STAYING Connected COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT TAKES CENTER STAGE
Making personal connections with one another, learning and experiencing new things, stepping outside of our comfort zone — it is what we do best at The Hun School. These ideals and values have been intertwined into our curriculum, programming, and community since the very beginning, but when the School shifted to virtual learning last spring and hybrid learning this year, creating ongoing opportunities that ensured those connections continued was a top priority. The alarming rise in anxiety and depression among school-aged children was also an impetus for creating a strong community engagement program. Community engagement events happen daily throughout the school week, with occasional weekend opportunities, and are offered in a variety of avenues. The most enjoyable part for students and faculty alike is the freedom that comes with creating these activities. Learned a new recipe and want to host a virtual cooking demonstration? Need a space to discuss top news stories? Starting a new club? Interested in hearing a guest speaker? These are all examples of what a community engagement event may look like. Interim Director of Community Engagement Olivia Albanese ’13 notes that what makes this program so fruitful is the menu of events that are offered to students on a daily basis, giving every student, teacher, alumnus, parent, or administrator a chance to participate in something that is relatable to them. “Hun has always offered students so many different ways to engage with each other,” she said. “Whether students are on campus or learning remotely, they now have a chance to engage with faculty and other students in a variety of ways.” Ms. Albanese explained that in a time of isolation, it is critical to provide safe and welcoming spaces for students and faculty to connect and unwind and because of community engagement activities, the School has been able to do just that. “It’s been a challenging year, but through it all we have been able to give our students a space to process, find joy, and make connections with peers and teachers.”
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