Community Lunch Brings LCS Together in Hepburn Hall

It was a historic Tuesday at Lakefield College School as students and staff came together to enjoy the fellowship and fun of the first Community Lunch in Hepburn Hall on September 29.

Following Period 2, students made their way to Hepburn Hall and gathered in their advisory and House groups. With vegetables and dip waiting on the tables, everyone settled in for brief remarks from Associate Head Mr. Van Doleweerd, followed by lunch grace from Co-Heads Sadie and Teddy. Then it was time to share a meal, catch up with friends and enjoy conversations over salad and pizza.

For the Food Services SICs, the first Community Lunch was an opportunity to experience Hepburn Hall doing exactly what it was designed to do: bring the entire school together around the table.

Food Services SIC Grace ’27 observed, “As one of the first SICs of the new fully functional Hepburn Hall it was an honor to watch as the entire school filled every table. It was so great to see our entire community enjoy lunch together after spending my first three years at LCS in the previous dining hall where the grades would eat separately to avoid clutter. I became a SIC of the dining hall to help our community come together through meals and this dining hall does just that on its own. Thank you to everyone who made this possible - I’m so excited to continue these every Tuesday!”

Similarly, Food Services SIC Tavi ’27 said, “As someone who has been to LCS since Grade 9, I got to witness every stage of the dining hall, and for me, it was really great to see the entire school body come together for lunch at the same time in Hepburn Hall. One of the best parts of LCS is the community that we have built, and I think that having a big community lunch is a great way to strengthen that connection. We get to sit all together, sharing food, and talking to people that we might not normally during the school day, which makes the school feel even more special. I’m excited to see how these lunches continue throughout the year and to be part of something that brings everyone together every Tuesday.”

Food Services SIC Emily ’27 reflected on the experience: “The dining hall felt full of energy, with everyone talking, laughing, and enjoying their meals together. I especially enjoyed seeing students and staff all in one place and having the chance to connect with people we might not normally see throughout the day. Community lunches are a great way to bring everyone together and remind us how special our school community is. It was a great feeling to see the new dining hall being used exactly as it was intended.”

With Community Lunch now becoming a Tuesday tradition, Hepburn Hall is already living up to its role as a place designed to bring the LCS community together.