New Canaan Country School Holds Day of Service

From NC Country School: Forty New Canaan Country School volunteers worked side-by-side Saturday, April 1 creating flash cards and clocks. These teaching tools are to be used by the Stamford-based, non-profit organization, Building One Community, in their English language instruction program offered to immigrants and others assimilating into the Stamford area.

This project, held on the school’s New Canaan campus, was 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 to benefit 14 non-profit organizations located throughout Fairfield county. The day itself was in honor of a former sixth-grade student and Stamford resident who passed away in 2013, but whose commitment to community service became an inspiration for all at the Pre-K through grade 9 school.

“I really liked helping,” said Country School fifth-grader Jack Rosenberg of Stamford. “It feels good to support people who need help.”

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, Stamford residents 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.”

Building One Community (formerly Neighbors Link Stamford) brings passionate people together to help immigrants and their families succeed. Together with their network of partners and supporters, they strive to build one community in which all immigrants are active, contributing members. They do this by providing English language instruction, job skills training, personal support services, and more. For more information, please visit www.building1community.org.

New Canaan Country School is a co-ed, independent, day school which serves students from all over Fairfield and Westchester counties, providing transportation to its 75-acre campus in New Canaan. For more information about the school, please visit www.countryschool.net.

Photo: New Canaan Country School students Eloise Leclerc of Darien, Sophie Gribin of Norwalk and Oliver Johnson of New Canaan volunteer for Building One Community, a Stamford non-profit organization as part of the school’s Kyle A. Markes Day of Service, held April 1. Photo credit: New Canaan Country School