Service

Service has become a requirement at so many schools, where it’s all about noting hours and checking off lists. At Holy Child, service to others is a way of life, part of the tapestry of the rich experience here. Our students routinely reach out to the wider community with, as one of our network goals state, “joy, zeal and compassion.”

Cornelia Connelly wrote in her journals about a “love full of action,” a love of God that is shown each and every day. Forming relationships is what our spirit of service is about: dancing with your friend at a Best Buddies social, encouraging the 5th grader you tutor at Washington Middle School for Girls, greeting each person as you serve dinner on McKenna’s Wagon.

Our Holy service traditions are many, but here are some examples: Sandwiches for Martha’s Table: One of the longest-running traditions at Holy Child (and one of Martha’s Table’s longest-serving groups), our girls bring in food donations every Friday to feed the hungry—we topped out one week at more than 6,000 sandwiches!

Opportunities

Potomac Community Resources

Holy Child sustains the longest partnership with PCR in promoting relationships & social opportunities with our peers who have developmental differences and hosts a majority of their major events on our campus.

Help The Homeless Walkathon

Every October, our entire school hosts and participates in this walk to raise awareness and funds for Bethesda Cares and New Endeavors by Women.

Washington Middle School For Girls

Our students tutor middle school girls in an underserved neighborhood throughout the year at this, our sister school. In addition, our Fathers Club hosts father/daughter outings to paint classrooms and work on other renovation projects on a continuing basis.

Thanksgiving Baskets

Every year we provide Thanksgiving food baskets to families in need at the McKenna Center.

New Endeavors By Women

Holy Child provides basic necessities to needy women and children through annual collections.

Christmas Toy Drive

We ensure that every student at St. Augustine School receives a special gift from “Santa” every year.

Alumnae Association Santa Project

Alumnae and current students raise money each year to provide a gift to each student at Washington Middle School for Girls; we have given logo scarves and hats, pajamas, and other personal items.

Junior Service Project

Required for graduation and integrated into the junior year theology curriculum, our thirty-hour service project focuses on learning service as a way of life in building ongoing relationships with a person or population in need. Many of our students continue this service well beyond the required hours and time frame, and the lives of our alumnae attest to their ongoing commitment to service.

Ivymount School

Initiated by a Holy Child alumna when she was a sophomore, the Ivymount project continues as a weekly opportunity for our students to work and build social skills with students who have special needs.

Service Clubs/Student Initiatives

Many of our service activities are sponsored by our school clubs and/or based on the initiative of our students, from Wounded Warriors to a children’s hospital in Philadelphia. As they learn about the world around them, Holy Child girls respond by acting with justice. Many of our alumna have become leaders on their college campuses in community service there and at home.