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Mission Statement for Community Service
The mission of the Charles Wright Service Learning Committee is to develop each person's potential for moral conduct and responsible citizenship by blending service learning into the intellectual, physical and artistic life of the Upper School. We strive for service that comes from our hearts, that is incorporated into our lives, and that connects us with others.
Service from our hearts,
Incorporated into our lives,
Connecting us with others.
Charles Wright Academy was founded under the auspices of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia. While formal ties to the Episcopal Church have loosened over time, our commitment to respect and nurture the spiritual life of our community remains strong. Throughout most of its history the school has employed a school chaplain who serves both as a spiritual leader and as a member of the teaching faculty.
The Chaplain inspires and encourages students in their spiritual growth, exposing them to diverse sources of religious wisdom from the world’s great traditions. The chaplain does not seek to convert students to a new religion, but to reveal a new dimension: the ethical and spiritual dimension of life. While grounded in the Christian tradition, the chaplain respects all that is wise and useful in other great religions of the world. We seek to build bridges between the world’s faiths, and to celebrate their common values of faith, temperance, compassion, courage, and service.
In the Lower School, there are weekly chapel services for both Lower Elementary and Upper Elementary grades. Attendance by all students is assumed. These gatherings provide instruction about the sacred stories, values and holy days of the major religions. Guest story-tellers and parents can share traditions such as Hanukkah, the Buddhist New Year, or Native American wisdom. Lower School Chapel is also a time to focus on community ethics: conflict resolution on the playground, racial tolerance, and celebration of service projects like the annual food drive. Chapel themes are developed through story-telling, song, and quiet reflection.
In Middle School, the chaplain organizes the Community Service Program, where students work with the homeless, the physically and mentally disabled, the elderly, and children in special programs.
In Upper School, the chaplain assists with the community service program. The chaplain addresses students in assemblies and brings guest speakers to inspire a sense of social responsibility.
The chaplain also supervises the unique “Chapel Home Project,” through which twice a year we host homeless families, providing shelter and meals. All community members—staff, parents, and their children—can participate.
The chaplain also organizes community events that bring us all together in celebration, such as the annual Christmas Eve service, the all-school Holiday Festival, and a Baccalaureate service for seniors and their parents. Available for personal counseling and good talk on the Lower School playground, in the commons, and in the chapel office, the chaplain’s door is open. Drop by!
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