Service Learning

As an Episcopal School we are dedicated to teaching our students to look beyond themselves and develop into people with a heart for service. Our service learning program aims to provide each student an opportunity for service to the wider community each school year. As we prepare our students for life after St. Mark’s, we hope that they will illustrate a global awareness, responsible citizenship, gratitude, empathy, and service to others.

In our Primary and Lower School, grade level teachers work with the school chaplain to choose and carry out an age appropriate service project each year that can be completed on campus. Students combine learning and action to better their local and wider community.

In our Middle School, students venture out into the community to serve those in need. This includes trips to the Houston Food Bank, Houston Care Partners Dementia Day Center, and the Beacon Homeless Day Center, among other activities. Each week students attend a service learning class, taught by our School Chaplain, where they learn about the issue that they will be addressing. This emphasis on learning, in a class-type setting, allows them to truly understand the issues facing our community.

Students are also given the opportunity to engage in a variety of additional outreach projects throughout the year, including projects organized by grade-level, student council, National Junior Honor Society, or individual students. In addition, our strong partnership with St. Mark’s Episcopal Church extends opportunities for families to serve together outside of school hours.