HANCOCK, Mass. — For many, Thanksgiving is a time for gratitude and unity. Hancock Elementary School embraced this spirit on Thursday by hosting a community Thanksgiving feast for seniors.

 

The children had a major role in organizing the event, from peeling the potatoes to creating the centerpieces to performing. 

 

"Thanksgiving is a time to be thankful for what we have. To be thankful for the communities that we live in. Thankful for the families that we have, our friends," Principal John Merselis III said. 

 

"And by opening our doors and inviting people in, I think we just embrace that idea." 

 

More than 50 seniors visited the school for a Thanksgiving lunch prepared by the school's students. In addition to those who attended, the students made enough for 40 takeout orders and to feed themselves and the school's staff. 

 

The lunch was kicked off with student performances on the drums, playing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" using boomwhackers, and a play showcasing the preparation of a Thanksgiving feast, which caused rumbles of laughter. 

 

"[The event] gives [students] a great opportunity to practice their life skills such as cooking and creating things for people, and also [build] their self-confidence and just public speaking," said Samantha Lincoln, first and second-grade teacher. 

 

Seniors are not connected with the school on a day-to-day basis, so an event like this gives the school the chance to let them and see what they do, Merselis said.

 

"I think it's also a time where we do have the opportunity to give thanks specifically to the community that supports us, the community that really has a commitment day in, day out, to support the school and to make sure that the school provides an outstanding education for all the Hancock residents," he said. 

 

Jennifer Mills, a fifth and sixth-grade teacher, echoed these remarks, adding that events like this are unheard of anywhere she has worked before. 

 

"Hancock is a very special place. The school seems to be the center of the town. It's good for the students to have jobs to do, to plan, and to have that piece where they're doing something for the community that does provide them with the school and their education," Mills said.

 

Marjorie and Melvin Feathers have attended the luncheon since it started and founded the drumming program as volunteers. Once a week, the students practice with the duo and will perform for several school events. 

 

The event is "wonderful. We get to see people that we don't see very often or never have seen before and it's community. We love this school. We love the town and the townspeople," Marjorie said. 

 

The younger students in first and second grade performed the play and described the process as "hard work" but also fun. They said they enjoyed wearing costumes and performing in front of the audience. 

 

In addition, they highlighted how it helped them learn the need to speak clearly and loudly so the audience could hear them.

 

The older students, from fifth and sixth grade, performed the drumming. They highlighted how drumming in an of itself is similar to the theme of Thanksgiving because it brings people together. 

 

"I like drumming very much because I learned a lot of history on it and I like to do music stuff," six-grader Quinn Kryskow said.

 

"When you're drumming, you're all together, and Thanksgiving is about being with your family and friends."

 

Sixth-grader Sophia Cerrada explained that drumming comes from many parts of the world including Senegal, Guinea, and Mali. 

 

"Thanksgiving is about being thankful and in some parts [of the world], drumming is used for freedom. In some of those countries that I listed, drumming is used for being known as being free," she said. 

 

The older students also emphasized the importance of the friendships and positive memories they've made at the school over the years.