On Jan. 20, the Pascack Valley Regional School District came together to commemorate the third Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
Carrying on this tradition, students, teachers, counselors, and community members engaged in over 30 different service opportunities in honor of Dr. King’s vision: people from all backgrounds working together to improve their communities.
Despite weather concerns the day of, the community still gathered together to act in service. The events occurred in various locations, with some outdoors and some in school.
Event Spotlight: Sensory Carnival
At Hills, volunteers helped carry out the first-ever Sensory Carnival. The carnival was dedicated to creating a fun and excitable space for special needs campers ranging from elementary to high school, to enjoy themselves. The events featured a bounce house, ball pit, slime stations, volleyball, a silent disco, and sensory tub and wall. The campers in attendance were able to roam areas around the gym, the hallways, and the wrestling room, encountering volunteers at each site. Approximately 70 volunteers assisted with the Sensory Carnival.
Event Coordinator and Physical Education Teacher Lorrie Sandhage explained the goals of the carnival.
“We wanted to honor Martin Luther King and make the world a better place. I thought the Sensory Carnival was the perfect opportunity to show that no matter your background, your beliefs, your abilities, or what your title is, whether a teacher or a student, that we were able to come together as one and have fun together as a community,” she said.
Other event coordinators for the Sensory Carnival were Melissa Szabo, Tara Flannery, Erica Franceski, Steve Papa, and Michele Reale.
The Sensory Carnival truly reflected the values of inclusion and unity possessed at Hills.
It emphasized the importance of appreciating the unique contributions of every individual in our community and the understanding that everyone has something to offer. Whether it was through creative activities like creating slime or a competitive game of volleyball, volunteers, and campers were reminded of the value of learning from others.
“I loved this day and how our district conducted it because it allowed me to take a step back from being a teacher and to just be a community member. It fostered a sense of connection for everyone and made me appreciate our community even more,” Sandhage continued.
When asked whether she sees the Sensory Carnival becoming a Hills tradition, Sandhage concluded with, “Absolutely!”
In one of his final speeches, Dr. King said, “Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve. You don’t have to have a college degree to serve. You don’t have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace. A soul generated by love.”
Volunteers on Monday truly embodied this message. Regardless of the inclement weather and delayed start, all of the volunteers still showed up to serve others. Engaging in all kinds of activities brought so many smiles, joy, and happiness to this day.
The Sensory Carnival was just one out of the over 30 events on MLK Day, inspired by his vision for a beloved community.
