Community Service

In keeping with Burgundy’s mission, students at every grade level learn about the importance of service.

Community service projects are coordinated in Lower School by classroom and in Middle School in advisory groups. School-wide initiatives are organized through a Student Council of representatives from every classroom.

In early childhood classrooms, students live by the rule: Take care of yourself, each other, and the world. Daily routines include caring for each person’s physical and emotional well being, as well as the campus through recycling, composting, and picking up after ourselves. These concepts help students understand their role in the community and empower them to become active participants in service projects in later grades.

In elementary grades, students coordinate with community organizations on projects that support area animal shelters and homeless shelters and partner with the elderly at a local retirement community. Elementary students sell Mayan goods to raise money for Mayan artisans and hold fundraisers in response to national and worldwide natural disasters. Students also continue and expand on daily jobs that put conservation and environmental stewardship into practice.

Students in middle school are required to fulfill a gradually increasing number of community service hours prior to graduation. Community service projects are coordinated by the middle school faculty or by students with particular interests. Hourly service requirements are 8 hours for 6th grade, 10 hours for 7th grade, and 12 hours for 8th grade. Most community service hours can be earned during or after school hours through opportunities presented at school.

Burgundy’s curriculum and campus life help students understand their place in each of their communities; home, school, country, and the world. Graduates value opportunities to give on all these levels and become lifelong volunteers.