Middle schoolers in the Be the Change Club strike up the sugar drop again, hand delivering treats and their appreciation.

An enthusiastic and kind-hearted group of Middle School students, who are members of the Be the Change Club, made pop sugary surprise visits to St. Stephen’s staff who work hard throughout the summer months. Many of these staff members are charged with keeping the school thriving and prepared for the academic year ahead.

The dedicated group, whose mission is to look for ways to spread kindness across The Hill, and take action as a helper when they see a need, hopped aboard a campus golf cart chauffeured by History Instructor Ms. Sadler, made various stops to the Maintenance, Business, Admission, Advancement, and Marketing and Communications’ offices. 

Sophie Grossman ’30 and Elizabeth McDaniel-Chang ’30, described by Ms. Sadler as “super organized go-getters,” led the charge.

“We wanted to show our appreciation for staff whose hard work sometimes goes unnoticed. They are so important to our school community, and we felt like baking would be a fun and sweet way to show that,” the girls said in a joint statement on behalf of the entire club.

Sadler says students spent the weekend before the big day baking, and for some it was a family affair. One student told Sadler she employed her dad and brother by forming an assembly line in their kitchen. One was in charge of putting a paper lining around each treat, and the other was in charge of sealing them up in plastic bags. On the following Monday, everyone showed up ready to deliver the goodies, and make members of the community smile.

With arms full of homemade desserts and handmade appreciation signs, the students delivered heartfelt thanks, enthusiasm and gratitude for the employees’ hard work.

“When [the students] came in, their energy and their excitement about doing this just made my day — it really filled me up,” said Kristin Weigand, director of human resources.

Weigand said she was beyond excited not just for the appreciation shown to her and her team members, but also for the outpouring of love for the Maintenance team — from the groundskeeping crew to housekeeping to electricians and plumbers.

“They’re the unsung heroes of this campus,” said Weigand. “The rest of us can’t do our jobs without them — and they don’t always know that and feel that.”

The pink custom sign designed for the Marketing and Communications team said, “Thanks for making us look good!” The green poster board placed in the lobby of the Business Office said, “Thank you for all you do! We really appreciate it.”

“We were so happy to deliver the treats and see the joy they brought to these hard working people,” said the student club leaders. “It is important to remember it doesn't just need to be big acts of kindness, just small ones like thanking someone for what they do for you and everyone else here.”

The Be the Change Club meets every “B” day, and has about 25 student members. In the past, the club has assisted with fundraising for Haiti, natural disasters like hurricanes and has sponsored an angel tree at Christmas.

Their next big event is running the dog wash on Sunday, October 5, 2025, following the blessing of the animals. All donations benefit a local animal rescue.