The Heathwood Hall Approach
Service Learning
At Heathwood Hall, service is woven into the fabric of school life. Guided by our Episcopal identity, we strive to cultivate students who are not only strong scholars but also compassionate citizens committed to uplifting others.
Hands, Hearts, and Minds in Action
At Heathwood Hall, Service Learning is an essential part of the student experience, connecting classroom lessons with real-world impact. Through age-appropriate projects and partnerships with local organizations, students learn the value of empathy, responsibility, and active citizenship. These hands-on opportunities foster a deeper understanding of community needs while inspiring students to become compassionate leaders who make a difference.
What Sets Our Program Apart
- Reciprocal Learning: Students don’t just give—they learn. Each project pairs hands-on service with research into the history, causes, and local organizations addressing issues such as hunger, poverty, disability inclusion, and veterans’ support.
- Developmentally Aligned: From Early Childhood through Upper School, projects grow in complexity, ensuring that service remains meaningful and age-appropriate.
- Community Impact: Students log thousands of volunteer hours annually, partnering with nonprofits across the Midlands and beyond.
Service by Division
Early Childhood & Lower School
- Guided by Chaplains and counselors, young students practice empathy through age-appropriate drives and collections—food for Harvest Hope, candy for deployed troops, and school supplies for children in need.
Middle School
- Through partnerships with Harvest Hope and the Souper Bowl of Caring, students study hunger, food deserts, and related data while engaging in hands-on relief efforts.
Upper School
- Each student completes 20+ service hours per year, choosing causes that resonate with them.
- Johns Island Service Project: For more than 30 years, seniors and faculty have spent three days restoring homes for residents in need—a powerful capstone experience before graduation.
Recent Highlights
- Gills Creek Clean-Up: 52 volunteers removed 1,200 lbs of trash.
- Harvest Hope Food Drive: 2,232 lbs of food → 1,860 meals.
- NJHS Diaper Drive: 16,071 diapers donated.
- Red Cross Blood Drive: 25 units—potentially saving 75 lives.
- Deck the Hall 5K/2K: $5,000+ raised for Camp Cole & Johns Island Project.
- Salvation Army Battle of the Bells: 100+ volunteer hours, $1,500 raised.
- Hudson’s Heroes: 400 food boxes packed for families.
- Turkey Trot: Middle Schoolers raised $13,000 for Harvest Hope.
- Presidential Service Awards: 28 students honored for 100+ annual volunteer hours.
Service learning at Heathwood Hall shapes students into thoughtful leaders who understand the needs of their communities—and are eager to meet them with empathy, knowledge, and action.