Community Involvement Day is a central component of the service-learning program at Georgiana Bruce Kirby Preparatory School.
Last year on Community Involvement Day, the Kirby community, which includes 240 students in grades 6-12, completed approximately 1,000 hours of community service in a single day.
This intensive program began as an imperative from students who sought partnership with staff in serving their community. Although service has been an integral part of the Kirby culture and education since its founding, Community Involvement Day emphasizes the importance of involvement by dedicating an entire day of school to service in Santa Cruz County.
This year, Community Involvement Day took place Feb. 12.
“Kirby’s emphasis on bettering their student body beyond academics — toward creating individual leaders who are inspired to be active in their community — is what keeps Kirby School’s mission unique and genuinely admirable,” said Sahar Nangoli, 11th grader at Kirby School.
Students volunteered at a range of organizations including Habitat for Humanity, SPCA, Second Harvest Food Bank, Elderday Elder Care Center, Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Reserve, Life Lab, Homeless Garden Project, Save Our Shores, and Coastal Watershed Council.
Some students did service projects close to campus, such as removing invasive species from the Pogonip open space, which is directly behind the Kirby School.
“A day spent outside of the classroom — in service — is a small investment of time when compared to the incredible sense of empowerment a student feels as they gain a broader understanding of the social, environmental and other issues that impact our community and learn how to affect change,” said Christy Hutton, Kirby’s head of school.
“However, when every single student and all staff join together on the same day to work side by side, the sense of collective accomplishment elevates this day to a rather potent feeling of ‘together, we can change the world,’” she added.
