Community Service

Service to others is an integral part of the Charlotte Country Day School experience. In fact, one of our key values states that "we empower our students to address social, environmental, and global issues and to realize the obligation and value in giving of themseilves for the public good."

That mission translates to hundreds of service initiatives each year by our students, faculty, and parents. Some projects are schoolwide such as our connection with Hidden Valley Elementary School, for whom parents volunteer to tutor students, Lower School students collect books and write letters, and Middle School students hold an annual Holiday Party and Field Day. Others are ongoing, like our 28-year partnership with Special Olympics as host of the spring games. Students and faculty are also quick to respond to immediate issues, such as raising money for earthquake survivors in Haiti or organizing a collection of blankets for Earthquake victims in India.

Charlotte Country Day is virtually never without one or more service projects in progress, whether through divisions, clubs, classes, or advisories. Service initiatives begin in Lower School, where students learn that their small acts of kindness can make a big difference in the lives of others. In Middle School, students' interpersonal involvement with outreach organizations increases as advisories pair up with seniors to provide pet therapy and underprivileged pre-school children for play therapy. By Upper School, students fully understand that privilege and service go hand in hand.

CCDS Snapshot

Charlotte Country Day juniors and seniors piloted the high school mentoring program with Big Brothers Big Sisters in 2002. During the school year more than 120 CCDS students visit students at Rama Road Elementary School once a week during lunch hour to read, talk, and be a friend.

Upper School Service Projects

Here is a look at the types of ongoing community service projects conducted in the Upper School. Individual clubs, organizations, and advisories conduct many more projects.

  • Upper School students have been involved with the Special Olympics spring games since 1983. During the three-day event, classes are suspended and all students take responsibility for decorating the campus, hosting the athletes, and putting the campus back in order when the games are over.
  • Through Big Brothers/Big Sisters juniors and seniors tutor a special friend at Rama Road Elementary several times a month during their lunch break.
  • Varsity lacrosse players raise money for brain tumor research by sponsoring a pre-season tournament.
  • Aquilifer Club members hold an annual blood drive.
  • Interact sponsors a holiday luncheon for the homeless every year in the school cafeteria.
  • All students collect canned goods for the needy during Spirit Week.