Service
At Newton Country Day, service to those in need is woven into the fabric of our school. Called by faith to action, our students develop a strong sense of their own power to make positive change. We believe that students have much to learn from those they serve, and that their developing identities are shaped in part by their active service to others in the school and beyond.
Middle School girls participate in a variety of service projects throughout the year to raise money for such organizations as Birthday Wishes and the American Red Cross. The students also serve the community first hand by assisting the Food Project, a farm that harvests fruits and vegetables for local shelters. Upper School students serve on a wider scale and must complete a required number of hours of direct service for graduation. Ninth and tenth graders work as class groups on social service projects. At the beginning of Grade 11, girls travel to New York City for a service immersion experience that allows them to directly serve various communities. Juniors also participate in a program called Hesed (translated as “steadfast, faithful, enduring love”). Students choose from a number of sites to directly serve client populations. The service project culminates in a presentation given to their peers incorporating research on an issue related to their site work. In recent years students have volunteered at a wide range of local sites including shelters, food pantries, hospitals, nursing homes, tutoring and after school programs. Beyond serving individuals and communities in need, the Hesed program intends to transform students and inspire a life-long commitment to service and justice. |
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