This semester marked the launch of a new Saturday boarding dinner at the newly opened Collegio campus for students in Grades 11 and 12. The initiative was created in part to address a practical challenge: the cafeteria prepares Saturday meals that students sometimes miss due to weekend activities and plans. Rather than allowing that food to go unused, the boarding program introduced an alternative that is both sustainable and community-driven.
With the support of boarding faculty, students take full ownership of the evening. They collaborate to plan the menu, shop for ingredients, cook the meal, and clean up afterward. The dinner is open to all boarders—whether from the main campus or the Collegio dormitory—making it a shared experience across residences and grade levels.
What has emerged is far more than a meal.
Students have embraced the opportunity to bring their cultural traditions into the kitchen. Recent dinners have featured dishes from around the world, including Lithuania’s vibrant pink soup, šaltibarščiai, made with beetroot, kefir or buttermilk, cucumber, fresh dill, and green onions, and traditionally served with boiled potatoes and eggs. Another evening showcased hearty borscht, the beloved Eastern European soup built around beetroot and enriched with cabbage, carrots, potatoes, onions, and sometimes beans or tomatoes—served either with beef or as a vegetarian version, often finished with sour cream and fresh herbs.
These meals have become moments of storytelling as much as cooking. Students share not only recipes, but memories of home, family traditions, and cultural heritage.
In a relaxed and welcoming setting, Saturday dinners offer space to reflect on the week, connect across grade levels, and simply enjoy one another’s company. They embody what boarding at St. Stephen’s has represented for more than 60 years: independence balanced with belonging, responsibility paired with community.
By combining sustainability with shared experience, this new tradition reflects the values that define our school—care for one another, respect for culture, and thoughtful stewardship of resources.
Sometimes, the most meaningful traditions begin with something simple: gathering around a table together.
