Service Learning fosters community-minded, compassionate, and civically engaged students.

Lab’s Service Learning program is rooted in the “learning by doing” philosophy of our founder. It guides our students through opportunities that allow them to explore complex social issues and apply classroom learning through meaningful service to the community. Through the Service Learning program, students develop a deeper understanding of community and a life-long commitment to social change.

Middle School

Our Middle School Service Learning program helps students foster a sense of responsibility to our community. We engage in service and reflection that instill the value of providing time, effort, and resources to others in pursuit of a more just society. Service Learning strengthens our Middle School community, enriches classroom learning, and empowers our students to be thoughtful and effective agents of change.

Service Learning is integrated into the Middle School Advisory program and allows students to participate in community initiatives at various levels through philanthropy, advocacy, and direct service. Each advisory participates in at least two off-campus community engagement experiences during the school year. Through pre- and post-service advisory discussions, our students are pushed to define what it means to be active and engaged citizens by reflecting on values of stewardship, social responsibility, and leadership.

Our Middle School students explore the concepts of community building and responsible citizenship in many ways. Examples include: 

• serving meals to community members in an adult day service program; 

• learning about issues of global inequality through the Oxfam America Hunger Banquet;

• volunteering at community gardens; 

• organizing a book drive and reading books with children from community schools; 

• investigating the connection between science and community by visiting an urban agriculture center;

• cleaning and preparing a summer camp for people with disabilities; and 

• packaging newborn supply kits for new mothers.

---

High School

Get Involved!

U-High students can get involved in various community engagement experiences:

• Volunteer at one of our community partner organizations

• Participate in service learning experiences offered by teachers

• Sign up for group service opportunities offered on weekends and after school

• Collaborate with community organizations for May Project

• Sophomore Year of Service

Students’ sophomore year is uniquely dedicated to service, and successful completion of the program is a graduation requirement. Students who transfer to U-High after their sophomore year are asked to meet with the Service Learning Coordinator to determine a service plan.

At the beginning of their sophomore year, students will select a community organization where they commit to 30 hours of service over the course of the year. Students can select from an approved list of partner organizations or propose a new service site to the Service Learning coordinator. All service forms must be approved before a student can start their service. With the guidance of the Service Learning coordinator, students will be responsible for coordinating a service schedule that works for both the student and the organization.

Students in the U-High Service Learning program are required to:

• Participate in reflection discussions through advisory

• Turn in a signed timesheet at the end of each quarter

• Complete a written reflection in the middle of their service

• Complete a reflection project following the second part of their service