Community Weekends: How Dana Hall Builds Belonging That Lasts

Community Weekends are an integral part of the Dana Hall experience. Combining required events with optional fun, they bring the entire community together for a weekend filled with bonding, excitement, delicious food, and lasting memories. 

In the last weekend of September, we held our first Community Weekend of the year. Bookended by the Student Club & Organization Fair on Friday night and Dorm Competitions on Sunday afternoon, students, faculty, and staff came together to celebrate our community and enjoy a weekend of shared connection. 

Highlights from Our First Community Weekend

Student Club & Organization Fair
On Friday night, we kicked things off with the Student Club and Organization Fair, an opportunity for student leaders to showcase upcoming events, gain new members, and invite all students to explore new interests. Club leaders hosted energetic booths in the gym while students, both new and returning, perused their options. Students signed up to learn more and connect with peers who share their passions. Offerings spanned from academic and service pursuits like Model UN, Dragons in Biotech, or the Community Service Advisory Board (CSAB) to hobby-based groups like Whimsy Stitches (crochet), SPOT: Animal Advocacy, and our newly created Couture Club. 

Mid-Autumn Festival
Following the fair, the International Student Association and the Asian-Affinity Group partnered to host the Mid-Autumn Festival. Students sampled a variety of mooncakes and decorated paper lanterns. It was a beautiful opportunity for our Asian community to share a cherished tradition, while providing other students an immersive cultural experience through delicious food, crafts, and shared experiences. 

Dana Calling
On Saturday, our community gathered — despite high winds and rain — for the first-ever Dana Calling. Complete with carnival games, a live performance by our very own Jug Band, an inflatable obstacle course, fried confections, and a magician, the event offered a well-deserved opportunity to unwind after a busy start to the school year. Around 200 community members danced, played games, and escaped the weather together. We wrapped up the day with a Campus Cookout-themed dinner in the Dining Center. 

Annual Dorm Competitions
On Sunday, Johnston D claimed their fourth consecutive victory in our annual Dorm Competitions! Dorm Proctors planned a series of high-energy competitive events ranging from volleyball to relay-race Tic-Tac-Toe. Students and faculty dressed in their respective dorm colors, bringing unmatched enthusiasm to close out the weekend. 

Why Community Matters at Dana Hall

At their foundation, Community Weekends do more than just fill a schedule — they actively cultivate a deep sense of belonging. In an environment where students balance rigorous academics, athletic commitments, and artistic endeavors, intentional moments of play and connection are essential. 

At Dana Hall, community is not a passive backdrop to learning; it is the catalyst for growth. When a student feels grounded in her community, she is far more likely to take intellectual risks, step into new leadership roles, and embrace challenges with confidence. 

How We Build Belonging Across Campus

While Community Weekends showcase our spirit, community-building at Dana Hall is an intentional, everyday practice woven through all aspects of school life: 

• Multicultural and Inclusive Spaces: Shared events like the Mid-Autumn Festival remind us that our diversity is one of our greatest strengths. By creating spaces where students can celebrate their unique cultures and learn from one another, we foster true empathy and global perspective. 
• Shared Boarding and Day Life: Whether a student travels five miles or five thousand miles to campus, events like Dana Calling and the Student Club and Organization Fair brings all members of our community together for a shared experience and to identify shared interests. 
• Student Leadership in Action: From organizing club fair booths to leading dorm competition events, student leadership is organic and peer-driven. When students take ownership of building community, they learn critical collaboration and communication skills that extend far beyond the classroom. 
• Faculty & Staff Mentorship: Seeing teachers and staff participate alongside students, whether attempting an inflatable obstacle course or cheering on their team at the dorm competitions, enriches our campus relationships. 

Community Weekends serve as an anchor for the school year. They give us space to step away from our busy routines, celebrate each other’s talents, and reinforce the foundation of respect, joy, and togetherness that makes Dana Hall feel like home.