Community Service

Service is a pillar of The Oakwood School.

Oakwood’s mission clearly states that the School endeavors to teach its students that human beings have an obligation to make the world a better place: The Oakwood School seeks to instill in its students the strength of character, the creativity, and the wisdom to make a difference in the world.

Part of Oakwood’s Philosophy Statement reiterates that our students will learn to value contributing to the world around them: The Oakwood School exists to help our students to learn and to love learning, to value themselves and others, and to become contributing members of ever-larger communities.

Finally, one of Oakwood’s Belief Statements beautifully explains the value of community service: We believe that both within and beyond the school walls, students learn that service to others is one of the deepest satisfactions the human spirit can know.

Our goal is to integrate knowledge and understanding with compassion and social responsibility, while we strive to promote empathy for others through diversity of ideas and experiences. Each division of the School has developed age-appropriate community service programs to nurture in our students a concern for the communities and world at large.

Lower School

The faculty members of the Lower School are committed to helping their students understand the benefits of service to others and this is part of the everyday language of our students and teachers in the Lower School.

In the Lower School, our students participate in age-appropriate opportunities for students and families. Each year, the opportunities vary based off what's available and coincides with our Lower School curriculum.

Middle School

To help students learn how they can make a difference in the world outside of Oakwood, students engage in service projects each year, including collecting canned food and clothing for those in need, packing boxes of food at a local food bank, visiting with and reading poetry to residents at a senior living center, and mentoring younger children on campus.

The specific projects described are predetermined and recurring, but purposely leave time open for projects that students create themselves when they see a need that touches them. Our Middle School Student Government Association and sometimes individual Middle School students, will be inspired by an event, a project completed in the classroom, or something they learn about outside of school, and will lead a student-initiated, student-driven community service effort to help those in need. Whether it is our annual efforts or an impromptu spirited drive to bring about change, the students and faculty of The Oakwood Middle School live the school's mission and are committed to service projects throughout the year.

Upper School

The Oakwood Upper School firmly believes in and teaches students to give of themselves as a part of their education. Because true altruism comes from the individual and community service has been a significant part of every student’s existence at Oakwood since Lower School, Upper School community service is directed through school clubs and through individual participation.

Since required amount of service seems counter-productive to the service atmosphere instilled in earlier years, the Upper School does not require a specific amount of time to be logged. (Note: Candidacy for National Honor Society does carry a 20 hour minimum of community service per year prior to the year of eligibility.) However, the PSA does recognize students who volunteer their time regularly with a Community Service Award. Guidelines and forms can be found HERE.