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by Rama K. Ramaswamy
Over the rainy weekend, the METCO Social Event lured over one hundred families, teachers and students from all over Wellesley and Boston. In addition, Wellesley METCO alumni attend, such as Paula Davis, who was part of the very first, high school, graduating class. According to organizer, Betsy Komjathy, “we know that the METCO program is about both education and relationships. Friends of Wellesley METCO (FWMI) was hoping to find a way to have parents of Boston resident students, Wellesley resident students, and teachers come together socially to continue to build strong relationships among the adults”. The Friends of Wellesley METCO Inc. applied for a grant from the Wellesley Hills Junior Women’s Club, “as a way to kick off the 50th Anniversary of the Wellesley METCO program.” FWMI was also given an anonymous donation by Wellesley resident who, according to Komjathy, “who wanted to support our community-building goals”. Wellesley High School PTSO and the Wellesley Teachers Union also made a contribution towards the success of the evening.
As a way to get folks to mingle, the event organizers’ rolled out a “fun ice breaker”. As attendees checked in, they were given a card that had one-half of a ‘pair’ printed on it. For example, if the card said ‘Minny’ they would have to find out who had the matching, ‘Mickey’. Or ‘macaroni’, and they would have to find ‘cheese’. People had fun and it achieved the goal of mingling. When people found their ‘pairs’, together they brought their matching cards to the raffle table and each got a free raffle ticket. Komjathy’s co-organizer Andrea Myers, said “in our welcoming comments, we wanted this to be more than just a chance to socialize. The entertainment for the evening featured two liturgical dance pieces by a multigenerational group, called F.A.V.A. (Favored Anointed Victory Always) and a poem written and delivered by one of the early METCO WHS graduates, Nazaleem Smith”.
FWMI Board members as well as parents of WPS students pitched in to “bring on the party”; the food was catered by Boston mom, Dara Frederick, the DJ was 2016 WHS graduate, Tiger Mar, FWMI Board members and WPS parents brought additional appetizers, desserts, donated raffle prizes; as many attendees repeated, “a team effort”. The raffle prizes included, Celtics and Red Sox tickets and the opportunity for two students to be the ‘Celtics ball kids” at an upcoming game as well as four tickets to the game. Whoever won the raffle prize would bring a family friend with them i.e. if a Boston family won, they would bring a Wellesley friend and vice-versa. Komjathy said, “it was not only a fundraising opportunity but complemented the community-building focus of METCO as a whole”. Other raffle prizes included Wellesley High School Basketball ‘swag’, a Jim Rice autographed baseball, and gift certificates from Dick’s Sporting goods and Blue Ginger.
Allison Sargent, a FWMI board member, former president (her father-in-law was School Committee Chairman in 1966 when the decision was made to bring METCO to Wellesley), said, “many thanks to everyone who made last night such a smashing success! It was a great turnout, the food was fabulous, the room looked amazing and the vibe was warm and wonderful”. Elaine Mittell, was involved with the METCO Program for about twelve years, until 2007 when she stepped down as President of what was then, the Wellesley METCO Committee (now the Friends of Wellesley METCO). Mittell said, “the program had very strong support during those years, especially from the WPS administration. I was invited to attend the Wellesley METCO Anniversary celebration and was thrilled to see the enthusiastic participation, particularly of so many Wellesley residents (along with staff, other school personnel, and Boston families). It was wonderful to see the program so warmly embraced, more warmly than ever. I can’t help but think that people are looking for ways to demonstrate how much they value inclusion, especially in the current climate of divisiveness and exclusion. METCO provides everyone involved with the opportunity to learn how to connect and collaborate across difference, and to grow in the process. I’m glad to see so many people yearn for that, as I do”.
Brooks Goddard, a former teacher at WHS said (to Komjathy), “what a grand success. You should feel very proud. Everything went well last night unless the roof fell in after we left. There was energy in the building when we went in, and the organization was immaculate. I even found my ‘mate’ who was this, younger appearing than I would have thought, woman whose kid is at Bates; she was there with her mother, and both had come out to Bates on behalf of their child getting comfortable. METCO used to use the slogan ‘don’t let strangers teach your children’, meaning go out and meet your kids’ teachers… The food was spectacular. The venue was fine and nicely decorated. You did it!”
