Community Service Learning

I am preparing lives that will go out from the classroom, reach out to the community, and stand out in the world. - ESD Manifesto

With Service to Others being one of ESD’s Founding Tenets, students of all ages participate in an enriching community service program. Our program provides students with age-appropriate service opportunities and encourages the idea that every act of service, big or small, is important.

From local service hours to international mission trips, ESD students are making an impact on our community, our nation, and our world.

Lower School

Our Lower School students participate in many service learning opportunities each year, beginning as early as Primer's recently adopted birthday supplies drive for The Birthday Party Project.

Last year, as part of their social studies curriculum unit related to wants vs. needs, third graders learned that 1 in 4 children (300,000 kids) in North Texas is food insecure. Students held a food drive and later hand delivered 506 bags of food and toiletries - an impressive 3,715 items.

Middle School

Middle Schoolers begin to take initiative in their own service learning beginning in fifth grade. The students organize drives, found service clubs, and more.

Seventh graders study the play A Christmas Carol in the fall. Following the performance of A Christmas Carol at the Dallas Theater Center, students and teachers visit various nonprofit organization in the community for an afternoon of service.

Upper School

Upper School students are required to complete a certain number of community service hours as part of their core curriculum, yet many of them exceed these numbers each year. In 2019, we recognized 38 seniors for exceeding more than 100 service hours per year - that's 350 hours both locally and globally during their time in Upper School here at ESD.

Each year, juniors participate in a year-long survey of local service opportunities that culminates in a class-wide presentation of their findings.