Highlights of
Service Learning Program 2023-2024

Throughout the years, Holy Child School at Rosemont students, parents, faculty, and staff have
participated in community service projects around the Philadelphia area. This year, our community has participated in many service-learning projects inside and beyond the classroom. Recent examples are below, but there are many others, including our Prekindergarten Alex Lemonade Stand, which donates all proceeds to Alex Lemonade Stand Foundation; and our school-organized event called the Advent Angel Project, benefitting CASA Youth Advocates. In addition, opportunities for service-learning that connect us to our Holy Child Goals, particularly goals 4 and 5, are woven throughout our curriculum and are focused on justice, compassion, and respect for the individual. Our Middle School students frequently assist our school's faculty and staff Service-Learning committee in making intentional decisions about the causes and charities we support. Here are a few examples of the community service projects our school has participated in this year:

Thanksgiving Canned Food Drive
In November, our community collected non-perishable canned food items for The Patrician Society, the largest emergency food cupboard in Montgomery County. We timed our drive around the Thanksgiving Holiday as a way of giving thanks and sharing what we have with our less-fortunate neighbors. Holy Child School at Rosemont has partnered with the Patrician Society for over 11 years through our annual canned food drive.

Used-Sports-Equipment Collection
Our Grade 8 students organized a service-learning experience in December 2023 and January 2024 that engaged our students and parents, benefiting an organization called Leveling the Playing Field. The 8th graders put together presentations to inform our students about an opportunity to donate their gently used sporting goods equipment, allowing children who are less fortunate to be able to enjoy athletic programs in their schools and communities. The presentations highlighted the many benefits of sports participation, as it helps children stay active, develop confidence, and learn sportsmanship. After this collection was completed, our Grade 8 students visited Leveling the Playing Field in Philadelphia to present the sports equipment and a monetary donation, the latter of which represents the proceeds from our campus Snack Shack.

Holy Child School at Rosemont’s Annual Service Day
Guided by our Foundress Cornelia Connelly's life-long commitment to service, we held our annual Service Day & Carnival Fun event on Thursday, February 15. Our annual service day brings together Lower and Middle School Buddies for a day full of community-building experiences centered on service. Our Buddies worked collaboratively on service-learning projects - creating "Socks of Love" and preparing sandwiches - that will provide economically disadvantaged people in the Philadelphia area with warm socks and a meal. Students wrote thoughtful and encouraging notes to accompany our donations, extending the warmth and joy of Holy Child to the recipients of these items. In the afternoon, PreKindergarten through Grade 6 participated in carnival games and fun that were dreamt up and created by Grades 7 and 8. In preparation for this event, our Middle School Student Council leaders worked with their peers to research and select non-profit organizations that supported work connected to their grade-level service themes. Our community's generous donations toward the carnival totaled $2,318, and the proceeds were distributed evenly to the following charities: Patrician Society, CHOP, Malala Fund, and Leveling the Playing Field.