News & Views
Country School Holds Third Annual Kyle A. Markes Day of Service
Members of the ninth grade class led more than 400 New Canaan Country School students, their families and teachers to serve 14 local non-profit organizations April 1.
(View photos)This was all part of the third annual Kyle A. Markes Day of Service which drew over a total of 400 Country School students, their families and teachers in a wide range of activities which benefited 14 non-profit organizations located throughout Fairfield county. The day itself was in honor of a sixth-grade student who passed away in 2013, but whose commitment to community service became an inspiration for all.
Volunteer groups washed windows and painted at The Boys and Girls Clubs of America (Stamford), raked leaves and prepared food trays at Inspirica (Stamford), sorted and stocked deliveries to the food pantry at New Covenant Center (Stamford), prepared grocery bags of food at Person-To-Person (Norwalk), cleaned up a playground, planted spring flowers and organized donated clothing at the Open Door Shelter (Norwalk), planted a tomato garden at the New Canaan Inn, played Family Feud with seniors at the Waveny Care Center Nursing Home (New Canaan), participated in a charity spin class in support of the ELM Project and Camp Amerikids at JoyRide Darien, compiled dental hygiene kits for Americares of Norwalk, created flash cards, clocks and other teaching tools for ESL students at Building One Community (Stamford), packed snack bags for the homeless population served by Family & Children’s Agency (Norwalk), prepared gift cards and gift bags for pediatric patients of Yale’s Smilow Cancer Center (New Haven) and held a bake sale to benefit blood cancer research and Delete Blood Cancer (New York City).
The day culminated with a basketball tournament on a court dedicated in Kyle’s honor. Twenty 4-person teams comprised of Middle and Upper School students, including many of Kyle’s classmates, competed in a spirited 3 v 3 tournament. Proceeds from the games will benefit Horizons at New Canaan Country School.
Before the tournament began, Jackqueline Mclean-Markes, standing alongside her husband, Walter Markes, thanked the crowd. “We know that Kyle is smiling down on us. He was all about service and this is the best way to honor him. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
“It has been moving to see Kyle’s graduating classmates develop an on-going commitment to service.” said Director of Community Development Lynn Sullivan whose office organized the event along with the school’s Parents’ Association. “The Class of 2017 may be moving on, but Kyle’s legacy remains.”
New Canaan Country School
New Canaan Country School admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin and are afforded all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, national origin or ancestry, or disability in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, financial aid policies or any other school-administered programs.
