Taking a glance around campus, one may notice groups of eager students helping out at Shipping and Receiving or armed with gloves and snow shovels before the crack of dawn. This resurgence of leadership among students can be attributed to the reintroduction of the Deerfield Academy Perspectives Program (DAPP).
Deerfield celebrates a rich history of finding ways for students to give back to the community. According to Deerfield 1797-1997: A Pictorial History of the Academy by Andrea and Robert Moorhead, students often helped with tasks like building athletic facilities, and, until 1950, participated in a school-wide potato harvest every fall.
DAPP, according to Science Teacher and former Dean of Students Toby Emerson, has a more recent history. The initiative was a part of the 2009 Green and White Program, in conjunction with then-Head of School Margarita Curtis’ visionary “Imagine Deerfield” campaign, to create a mandatory work program for sophomores to contribute directly to the community. It was generally well-regarded and was incentivized by allowing students to wear a DAPP T-shirt to school instead of class dress.
However, due to the pandemic-triggered switch from seven daily class periods to two in 2020-2021 and three in the current schedule, Mr. Emerson said that it became “almost impossible to schedule [slots for tenth graders]…since they just do not have free periods.”
This winter, however, the program came back as a volunteer-based opportunity open to all grade levels. Over 100 people signed up to participate after hearing about the newly reinstituted DAPP.
Many volunteers feel fulfilled to see Deerfield from a slightly different vantage point. Mac Wang ’25, who works in both Special Projects and Admissions, said he uses DAPP as a way to appreciate “how the Physical Plant and all the staff around campus contribute to the community.” Additionally, Alice Wu ’25, who works in Admissions, said that along with the kind admissions officers, “I feel like I’m giving back to the community.”
Reflecting on what DAPP has become since its initial introduction, Mr. Emerson said, “When [work is encouraged as] volunteering, I think it’s a little more meaningful.”