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Beyond the Classroom

Learning regularly extends beyond the classroom in ways that help students to value the relationships uniting us as a school and connecting us with our local and global communities.
 
Whether through experiential learning with hands-on lessons in agricultural education or real-work experiences, service learning, participation in actual scientific lab work, recognizing and honoring the heroes among us, taking part in a master class with professional artists, our students benefit from the inventive ways teachers and administrators make it possible to bring classroom lessons to life.

By making connections in the classroom to real-world actions taken outside the classroom, students develop the skills they will need to engage meaningfully with others and make an impact wherever they find themselves in the future—skills like creativity, empathy, problem-solving, and resilience.

Master Classes

for Upper School students with the cast of “Hamilton,” Broadway actress Christy Altomare, Grammy Award-Winner Gil Shaham, and violinist Ray Chen, to name a few.

Science Research

Science-minded seniors participate in ongoing novel research started at Berkely Labs to create a physical model of the polypeptide chain.

Senior Externship

One-day mentoring experience that exposes seniors to a variety of professions. Since 2017, we have partnered with 100+ employers in 20 different industries.

Trout Unlimited

Every year, Lower School students hatch trout eggs in conjunction with Trout Unlimited to help restock North Carolina’s streams.

World Leaders

Middle and Upper School students regularly meet and engage with dignitaries and leaders from countries around the world.

Environmental Stewardship

Students explore and learn about agricultural education, food production, environmental science, among other opportunities offered at Weddington Farm.

Weddington Farm

Weddington Farm

Weddington Farm is an expansive outdoor learning lab for our students in grades JK-12 located in Weddington, NC. The 330-acre farm creates a living classroom where students participate in a variety of hands-on learning activities and experiences.

Learn more about Weddington Farm

Service to Others

We prepare students to be engaged citizens, learn about what it means to belong to a community , and the impact our actions can make. 

  • Every student in every division takes part in service, such as Upper School's Community Service Day, Middle School's visit from the Learning Collaborative, Lower School making cards for veterans, and the Parents' Association's Run for Good.
  • 20+ service learning partnerships, including Goodwill Industries, ourBridge, The Learning Collaborative, Friendship Trays, and Loaves and Fishes.
  • Big Brothers Big Sisters serves as one of our flagship programs. Nearly half the members of the junior and senior class mentor and volunteer one lunch hour a week to Rama Road Elementary School students.
  • Every year, students in all divisions recognize Veterans Day to learn about and honor all the veterans who have sacrificed to serve and protect us. Assembly speakers include alumni who serve or have served in the military.

Special Olympics Cultivates Many Champions

Every April, the entire Upper School—students, faculty, and staff—takes a two-day break from academia to host the Special Olympics Mecklenburg County Spring Games. Students serve as buddies, timekeepers, and event assistants at this special event, which has taken place on Country Day’s Cannon Campus since 1984. After participating in Special Olympics, our students walk away with a new appreciation for the power of inclusion, acceptance, and respect.

Natalie HutchinsonUpper School Dean of Students

This time-honored tradition has become part of our identity shared by nearly four generations of Country Day families. Students experience the joy of giving and are inspired by the dedication and abilities of the athletes."

Senior Externship: Real-Work Experiences

During senior year, our students participate in our Senior Externship Program, a one-day job shadowing and mentoring experience that exposes students to opportunities that match their interests and connects them to local employers and organizations.

Since the program’s inception in 2017, Country Day has partnered with nearly 175 area employers in 20 different industries, mostly current and past Country Day parents and alumni.

Read About Student Experiences

Remarkable Experiences Beyond the Classroom