Service day 2022 was one for the record. On February 3rd, for the first time ever, school service clubs were able to visit the communities they serve, making service day mostly student driven. Also, this was the first time since the pandemic began the community was able to get out of our Carrollton bubble and participate directly.
“I wanted club presidents to exercise their leadership abilities in facing these challenges. Also, allowing clubs to take the lead on organizing service day provides an opportunity to bring more visibility and partnership to the organizations that students have already identified as being important,” said Ms. Rhodes, director of Social Awareness and Community Relations.
There were 10 onsite clubs, each working on organizing donations and packages to be sent out, and 11 clubs that went off campus, supporting the communities they serve. “This new and exciting opportunity opened my eyes to my community once again, and my favorite part was being able to plan this event and say it all played out nicely,” said Ceci Pino ’23, the leader of Chance To Dance who went with her group to Centro Mater, leading children in a zumba session.
The school community engages in direct service, advocacy, outreach and partnerships to work for justice, peace and the integrity of creation. According to the student handbook, Carrollton’s mission is to “educate young women to assume leadership,” and our Goal III states, “Schools of the Sacred Heart commit themselves to educate to a social awareness which impels action.” Ms. Rhodes added, “The foundation of Goal III is to be socially aware and really think deeply about the systemic nature of injustice. This is what makes service day a reciprocal experience. Therefore, through this goal, it is built into the fabric of how we teach, learn, and grow together as a community.”
The day started with lines of buses outside of Carrollton, which we haven’t seen for two years. All clubs had a specific task to do whether it was packing toys on campus for children’s hospitals, playing dress up at Leap Boutique, or picking up trash in bin baggs. Club leaders led their groups and executed an amazing service day filled with excitement. “Overall, I believe service day went very well. I was encouraged after listening to the closing responses from students from each service site – it was clear that we visited a variety of sites and students and faculty were able to gain valuable perspective and insights into many different social issues,” said Ms. Rhodes. High school students served the common good “Through helping people face to face and getting to see the people whose lives we touch, making the experience that much more rewarding,” said Eva Tapanese ’25.
