- All-School Council hosts school-wide potluck on Booth Field. Photo by Isabel.
A dozen tables scattered across Booth Field were adorned with bright blue tablecloths and decorated with a myriad of foods. The aroma of freshly-baked Diddy Riese cookies and layered casseroles stimulated appetites. Foods ranging from chips and homemade guacamole to sushi satiated the hungry stomachs of the Marlborough community.
On Wednesday, Sept. 21st at lunch, All-School Council held Marlborough’s first school-wide potluck, in which Class Council members encouraged students and faculty to bring a dish for all to share to contribute to this year’s theme of “Strengthening and Building Community.”
Leading up to the event, Council members posted sign-up sheets and checklists on bulletin boards around campus, delegating major food preparation responsibilities amongst each class.
In the early stages of publicizing the event, it was tough to get the word out to the whole student body about what kinds of food they should bring and what to expect of a school-wide potluck, All-School President Madeline ’12 said.
“To increase communication, I spoke at class meetings, as did the other council members and Grade Level Deans. We were all really excited to host this event,” Madeline said.
All-School Council decided to host a self-serve potluck to reduce wait times. Last year, the 2010-2011 All-School Council brought one of Kogi Korean BBQ’s popular food trucks to campus during lunch. Students and teachers flocked in large groups to the truck, creating long lines that prevented the event from running smoothly. According to Karabian, the potluck successfully avoided past setbacks to school-wide lunchtime events.
According to English instructor and Student Activities Coordinator Sarah Wolf, the potluck was “successful because it promoted a notion of sharing within and between the grades through the means of food contribution.”
However, some students, including Haley ’13 said that although they enjoyed the food, the potluck could have better fostered a sense of community if it were organized differently.
“In theory, it was a really good idea. The food was tasty, and there was an option for everyone to enjoy,” Haley said. “But I believe that Council should have set the tables for each grade together, in the center of the field, not separate and scattered across the lawn. It would’ve been much more inclusive that way.”
Council said that they are planning to host another potluck next year.
