Community Service Learning

Our lower school students participate in many service learning opportunities each year. Starting in Early Childhood, students are taught how to exercise kindness by writing thank you letters for the ESD staff, facilities team, faculty, security team, and administration. Primer also adopted collecting birthday party supplies for homeless youth in partnership with The Birthday Party Project. 

The third grade successfully completed their annual canned food drive to support the North Dallas Shared Ministries food bank, where they participated in a shopping trip and put their mathematical estimation skills to the test by purchasing three meals for a family of four on a set budget. Students then led a campus-wide canned food drive that hand-delivered 506 bags of food and toiletries, an impressive 3,715 items total, to North Dallas Shared Ministries.

At early ages, our students understand that they can have an impact, however big or small, and make a difference in the lives of others.

Middle schoolers begin to take initiative in their own service learning starting in fifth grade. During this time, students are also officially introduced to the global goals, where they begin making connections between local issues and global perspectives. Students apply that knowledge through experiential learning opportunities, such as organizing drives, leading campus-wide projects through service clubs, visiting various nonprofit organizations, and devising other methods of involvement that best suit their interest areas.

Middle schoolers also share their community service pop-up experiences  during a chapel talk, as well as conduct leadership interviews with nonprofits and the ESD leadership team to further develop a sense of empathy and stewardship. 

Upper school students begin freshman year by reflecting on their values and passions, connecting local issues to global goals, and envisioning how they can have an impact as individuals. During this time, students focus on direct service, such as going off-campus, volunteering in their service area of interest, and more. 

In sophomore year, students exercise advocacy by using their voices to promote a cause or issue. They can devise a campaign, PSA, town hall announcement, make a website, and have pop-up educational services within the community.

Each year, juniors participate in a year-long survey of local service opportunities that culminates in a class-wide presentation of their findings. 

The Senior Class Service Capstone designates a convergence of knowledge, practice, and passion within various issue areas. Seniors work together as a class to volunteer directly and gain hands-on experience, host a fundraiser to contribute financially, and hold an in-kind drive to collect high-need items.