Collegiate 7th Graders Begin Six-Week Service Program

Collegiate School 7th Graders this week began six weeks of working with 13 Richmond-area nonprofit organizations as part of Connect Richmond, their grade-level community service program.
Service learning, one of the eight pillars in Collegiate’s Institute for Responsible Citizenship, is integrated into every School division (Lower, Middle and Upper) and serves as a tool that combines meaningful service with the curriculum.

Connect Richmond, now in its third year, strives to nurture interaction and connection between students and individuals in the community. Sites students will visit include The Faison Center, Circle Center, Lakewood Manor, Lewis Ginter, Saint Francis Home, Shalom Farms, the Sprout School and Beth Sholom.

During Connect Richmond, students build relationships with the individuals they see each week as they explore their needs, said Suzanne Fleming, Collegiate’s Director of Service Learning.

“Connect Richmond fosters interaction, connection, empathy and personal growth,” she said.

The program also serves as a building block for students and prepares them for future service learning projects, including Envision Richmond in 8th Grade and Community Engagement in 9th Grade.

“Connect Richmond develops in our 7th Grade students a sense of understanding and responsibility for broader community issues by making curricular connections to their volunteer work,” Mrs. Fleming said.
Back