ICGL in Action

As part of the Upper School ICGL Council’s Global Health legacy project, students are hosting a sock drive for our partners at the Gateway Center. Socks are an essential item for those experiencing homelessness because they prevent infection, ease pain and provide warmth. 

For every 10 pairs of new socks donated, students can earn an hour of community engagement credit (maximum of five hours). A donation bin is located at the second floor entry of the Arthur M. Blank Family Upper School.

In coordination with the Upper School Student Advisory Board’s Love Your Body Week, the ICGL Council is highlighting the work of local organizations supporting those dealing with substance abuse.

The Georgia Council on Substance Abuse (GCSA) is a great resource to anyone seeking education or support regarding alcohol or substance abuse. The organization provides support groups, counseling and hotlines for those seeking help. For more information on local providers and resources for those battling substance abuse, visit the GCSA Resources page.   

Congratulations to senior Sydney Silverstein and the Pace Miracle Knights team, which once again hosted a successful—and socially distanced—event in support of the Miracle Network Dance Marathon and its work at Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta.

Thanks to students’ hard work and the generosity of the Pace community, the Miracle Knights raised $33,505, making them the only high-school group in the history of the Georgia program to surpass $20,000.

The funds raised will assist with care for children in metro Atlanta whose healthcare costs are not covered by insurance or Peachcare. A huge thanks to all the members of the Pace community for making this possible and supporting Atlanta’s Miracle Network!

On Feb. 13, five Lower and Middle School robotics teams competed against schools from across the state in a Regional GA FIRST LEGO League Tournament hosted by STEAMSport. The new virtual format eliminated this year’s Super Regional round of competition, meaning that fewer teams advanced to the State Tournament. Nevertheless, Pace RoboKnights swept the Regional award categories. 

The Lower School’s Coding Chickens, coached by Lower School science teacher Katie Sandlin and fifth-grade teacher Hayley Hardwick, were named tournament champions and won first place in the Robot Performance category. The Lego Legends, another Lower School squad led by Sandlin and Lower School Librarian Catherine Lampley, took the top prize in Robot Design and placed third overall. Sandlin also joined forces with Lower School Counselor Ashley Zomalt to coach the COVID Coders to a solid performance. 

Code Jedi, the sixth-grade team led by Middle School science teacher Alyson Tockstein, placed first in the Core Values category, and coach Zach Slaney and the seventh- and eighth-grade members of Pick Up the Pace won first prize for Innovation Project and were second overall. 

Both the Coding Chickens (pictured) and Pick Up the Pace will continue on to the State Tournament. A live online awards ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, March 13. Congratulations, Knights!

This year, the Upper School ICGL Council hopes to leave its mark on Global Health by supporting communities facing healthcare disparities. Given the impact of the pandemic on those experiencing housing insecurity, the Council has decided to connect with and support Atlanta’s Gateway Center.

The Gateway Center is the city’s largest provider of services for individuals and families impacted by homelessness. It provides a continuum of care at its downtown center to address the underlying barriers to housing that impact this community. With 300 clients served every day and a staff of 50, the Gateway Center is in need of personal protective equipment (PPE), so the ICGL Council is launching an initiative to provide a week’s worth of PPE. 

The group will hold a series of fundraisers and activations in the coming weeks to raise the funds necessary to purchase the needed supplies. If you are interested in supporting this effort or connecting the Council with other opportunities in this space, please contact Associate Director of the ICGL Ted Ward.