Community service is an integral part of a student’s life at Claremont. Through personal interactions and projects, students develop an understanding and sense of responsibility about the school community as well as our larger community. Class partnerships and buddies are assigned throughout the grades. Beginning in Kindergarten, students participate in the daily routines of the school. Student responsibilities include: Kindergarten students are responsible for bringing attendance to the Lower School office, first and second graders read to and do activities with Kindergarten students, and Middle School students buddy with the Kindergarten in the spring and help them learn the routines of the café.
Holiday celebrations are carefully planned to include school-wide partnerships as well as community service events. At Halloween, the Middle School partners with the Lower School and together they make special presentations and provide cupcakes to Nursing home residents. At Thanksgiving, Claremont works with a local High School, Millennium, to create a Wall of Giving. The Middle School students also visit each Lower School classroom and run a morning meeting, asking younger students, “What are we thankful for?” Lower and Middle School students then work together to decorate bags used to transport Thanksgiving Day meals to people who are homebound. On Earth Day Middle School students conduct mini-lessons on the importance of recycling and together Lower and Middle School students create posters and decorate bags that are used in the local café, Prêt.
Claremont also works with the downtown community on a number of service projects. One of the organizations which Claremont is a part of is the Trinity Partnership. The Middle School has participated in a number of Trinity-sponsored projects such as walk for migrant workers, national volunteer week, and downtown urban planning project. Students have worked closely with the local nursing home St. Margret’s House. Most recently, the Middle School donated and planted plants in honor of Earth Day at St. Margret’s House garden. Students also enjoy practicing their Mandarin with the residents and have formed pen pal relationships.
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