This year’s Harvest Fest started on the morning of October 2nd 2024; Harwood Union High School sent students and staff into the community for community service and ended the day by bringing the whole school together for pumpkin carving and socializing
Harvest Fest is an event Harwood throws in which many students and staff go out into the community,in order to learn through service. The idea is to build community with students and other schools/local areas.
Originally, HCLC teacher Paul Kramer was inspired with the idea of Harvest Fest by Montpelier High School. Later, he brought a similar idea to Harwood. Before Covid, the idea had “fizzled out” as Paul Kramer mentioned it, until “last year Meg [ wanted] to bring it back.” This year they made some changes, including how the community service is now mandatory and the whole event is now in one day. Originally the event was spread out throughout the week and the community service was not mandatory, but Kramer and the school wanted to teach the value of service
Paul Kramer says, “this is kind of what I envisioned. You know? We’ve always talked about for many many years getting all students out into the community for service.” He goes on to say in the past the freshmen have gone out and even the middle school, but never the whole school.
Many staff members thought positively about the day. Becky Allen, a math teacher at Harwood, went to Brookside with her Junior TA. “I thought it was actually kind of mindful,” she said, “I met three juniors who I didn’t know before.” She was sure that all the juniors who participated had fun. “Afterwards we had lunch with the little kids, and I could see the juniors were loving it.”
World language teacher Timothy Gershon also had similar thoughts. His 10th-grade TA helped clean a warehouse at Neck of The Woods. “It was very fulfilling,” he stated. “To one degree or another, I think we all felt the good that we were able to do.”
Students at Harwood also felt fulfilled; Junior Grady Hagenbuch helped clean out an outdoor classroom at Waitsfield Elementary then later helped make apple cider and play games with the kids. He said it was “pretty fun,” as “you either showed up and did the work or you just didn’t come to school.”
In the end Harvest fest was enjoyed by many students and staff. Many of the people who participated were happy with the experience. Many shared the opinion of wanting some say in what their TA did.
Kramer replied to this saying it would be a “logistical nightmare” so in the end the changes wanted probably won’t happen. Though it’s doubtful many will be upset with this as the event already connected the school to the community. After all, it gives Highlanders a day away from their studies.
