St. Margaret’s 2024 All-School Service Learning Project is underway, with students from every division participating in activities and education as part of a partnership with Orange County Head Start.

 

The All-School Service Learning Project is a springtime tradition at St. Margaret’s, a chance for all divisions to unite and meet the authentic needs of a partner organization, provide a cross-divisional opportunity for student learning, and rally the school community around a common purpose.

 

Orange County Head Start’s mission is to provide children and their families with quality childhood development programs and integrated support services. Orange County Head Start has been a community partner with St. Margaret’s for many years.

 

This week, St. Margaret’s students made progress on the project’s goal to build two gardens for the two Orange County Head Start locations in San Juan Capistrano.

 

On Wednesday, students in the Middle School and Early School came together for an important and joyful touchpoint around the project. Middle School students read the book Lola Plants a Garden to the Early School students, before the older and younger Tartans together took part in an activity taking small pots decorated by Early School students and planting strawberries in them, which will be given to Orange County Head Start students.  

 

Also this week, two Upper School advisories visited the San Juan Capistrano Head Start locations to assess the garden spaces and interact with Head Start students and faculty. Upper School students will work to design and build the garden structures this spring.

 

As part of the project, Tartan students will learn about Orange County Head Start, the needs of the greater community and the impact the addition of gardens will have at Orange County Head Start locations. Multiple cross-divisional activities are planned, culminating with the conclusion of the project at the All-School Spring Service on March 21.

 

There are multiple ways for St. Margaret’s families to support the school’s All-School Service Learning Project.

 

 

St. Margaret’s All-School Service Learning Project is funded by the William N. Moseley Venture to Serve, an endowment fund created last year by the Board of Trustees to fund the All-School Service Learning Project as well as grants for students, alumni and professional community members interested in serving the community.