SHS’s motto, non sibi, meaning not for oneself, is most embodied once a year—on Non-Sibi Day. While a typical school day revolves around academics, Non-Sibi Day offers SHS students the opportunity to step outside the classroom and focus on service, community, and giving back. Held this year on May 22, Non-Sibi Day featured dozens of student-run workshops and activities designed to support various causes, simultaneously motivating students to connect with their friends and community. 

Non-Sibi Day offered a variety of workshops that supported different organizations and causes. Here are a few:

Bracelet Making for White Plains Hospital: Students created colorful bracelets that would be donated to patients. Each color represented a different illness—pink for Breast Cancer, red for Heart Disease, purple for Alzheimer’s, and so on. Additionally, participants wrote personal messages on their bracelets, adding a meaningful touch to the donations.

Rock Painting and Card Making for Patients: Organized through Safe Promise, students decorated rocks with bright designs to be displayed outside the library and created inspiring cards for patients at Burke Rehabilitation Center and White Plains Hospital. The workshop aimed to promote kindness and also raise awareness about gun violence.

Pink with Purpose: Raising awareness about Breast Cancer, the workshop taught participants about the risk factors, treatments, and the impact of the disease. Participants made fun, pink themed crafts. Materials for cards, bracelets, origami, and ribbon decorations were provided, combining education with hands-on service and advocacy. 

Creating Welcome Bags for Campers: Students assembled welcome bags filled with supplies such as notebooks, eye masks, stickers, sunglasses, and handwritten notes for the children attending Steve’s Camp, a free opportunity for youth who can not afford to go to traditional sleepaway camp. Organizers highlighted how small acts of service can help provide a supportive welcome for children upon arrival at camp. 

This year’s Non-Sibi Day featured Community Time and club fundraisers where students gathered outside the school’s Brewster entrance to support clubs and organizations they partnered with. Community Time blended fundraising with social connection as students were able to support charitable causes while enjoying time with friends. Club stands sold food, products, and advertised items to raise money for their charities. For example, the Israeli Culture Club created a booth where students styled and customized jewelry using chains, pendants, and other accessories, which were then donated.

Beyond individual activities, the event organizers emphasized the day’s broader impact. “The purpose of Non-Sibi Day is to give back to the community,” SHS English teacher and Non-Sibi Day organizer Kimberly Summerfield shared. She explained that while SHS is highly focused on academic achievement, it is equally important to balance that success with service and care for others. 

Summerfield noted that students are often introduced to organizations they did not previously know about, and may decide to continue supporting them afterward. SHS English teacher and fellow Non-Sibi Day organizer Ethan Paul added that students leave the event feeling good about making a difference and often become inspired to stay involved.

“Running Non-Sibi Day is an immense amount of work, but we do it because we believe in the impact and message it sends,” Summerfield said.

By combining service, education, and community engagement, Non-Sibi Day illustrated that learning extends far beyond the classroom. While activities varied, each shared a common goal: encouraging students to look away from themselves and towards their communities. Through these efforts, students demonstrated how the school’s motto, non sibi, can be put into practice, and how they can make a meaningful impact. Whether it was through creating bracelets for sick patients or assembling welcome bags for campers, the day’s many collaborative activities allowed students to experience new and fun activities while embracing the spirit that defines SHS.