School District Five schools give back to community during “Spirit of Giving” assemblies

Chapin, SC - Two Lexington-Richland School District Five schools held “Spirit of Giving” assemblies as a way to give back to those in need in the community. Both Chapin High School and Spring Hill High School held assemblies where they announced monetary and item donations to various organizations and individuals.

“It’s a chance for the students to give back to the community,” said Jared Clayton, a social studies teacher at Spring Hill High School.

Spring Hill High School’s five academy’s each raised donations for organizations including the District Five Snack Pack Program, Sharing God’s Love, Prisma Health’s Children Hospital, Carolina Wildlife and Chapin We Care.

“Our kids are willing to help and the fact that we doubled and tripled our goals shows we really do care about our community and the well being of the people around us,” Clayton added.

Mary Grace Loughman, a junior representing the exercise science academy at Spring Hill High School, loves that her school puts on this event every year. “I think it’s so cool that our school does this because it shows that we have such generosity and are thinking bigger than ourselves,” said Loughman. “Our stallions here are incredible and I’m just so thankful for all the students that go here and were able to donate to these wonderful organizations.”

At Chapin High School, staff and students donated over 1,000 pounds of food to the District Five Snack Pack Program as well as funds for several individuals. Those individuals included three students who were involved in a car accident earlier this year as well as Coach Strange and Coach Snelgrove who are both currently battling cancer.

Mary Grace Galloway, student body president at Chapin High School, sees the annual assembly as an important part of the culture of the school and community. “It’s important because all year the community supports the high school and the high school supports the community,” said Galloway. “It’s just nice when we can give back to them, especially for those people who have gone through things like an illness or car crash.”

Chapin High School used the assembly as a way to show off all of the school’s fine arts programs including the Chapin High School Symphonic Band, Chapin High School Orchestra, the Voice of Chapin, Chapin High School Dance, the Chapin High School Visual Arts department and Chapin Dance Team.

Chapin High School’s student body vice president Sarah Miller enjoyed all the performances and loved the idea of all of the programs getting a chance to be highlighted. “It’s really cool because it shows how many areas we have talent in,” said Miller. “Everybody supports every aspect and every club that we have at this school and it’s great.”

Galloway was quick to mention that the students involved in these programs practice an average of 3,690 minutes just for one performance. She then reiterated how exciting the assembly was and the heart of giving at Chapin High.

“We’re happy to give back to the community and thank them for supporting us,” said Galloway.

Chapin High School principal Michael Ames was moved by the “Spirit of Giving” assembly this year. “It reminds me of how honored I am to be part of this community and this family,” said Ames. “We give selflessly to others and we ask for nothing in return. Thank you, student government, Chapin family and Chapin community for your generosity today and every day.”