Grade 10 Concludes Yearlong RISE Program

 

Now in its sixth year, RISE (Reflection and Introspection through Service Education) is a program that encourages personal growth and the development of leadership skills through service. This year’s RISE Day was once again highlighted by service initiatives, awareness drives, and one-on-one meetings with school administrators where the sophomores discussed their projects and how the experience will guide the remainder of their time on Winter Street.

 

This year the sophomores welcomed back to campus their friends from Sages & Seekers for a music concert and technology workshop. After learning from these senior citizens for the last several months in their English classes, the sophomores were able to give something back by sharing their passion for music and teaching them how to use their phones and tablets to Skype their grandchildren.

 

“The inclusion of the Sages in our RISE Day program and celebration last year was a such a meaningful experience,” said Grade 10 Dean Kate Wade. “Now with this year’s entire sophomore class participating as seekers, the union of these two programs is truly synergistic.”

 

The most visible aspect of RISE Day continues to be the food-packaging drive for End Hunger Northeast, a nonprofit that supplies nutritious meals to food pantries throughout the region. What makes the drive at Rivers unique is that all the meals assembled by Rivers students are distributed to food pantries right in Middlesex County, the hungriest county in the Commonwealth.

 

Meanwhile, in the Campus Center, students were raising awareness for causes that were important to them. One group chose to advocate for animal rights by collecting signatures on several petitions, another raised awareness for the stigma that surrounds issues of mental health, and a third took signups for a Spike Ball Tournament to raise funds for ALS.

 

“It’s easy to get hyper-focused on outcomes, especially in our corner of the world,” Ms. Wade said. “But my favorite moments come from overhearing a student reflect on their process – start to finish – or when I watch a team slow themselves down in the moment to give each other feedback.”

 

In the midst of all this service, students found time to change into formal attire for one-on-one interviews with members of the Rivers administrative team. These conversations give the administrators an opportunity to meet with a student they otherwise might not know while the students get to hone interview skills that will be increasingly important as they begin the college process and search for internships.

 

“It is great to have authentic conversations with students periodically,” said Director of Finance & Operations Jon Wasserman ’88. “For those of us who are not in the classroom every day, it is energizing and puts the work we do into context. It’s easily one of my favorite days of the year.”