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Service Learning Program

Stuart Country Day School of the Sacred Heart delivers the Service Learning Program through the National Center for Girls’ Leadership at Stuart, as together they prepare girls for lives of exceptional leadership and service.

Central to the mission and identity of all Sacred Heart schools is a commitment to serve others as Goal Three calls Sacred Heart students to “a social awareness which impels to action.” Additionally, The National Center for Girls’ Leadership at Stuart is charged with delivering Stuart Country Day School’s mission to “prepare girls for lives of exceptional leadership and service.” Therefore, it is in service both to the mission of the Sacred Heart, and the mission of Stuart as an institution, that we support and sustain a cross-divisional, student-led, service learning program.

A cross-divisional, student-led, Service Learning Program

The best way to learn to lead is to be given the opportunity to lead.  Our students will be the leaders of our Service Learning Program with clear roles and responsibilities for each division, and supervised by the divisional Service Learning Coordinators. Lower School and Middle School will participate in school wide service learning projects, and the Sacred Heart tradition of Goal 3 days of service. The Upper School will lead whole school projects connected to their Service Learning Experience Requirements. The objective is to have students select service opportunities, set the service calendar, connect with partner organizations, manage the entire service learning experience, and present service impact reports to the school community. 

  • Upper School Students - Strategic planning, teaching, and participation
  • Middle School Students - Management, teaching, and participation
  • Lower School Students - Learning, advocating, and participation

Each division level will leverage a student Service Leadership Team.

Upper School Service Learning Requirement

Each Upper School student will participate in a minimum of four service learning experiences in each grade year for a total minimum of 16 service learning experiences during her Upper School career.  The Upper School Service Learning Requirement will emphasize Sacred Heart Goal 4, “the building of community as a Christian Value.”  Stuart students are members of several communities.  They are members of their Stuart Community, their local community, their national community and the global community.  As such, a Sacred Heart student must learn to build and serve each of her communities. This results in annual required experiences in each of the four categories:

  • Service to her Stuart Community
  • Service to her Local Community
  • Service to her National Community
  • Service to her Global Community
     

Current Opportunities

Coat Drive Begins October 23

Help keep someone warm this winter with your winter donations. Upper School Outreach Committee and SPA are hosting their annual Coat Drive from Monday, October 23 through November 9. They are asking for new or gently used winter gear such as mittens, coats, gloves, boots, etc! Place donations in bins found in the Front Hall and the Lower School carline. If you have any questions, please contact Kristen Zosche, kzosche@stuartschool.org. The drive supports Loaves & Fishes and St. Charles Borromeo Church. 

Donations are Needed: Middle School Halloween Party for CYO Preschoolers on October 24 from 1:00-3:00 PM

There will be (100) pre-schoolers attending this year, so to make this afternoon a wonderful celebration, we need a variety of donations. Follow the link to sign up: CYO Halloween SignUpGenius. Please plan on bringing in all donations to Cindy Haney's office in the MSRC by Friday, October 20th. Any questions, please reach out to Cindy Haney at chaney@stuartschool.org or SPA Middle School parent representative, Katie Janiszewski at katiej77@gmail.com.

SPA Terra Cotta House Event Volunteers Needed!

SPA is looking for Upper School student volunteers to assist during our annual Terra Cotta House event on Saturday November 11. There are two sessions: 10am-12pm and 12:30-2:30. Volunteers will assist families building houses (we can teach you!). Volunteers will also be able to create their own terra cotta house. If you are interested, please fill out this form and SPA will contact you:

https://forms.gle/naEfAeBJeT28zz9H7 If you have any questions, please contact Jaci Trzaska at Jaclyn.trzaska@yahoo.com

Sacred Heart Network Student Advisory Committee - Applications

The Sacred Heart Network is excited to welcome a new cohort of students for the third year of this program. NSAC is a unique opportunity for approximately 25 high school representatives from Sacred Heart Schools within the United States and Canada. The purpose of the committee is to connect students and create a platform for them to collaborate on new initiatives for schools at the Network level. Amanda Codina of the network will communicate a list of applicants with each school before moving forward with any applications. NSAC Overview & Application has more information on this program, including a link to the application. Applications are now available and due by Sunday, October 8, 2023.

Volunteer Opportunity - D&R Greenway

D&R Greenway Land Trust is in need of volunteers on October 26 and October 27 to help decorate for a Masquerade Ball at Hillside Farm in Hopewell. Volunteers will learn about the late Betty Wold Johnson’s vision for this 800-acre preserve and funds raised by this event supports the care of the preserve. 

If available and interested, please contact Ms. Zosche: kzosche@stuartschool.org

Volunteer Coach (flyer attached) - The Princeton Recreation Department is seeking high school and college students who are interested in being volunteer coaches for their Saturday morning youth basketball league this winter. No basketball experience is needed. Apply here--> https://princetonnj.portal.opengov.com/categories/1087/record-types/6622

  • Contact: Chris Petrucelli
    cpetrucelli@princetonnj.gov
    Phone: 609-921-9480

Frequently Asked Questions

Examples of Organizations for Service Learning Experiences

STUART LOCAL NATIONAL GLOBAL
StuARTS
Admissions Events
Summer Auxiliary Programs
Before / After Care
Tutoring
Campus Cleanups
Advancement Events
NCGLS Programming
Athletics Events
Loaves and Fishes
Morris Hall
TASK
CYO
Sprouts
Homefront
Mercer County Library
Send Hunger Packing
Enable
SAVE
Womanspace
Outreach of Emergency Aid
Arm in Arm
Father Benedict House of AC
Covenant House
Princeton Nursery
Special Olympics
One Simple Wish
American Red Cross
Women's Prison Book Project
Catholic Charities
Boys and Girls Club
Appalachia Service Project
4-H National Youth Program
GreenPeace USA
Citizen's Climate Lobby
Center for Faith Justice Trip
Sacred Heart Service Trips
Outreach for Emergency Aid
Girl Scouts of America
SEEDS to Sew
Border Immigration Work
Catholic Climate Covenant
Amnesty International
Rise Against Hunger
Heifer International
Womankind Worldwide
United Nations Women
Rise Up
Outreach for Emergency Aid
Global Service Trip