Service Learning

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Becoming Lifelong Stewards

Through service

The purpose of service learning at Steward is for students to gain a deeper understanding of themselves by applying creativity, critical-thinking skills, and action toward authentic needs in our local (and global) communities with the hope of enacting positive change. We aim to embody Steward’s core values of honor, responsibility, achievement, care, and respect of self and others to become lifelong stewards, learning from and serving in our communities.

Research shows that students involved in service learning are more likely to pursue service professions in government, medicine, education, non-profit leadership, and more.

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What is service learning?

Service learning is an educational approach that integrates curriculum and community needs through a cycle of action and reflection. This approach enhances real world learning through authentic connections and differs from a traditional community service model due to the intentional process of preparation and reflection. Service learning requires collaborative effort of students, teachers, administrators, community agencies and members to work together with deliberate thought and action toward a common purpose that has reciprocal benefits for all.
Definition of key terms
- Civic engagement - promoting the quality of life in a community through political and nonpolitical processes; working to make a difference in the civic (city) life of one’s community. This may include volunteering, service learning, or national service.
- Community service - the action of helping or doing work for someone within a community.
- Community engagement - long-term involvement with our community to provide access to a greater range of solutions.
- Justice - the quality of being morally right or fair.
- Purpose - the intention, aim, or reason for which something is done or exists.
- Service Learning - educational approach that integrates curriculum and authentic community needs through a cycle of action and reflection.
- Stewardship - careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.
Program goals
Our goal with the service learning program is to ensure that each experience includes:
- Links to school curriculum
- Student voices
- Community partners
- Diversity of perspectives
- Meaningful service through intentional steps: investigation, planning/preparation, action, reflection, and sharing
How do we define the scope of service?

Our service scope begins on the Steward campus and in the surrounding community, then extends to the local, regional, national, and international communities with which we are engaged.
What are Steward's service learning themes?
While recognizing that our student body and its interests evolve over time, along with being sensitive to needs in our community, our current themes are centered around the following initiatives:
- Special Needs and Diverse Abilities
- Food Sustainability and Gardening
- Safe and Strong Communities
- Animal Protection and Care
Who are our partners?

As many of us discover throughout life’s journey, it’s not always what you know, but who you know. Learning is about connections, and service learning is no different. Projects that connect to real people, creatures, or community are vital for deep learning to occur. Steward prides itself on vast connections within metro Richmond and beyond, as well as teachers who are committed to long-term change in our society.

Our goal is to have long-term community partners for every grade level to provide meaningful experiences that shape potential careers and aspirations and enhance students’ preparation for life outside of Steward.

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Contact Us

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Alexa Bolt

Coordinator of Service Learning and Engagement

Service Learning Across the Divisions

Lower School

Mini-Economy

Fourth graders learn about the basics of economics, especially entrepreneurship. They put their newly-learned skills to the test on Market Day, when students make pitches to faculty and parents — aka their “customers” — in hopes of selling handmade items to them.
Flat Stanleys

The students at Oak Grove Elementary create Flat Stanleys and send them to Steward students with letters of introduction.
Operation Gratitude

Students collect Halloween candy to send care packages to service members who bravely serve our nation. This provides opportunities to develop organization and campaigning skills, practice selflessness and generosity, and gain knowledge about life on active duty from Steward alumni, parents, and staff who have served in the military.

Middle School

Reinhart House

Each advisory group participates in ongoing indirect service by preparing breakfast for guest families who stay at the Reinhart House. Groups rotate throughout the school year, and this is a favorite among the students, as they learn about cooperation, working as a team, and the important life skill of cooking.
Rocket Launch

As part of the class unit on Earth and space systems, the eighth-grade science classes study design thinking by creating water bottle rockets. In 2019, the rocket launch coincided with a campus visit by retired NASA astronaut and engineer Leland Melvin, who was at Steward as part of the Visiting Innovators program. Steward partnered with Richmond Public Schools, whose students visited Steward’s campus to observe the rocket launch. Future plans include involving other grade levels and NASA representatives.
Environmental Cleanup

During Community Week each September, seventh graders visit the VCU Rice Rivers Center to learn about natural resources in the Chesapeake Bay. They clean and bag thousands of oyster shells that are used to help filter the James River. This project pairs with the environmental studies unit in science class.
Nursing Home Pen Pals

The sixth-grade English class uses a writing assignment to send letters to a local nursing home that accepts sterilized mail.

Upper School

Freshmen Minimester

During the week prior to Spring Break, the freshman class visits different local community agencies to “Discover Richmond” and learn about the various perspectives that have historically shaped the city. Students engage in personal discovery projects, including creative reflections based on interviews or surveys with community organizations and sharing what they learn through their service experience
Special Olympics

Through the Special Olympics Club, there are numerous opportunities to work with disabled athletes, including unified basketball and bowling leagues, both of which allow students with diverse abilities from different schools to compete together.
World Religions

The World Religions class has established an interfaith panel with representatives from the local community to learn how faith is a tool for resilience, to hear differing perspectives, and to learn how they can engage in civil conversation and service despite their differing beliefs.