Giving Back

Recently, St. John’s students, parents, teachers and alumni crowded the Houston Food Bank to participate in the first ever all-school day of service. Throughout the year, SJS students partake in many community service projects, even leading some of their own.

Upper School students complete over 36,000 hours of service each year despite facing no requirement to participate in community service. Each week, students lead and participate in activities that include making care packages for the homeless, preparing and serving meals at the Ronald McDonald House, and sewing pillows to send to Texas Children’s Hospital. Additionally, many members of each grade team together to complete a class community service project each year, like cleaning up a park.

The Upper School hosts a week-long summer camp for children in the YMCA’s refugee program. Students serve as teachers and administrators for this project, which enriches students’ educations and English skills through one-on-one tutoring and field trips.

Students who assist the Community Service Coordinator in planning such projects are known as community service officers and must complete lengthy applications before being selected as members of the board. Every grade is represented by several community service officers, who communally decide to award grants to some projects if students need financial resources.  

The Middle School also participates in community service through advisory projects that occur during an annual Day of Giving as well as by hosting the Special Olympics. Upper School students and teachers also take part in the March event by presenting awards, helping athletes get to their races, sponsoring arts and crafts projects in the Olympic Village and cheering.

The SJS mission statement affirms that the school is “dedicated to the enhancement and expansion of future leadership for Houston and the country.” The community service program enables students to do just that during high school and beyond.