On Friday, May 16, Harriton students in grades nine, ten, and eleven participated in Harriton’s 18th annual Day of Service. Students and teachers were divided into community service groups, which are based on the clubs and sports teams they are part of. Groups partook in a wide variety of service opportunities, both on and off the school campus. The program is unique to Harriton High School. Its aim is to expose students to community service at a young age, as well as instill in students a lifelong desire to help others.

At the sound of the 7:25 AM bell, students convened in their advisories to receive their Day of Service shirts and group placements. Advisories then went to the auditorium for a keynote presentation by Mr. Stephen Cohn, an esteemed business leader in the Philadelphia area, as well as a Harriton parent. He spoke about his affiliation with Alex’s Lemonade Stand, told Alex’s story, and encouraged students to be involved in community service.

After the assembly, students found their assigned service groups and embarked on journeys to help people in both our immediate community and communities around the world.

Junior Dania Abul-enin visited Penn Valley Elementary School. Her group had originally planned to work in the school’s garden. However, due to rain, her group helped with various activities throughout the school, including directing play practice in a second grade classroom.

“From this day, I learned that things are not going to go as planned and there is always a plan B. My group ended up doing things that were completely unrelated to the original task that was assigned, yet it was still a productive day,” explained Dania. “I also learned that the things that happen on Day of Service are not really limited to Day of Service. We talked to the principle about coming in on a sunny day and doing the gardening that was originally assigned to my group.”

Meanwhile, sophomore Pranav Pillai ventured to the Veteran’s Hospital with Harriton’s Jazz Band, where the ensemble performed for patients. When Pranav returned to school, he performed for Harriton students in Mr. Imaizumi’s Day of Service Band.

“I learned how far a little service can go. I honestly didn’t expect to make much of an impact playing at the hospital, but the patients were incredibly happy to see us,” said Pranav. “I suppose anytime you can get an elderly veteran singing and dancing, you’re doing something right.”

Junior Dan Olivieri went to Bala Cynwood Middle School, ready to help however he could. He worked in the athletics department, filling bags with helmets, packing up boxes of shoulder pads, and folding stacks of T-shirts.

When asked about his Day of Service experience, Dan commented, “In that basement of Bala Cynwood I found more than lacrosse helmets and used gloves, I found respect for the sophomores that were folding shirts twice as fast and three times as well as I was. When I returned to Harriton, and stood in awe of the concert with my friends clustered around me, I felt a sense of perfection descend for a moment or nine. My mind was caught on the music and rushed with memories of the day. I learned that the world can be idyllic, if only for a few minutes at a time.”

Freshman Anabelle Harden joined the Soup Kitchen Club in making casseroles for the St. John’s Soup Kitchen. The students participating in the activity were split into five groups. Each group was tasked with making two tuna casseroles. After the casseroles were baked and cooled, students packaged them for delivery to the soup kitchen.

Anabelle learned a lot during her first Day of Service experience, “I learned that doing things like this makes you feel good inside. There is no way that you are possibly wasting time if you are spending it helping others. I also learned of my capability to cook.”

When students and teachers returned from their Service activities, they were surprised with a special performance. Physics teacher Mr. Imaizumi led a group of talented students, Dr. McKenna and Mr. Warren in forming a Day of Service Band. Several years ago, many of the students in the Day of Service Band performed with Mr. Imaizumi on Community Day at Welsh Valley.

The new and improved band practiced during Spring Break. They performed “Sunday Morning,” “Ironic,” “Let it Be,” “Wake Me Up,” “Ai Se Eu Te Pego,” “La Bamba/Twist and Shout,” “ABC,” “Forget You,” and “Think.” The Harriton community listened and cheered, while enjoying snacks provided by the school.

Sophomore Victoria Alfred-Levow, a vocalist in the Day of Service Band, found performing with the band a rewarding experience. She explained that, “When you prepare and pour a lot of passion into something, you’re going to get a good result. People are going to recognize that you care about what you’re doing, and it’s a really great feeling when that happens.”

See below for the complete list of performers!

Singers: China Griffin, Olivia Prendergast, Victoria Alfred-Levow, with Mr. Warren on “Wake Me Up,” Dr. McKenna on “Let it Be,” and Mr. Imaizumi on “Ai Se Eu Te Pego” and “La Bamba/Twist and Shout.”

Horns: Ethan Wolfe, Pranav Pillai, Will Snyder, Daniel Cohn

Drums: Jacob Diamond-Reivich

Keys: Sarah Alfred-Levow

Guitars: Aaron Diamond-Reivich, Nate Yee, with Mr. Warren and Dr. McKenna

Bass: Mr. Imaizumi, Steven Siciliano

Percussion: Seth Silverman, Steven Siciliano

The day provided students with an opportunity to learn about community service, themselves, and their peers. Harriton students accomplished a great deal for people in need. Mrs. Witman, one of the Day of Service coordinators, commented, “For me, the most meaningful part of Day of Service is seeing the smiles on everyone’s faces as they return from their service placement. Students and staff tell me how much they enjoy the experiences that they have.”

Congratulations Harriton on a successful Day of Service! Thank you to the Day of Service coordinators, Mr. Murray, Mr. Rhodes, Mrs. Witman, Mrs. Labrinakos, and Mrs. Koukos, as well as to all who participated!