Friday marks fifth year of participation

By Jenna Poppell

International Games Day (IGD) is celebrated on all seven continents and organized, as well as run, by library volunteers. In some places, it is celebrated for an entire week. The mission statement of IGD is “to reconnect communities through their libraries around the educational, recreational, and social value of all types of games.”

IGD started in 2007 although Oak Hall began the tradition in 2015, making this Friday, Oak Hall’s 5th Anniversary celebrating International Games Day! The school chose the Friday before Thanksgiving Break, instead of following the official days, because it is a relaxing reward for the hard work the students have put in so far this school year. “Students are invited to come to the library during their study hall, free period, during lunch, or before or after school, to play games; but they must first take care of their tests, assignments, and quizzes,” explained Evelyn Smith, Oak Hall’s Middle and Upper School Media Specialist.

At Oak Hall, the importance of maintaining a balance between work and fun is important, and IGD is a great way to give the students both. The library has mostly relied on teacher-donated games, although the Media Center has recently built up its collection. Jeff Malloy, Oak Hall’s Director of Auxiliary and Operations, is donating the ping pong table and pool table from the Middle School’s Extended Care Program for the special event. Volunteer hours are offered to students that would like to help clean the library in between classes. 

“I wholeheartedly believe that there is great value in people sitting face-to-face in real time and space, and engaging in lighthearted but spirited competition,” Smith stated. “The [Middle and Upper School] Library’s mission is to serve the Oak Hall School community as flexible learning commons for classes, for meetings, for study, and, in the case of IGD, for fun,” she continued.