No Husky Helper Day 2014! What!?!

Morgan+Outdoor+Maintenance

Morgan Outdoor Maintenance

Written By Jonathan Markovics |

Husky Helper Day has become a tradition at The Morgan School.  The first Husky Helper Day was held in the spring of 2011.  On the day of the event, Morgan students disperse around the community to landscape and spruce up the Town of Clinton.

The goal of Husky Helper Day is to get students out of the classroom and into the community.  The students meet the people who run the town departments and other organizations.  Everyone who participates in Husky Helper Day lends a hand where help is needed.

Joel School
Joel School

Prior to Husky Helper Day, students signup for a community service or school service site.  Some of the places that students can choose are Joel, Pierson, Eliot, Morgan, the Clinton Town Beach, Hammonasset State Park, Clinton Fire Department, Clinton Police Department, the town hall, local churches, nursery schools, and many more.  Husky Helper Day 2013 had over twenty five locations that students could choose from.

Each Husky Helper Day has been successful.  The community loves the involvement of high school students and how much work can get done in one day.  The Clinton Patch, Morgan PawPrint, and The Day published articles before and after the event, sharing pictures and opinions from the students, staff, and community members.

Hammonassett
Hammonassett State Park

Last year, at an assembly in front of the Morgan student body, Mrs. Keri Hagness, Morgan’s Principal, said, “I can’t tell you enough how much this has impressed our community with the work that you do, that it really has helped shift that perception about what kids are capable of, and each time we’ve had Husky Helper Day, you guys have gone above and beyond.”

Unfortunately, there is not going to be a Husky Helper Day 2014.  How can such a successful event that was praised by Mrs. Hagness and the community be stopped?

The question, “How come there is not going to be a Husky Helper Day 2014?”, was easy for Mrs. Hagness, answering, “The organization from last year was so intense that it required administration as well as Mr. Richetelli (Business Teacher at Morgan) hours and hours of time.  I lost some of the parent support from the Morgan Alliance, because people graduated, and I didn’t want to put responsibility on the teachers because they are busy teaching.”

Church of Holy Advent
Church of The Holy Advent

Overall, the ultimate reason that there is not going to be a Husky Helper Day 2014 is because 187 parents called their kids out of school the day of the event.  Even though many students loved this day of helping the community, those that did not enjoy the day ruined it for the majority.

Hagness ended the interview saying, “We need to rethink [Husky Helper Day] and I am in the planning stages to create a committee in which we can get maximum participation.  I can’t continue to have 187 students call out.”