Service Learning

Sayre School’s goal in service learning is to encourage social responsibility, community involvement, and thoughtful action while learning about humanitarian issues and the organizations that have been created to respond to those issues.  Sayre School is committed to fostering philanthropic values in its students by providing service opportunities on and off campus.

Lower School Service Learning

Sayre’s Lower School is committed to fostering compassion and empathy for others through education and community service. Even at the youngest age students begin to examine cause and effect at a developmentally appropriate level. They have the opportunity to see how each individual can make a difference in the world and their own community. The Lower School participates in a canned food drive each fall for God’s Pantry that provides food to those in need in our community. Throughout the year students have dress-down days where money is collected for our “Kids for Kids” program. At the end of the year the money collected is donated to a specific charity. Last year over $1000 was given to “The Reading Camp” to purchase supplies for disadvantaged children learning to read. The Lower School also responds when unexpected events create a condition of need, such as Hurricane Katrina.

Middle School Service Learning

Service Learning is an integral element of the Middle School curriculum.  Three times during the year, advisory groups perform service learning projects in the Lexington community.  A couple of examples include, sorting food at God's Pantry and baking cookies at the Ronald McDonald House. Time is set aside during the academic day, and transportation is arranged by the school. 

There are a number of other ways that students become involved in community-minded projects at Sayre’s Middle School. During December, each advisory group is given a family in the community to provide gifts for the holiday season.  Students also participate in a can drive to provide food for God’s Pantry.  Additionally, students become involved in special projects, led by middle school students and student council, such as disaster relief and charitable fund-raising projects.

Upper School Service Learning

In the Upper School, service learning strives to help each student become an independent volunteer within the community.  Each student is required to document a minimum of three service projects throughout the year.  A project is represented by 3 to 4 hours of service, which gives the student the opportunity to have a more significant impact with that agency. Students complete one service project as a part of their advisory.  For the remaining projects, students may select a non-profit agency whose cause is important to them. Students in the Sayre Upper School donate more than 5,000 hours each year to the local community, which has lasting effect in their lives and the lives of those served.

Students interested in receiving an Honors or High Honors diploma have additional requirements for service learning in their junior and senior years.

Service Learning Form for Sayre Students