Day of Service

One of the key focal areas of the IB Middle Years Programme is to help learners make real-world connections to what is taught in the classroom. This morning, our sixth, seventh and eighth graders were asked to connect their upcoming Day of Service activities to the Corporal Works of Mercy.

According to the USCCB, Corporal Works of Mercy respond to the basic needs of humanity as we journey together through this life.

These acts are found in the teachings of Jesus and give us a model for how we should treat others, as if they were Christ in disguise. They “are charitable actions by which we help our neighbors in their bodily needs."

Source: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops

Day of Service Partner Organizations

6th graders will be working in Richmond's Bryan Park helping to clear debris and assisting with grounds restoration projects in cooperation with Friends of Bryan Park. Current volunteer projects focus on four main areas of the park including keeping its ponds and streams free from debris, helping to maintain and improve the Azalea Gardens, expanding Native Plant Gardens and helping with a Habitat Restoration Program.

7th grade students will help with clean up and preservation efforts at Woodland Cemetery. A video interview with Marvin Harris, the Cemetary's Executive Director, outlines the incredible volume of volunteerism and community restoration efforts in the second video below.

Our 8th graders will be working with a third local organization, Shood, which makes gently used, high-quality shoes available to those in need through a personal, pop-up shopping experience, throughout Richmond. You can hear Shood's founder, Robin Telfian, speak about the organization's simple mission below.