Pace students have been busy with community engagement so far this year, with events and activities ramping up during the holiday season. This is largely due to the student-led Community Engagement Clubs at Pace, where students organize and plan events, drives, and other activities with organizations they have partnered with. The Meals on Wheels Club, led by Cullen West (12th), spearheaded Canstruction this year, the annual food drive for Meals on Wheels Atlanta where Middle School students compete in teams to both collect and build theme-based structures with their donations. This is one of the most impactful projects here at Pace, collecting over three months of supplies for Meals on Wheels. The Atlanta Community Food Bank Club, led by John Hardesty (12th) and Shawn Agharkar (11th), hosted an in-person volunteer event at the Hunger Action Center on November 23rd. The Glamour Gals Club, led by Ava Grant (11th), continued their bi-weekly visits to Corso to work closely with the residents in memory care. The La Amistad Club, led by Paige and Lily Vadnais (11th), also continued their bi-weekly tutoring sessions. The Miracle Knights Club, led by Grace Richardson (12th) and Anne Weiss (12th), has been raising money with hot chocolate sales and a very successful pickleball tournament, with all proceeds going to CHOA (Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta). And the Friends of Refugees club, led by Hiruni Manawadu (10th) and Aparna Kallingal (11th), will be hosting a table at the Family Festival at Friends of Refugees in Clarkston on December 13th – if anyone is interested in joining at the last minute, contact the leaders! Even younger students in the Lower School are making an effort to get involved! The 4th grade’s Community Engagement focus is Homelessness and they partner with the Ansley School every year for a food drive they hosted as part of their Winter celebrations and giving back. Looking forward to after the holiday break, Pace’s annual MLK Jr. weekend of Service is a great time to get involved, and is the biggest weekend of service for Pace families from Pre-1st through 12th grade. There will be events at Pace as well as all over the city. The Community Engagement Board is still in the planning process for the weekend, but they are sure to have projects on the Beltline, and with Intown Cares and Friends of Refugees, to name a few. They are also hosting a meal packing event with Rise Against Hunger, which will need at least 100 volunteers, so students and families should mark their calendars. Overall, Pace students have done a great job of getting involved with their community, and are aiming to do the same for the rest of the school year.
Ava Grant (11th) and Cailynn Bennett (11th) stand at the Community Engagement Club Fair representing their club, partnering with Glamour Gals.