TFS celebrates Global and Local Community

January’s All In focus is Service and again this year, upper school faculty and staff combined the school’s traditional International Day with community service projects to coincide with the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. birthday observance and the MLK Day of Service, reports Tallulah Falls School (TFS).  Students gathered in the morning for cultural classroom presentations and international stage performances with 20 countries represented. After the show, President and Head of School Larry A. Peevy told the international students their role in the school community was an important one. “These accomplished students are on the way to leadership roles as they move toward graduation,” Peevy said. “Sharing their cultures through the International Day experience is a wonderful way to build a global community.”  Students, faculty, and staff enjoyed several culture-specific culinary items for lunch before fanning out over two counties to volunteer for community projects that included sprucing up around campus, trail maintenance and clean up at Tallulah Gorge, installing flooring for a homebuilding nonprofit, spreading mulch at a historic cemetery, visiting residents of a nursing home and helping at an area food bank and nonprofit thrift store. “This day was a great success for our local and international students giving back to their shared community,” said Upper School Academic Dean Kim Popham. 

Photo by E. Lane Gresham of TFS showing junior Cainan Yaskiewicz of Highlands, NC, transporting mulch during the MLK Day of Service. Students volunteered in two counties, Habersham and Rabun, during the service day. 

Photo by Brian Boyd of TFS showing senior Huiyi “Alice” Peng of China performing a traditional dance during the annual International Day performance held at the school on Jan. 20.