Max Lunievicz: Grade 8

Every year before the Thanksgiving Break, Buckley Country Day School has its Thanksgiving assembly. It traditionally takes place on the Wednesday half-day before the holiday. At this time, the Upper School comes together to perform a music program from their chosen elective: Percussion, Dance, Band, Strings, or Chorus. Students are required to enroll in one of these programs for the entire year staring in fifth grade (although dance is only for students in grades seven and eight). Each of these programs meets on Mondays and Wednesdays to learn new skills and practice for school assemblies. At the Thanksgiving assembly, each of the programs played what they rehearsed, usually one or two songs. This year, the Percussion group played “Where are Ü Now,” the Band played “Over the Rainbow,” and the other music programs performed different dances and songs according to their grade.

In addition, during the Thanksgiving assembly, Mr. Roger Persaud, some eighth graders, and a few alumni drove the Thanksgiving boxes to their respective places: the Hillside House and the Inn. These boxes were wrapped by the eighth grade with hand-rubbed leaf wrapping paper made by the eighth and seventh grade. Then, out of all 100 boxes, 50 of them are packed with one of each Thanksgiving food item, to give a full Thanksgiving dinner to individual families in need. The others are packed with one food item each, to go a communal kitchen.

An annual tradition at Buckley, the Thanksgiving assembly will hopefully continue to take place for many years to come.