowed us to recognize that the

Middle East is revolutionizing itself from an empty desert into a land of both financial and educational opportunity.

“We were inspired by the variety of technologies enabled by the unique Qatari spirit of innovation in the mind of sustainability.”

Aside from Trahanas and Gazal, students making the trek to Qatar included Grayson O’Hara ’25, Griffin Green ’25, Anthony Sayegh ’26, and John Pavelski ’26.

Middle School boys in the Animal Service Club held two fundraisers this winter for the Catherine Violet Hubbard Animal Sanctuary in Newtown, Conn.

Mom Jenny Hubbard began the foundation in memory of her daughter, Catherine, who was in kindergarten when she was killed in the Sandy Hook shootings.

It was Catherine’s dream to grow up and take care of animals. Boys collected pet food and money for the foundation’s Senior Paws Program, which provides senior citizens in lowincome housing, including in Greenwich, with pet food, grooming, and veterinary care. The program helps seniors keep their pets together, providing resources so owners don’t have to make difficult decisions about whether to feed themselves or their pets.

Boys also ran a “fill the bag” competition that was even more successful — the contest saw boys in each grade fundraise and compete by grade level for a free-dress day. It was the fifth graders who prevailed.

“It was a very close race,” said Deanna Smyers, advisor to the club.

“Boys were giving $50 bills!” she said. “It was incredible. The generosity was amazing and we ended up raising $1,420.” continued on page 8