Social Responsibility

EXPLORATION:
In LS our students explore different community service opportunities to help expose them to various ways they are able to contribute to our community. This is a sampling of our Lower School initiatives:

• Levine Children’s Hospital
• The Lunch Project
• Fifth Grade Safety Patrol
• Collateral Repair Project
• The Relatives
• Ronald McDonald House
• Crisis Assistance Ministries

GRATITUDE:
Opportunity to recognize and develop a sense of gratitude and appreciation for our community and our school.

REFLECTION:
“Write Your Own Story" journals, discussion, drawing, and other activities.

EMPATHY:
Starting in sixth grade and building in seventh and eighth, Middle Schoolers work together to build empathetic listening skills.

PARTICIPATION:
Grade level partnerships with schools in Mecklenburg County; Capstone initiatives encouraging students to work collaboratively to design real-life solutions to challenges.

• 6th Grade: Movement School Kindergarten buddies. For this partnership, based on building relationships and community, our 6th graders visit Movement School multiple times throughout the school year to work on collaborative projects.
• 7th Grade: Winterfield Elementary First Grade buddies. For four years, the partnership with Winterfield has included both classroom projects and after school enrichment programs.
• 8th Grade: Wilson STEM Academy partnership, Community Partnership. Each year, a small cohort of 8th graders are selected to participate with a cohort from Wilson STEM.  The students visit each school and work on collaborative projects, such as visual arts and leadership skill development.  

REFLECTION:
Facilitating student reflections on making a difference.

INVESTIGATION:
Classroom curriculum and campus initiatives direct students to investigate the economic, cultural, social, political, educational, and environmental obstacles that impede community development.

• Grade level Initiatives: 9th Grade Charger Impact Challenge in which students learn about the impediments that obstruct upward mobility and social justice for thousands of their neighbors throughout Mecklenburg County.
• Classroom Curriculum and Service Learning Activities: include promoting civic engagement, examining sustainable development practices, and providing support to organizations that serve vulnerable communities.
• US Community Engagement Portal:  offers students numerous opportunities to engage and become active in their community.
• Student led Foundation Board lends financial support to student-centered social responsibility initiatives.

INNOVATION:
Through their experiences in problem-based or experiential learning coursework, Upper School students are encouraged to propose and implement innovative solutions to community challenges.

REFLECTION:
Students have opportunities (both formal and informal) to meaningfully reflect on their community engagement.

COLLEGE AND BEYOND:

• Researching university majors and programming to determine how best to build upon their community engagement experience.
• Reflecting on community engagement experiences throughout the college application process.
• Exploring the occupations and industries that can contribute to community solution-building.