Teaching students the importance of helping their community begins in the Lower School. We want our students to understand that even at the youngest ages, they can make a difference.

Our community service program is integrated into the curriculum across all grade levels, and there are opportunities for students to get involved in many ways: through school-wide community service events, classroom service activities, and a voluntary individual program.

The Lower School student council helps coordinate a number of school-wide community service events each year. These include toy drives for hospitalized children and a used book drive for students in need at area elementary schools.  Each homeroom also selects a community service project of its own. For example, kindergarten has an on-going, and very special, relationship with the residents of a nearby senior assisted living center.

On an individual level, all kindergarten through fifth grade students can earn a Community Service All-Star certificate for completing 10 hours of service. The voluntary All-Star program grew organically from the personal service projects of our students.  When our Community Service Committee became aware of several students who were doing extraordinary things to help others in need, they honored the students at a weekly assembly.  Immediately, other students were inspired to do good works, and the full-fledged Community Service All-Star Program took flight.  In just its second year last year the program honored 49  -- yes 49! – All-Stars as well as 6 students who received Presidential Service Awards for completing 50 or more hours of service.

No matter what level of involvement students choose, we want all students to realize that at Buckley, we believe in reaching out – whether it’s helping others at school or in the wider community.