A commitment to service

 

Service-learning provides one of many opportunities for students to learn leadership skills. Walden sponsors three Kiwanis Club of Louisville - sponsored service clubs: K-Kids, Builders Club, and Key Club.  Other leadership opportunities include classroom group work, participation in Kentucky Youth Assembly, Jr. KYA, Kentucky United Nations Assembly, Jr. KUNA, Student Council, National Honor Society, Jr. NHS, a variety of clubs, high school service-learning Capstone project, etc.

 
 
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GiVING BACK

"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
- Mahatma Gandhi

Walden considers its commitment to community service an integral part of the school's overall educational philosophy, program, and curriculum. Walden’s service learning activities foster community service, compassion, reflection, and collaboration, supporting the school’s core values of community, respect, and responsibility. By giving of ourselves, we gain a fuller understanding of what it means to be part of a larger community. Through individual, small group, and school-wide acts of service, we help all members of the Walden community develop the belief that giving back to those in need is a lifelong responsibility.

 
 
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Service Learning Days

Each semester, one school day is devoted to service-learning. Our High School goes off campus, while the Lower and Middle School divisions collaborate on projects to aid the school and the greater community. This fosters collaboration among divisions and students and partnerships between school and the local communities.

 

2024 Day of Service

On March 22nd, our students and faculty came together to spread compassion and kindness throughout Louisville.

• Grades K-8 students united in their Family Trees to craft "Compassion Bags" for Louisville's homeless, packed with essentials like personal hygiene items, snacks, inspirational messages, and warm socks.

• Walden School renewed its agreement as a Compassionate School, solidifying our commitment to nurturing empathy and contributing positively to Louisville as an active participant in the Campaign for Compassionate Cities.

• High School students extended their commitment off-campus, volunteering at local nonprofits: La Casita Center, Catholic Charities, and TreesLouisville, setting a remarkable example of dedication to giving back.

Additional service opportunities hosted at Walden:
• Shoe drive collection for WaterStep
• American Red Cross Blood Drive.

 

2023 Day of service

On March 24th, K-12th Grade students teamed up once again to give back on our Day of Service! Students gathered in their Walden Family Trees to sign the Walden CARES contract and perform services for the global community, the Louisville community, and the Walden community.

• Global Community - Waterstep - After collecting donated shoes for over a month, our students finally delivered the shoes to the organization. In total, our community donated 457 lbs of shoes to Waterstep, providing safe water for life for 150 people in developing countries!

• Louisville Community - Bees - Students learned why bees are important and how they can help increase the bee population by building bee houses/hotels.

 • Walden Community - Walden and the American Red Cross hosted its 4th annual blood drive on campus. We collected 47 units of blood which were 17 more units than projected!

 

2022 Day of Service

In 2022, Walden K-12 students and faculty reconnected to support school, local, and global initiatives on our Spring Day of Service. The K-12 Family Trees started the day by signing each other's shirts and our Compassionate School agreement; the service continued outside as students cleaned and spruced Walden's Green Space and the track and field.

Local and global service was dedicated to sorting shoes donated by the Walden community for Waterstep and providing aid to Ukrainian refugees by collaborating with Mulberry International Resources and Volunteers of America to collect winter clothes, toys, and toiletries.

 

Lower School

 

K-KIDS CLUB SERVICE PROGRAM
K-Kids Club is a Service Leadership program affiliated with Kiwanis International that provides an opportunity for Walden fourth grade students to give back to their community and serve others. K-Kids meet monthly during the school day to plan events and fundraisers. Some of the fundraisers include:  Babysitting afternoons for K-2 students, selling glow items at the school’s Monster Mash, and the Cutest Pet contest.  The funds generated from these fundraisers go to help community organizations such as Kosair Children’s Hospital, The Humane Society, and Wayside Christian Mission.
 

DAY OF SERVICE
The Lower and Middle school homerooms collaborate on projects to aid their school and the local and global communities. A few of the organizations assisted in the past include: nursing homes, US troops (care packages), Dare to Care, Kosair Children's Hospital, and VA hospitals. On the fall service day, students reaffirm their commitment to Walden’s Compassion Resolution.

 
 

Middle School

 

BUILDERS CLUB
Builders Club is a service club open to students in grades 5-8. The club meets twice per month to plan service events and fundraisers. The club participates in Me to We (“We Day”) by performing one local service project and one global service project. The global project requires research and formal presentations by the club’s Charity Committee, and funds raised by the annual Cupid Grams sale are donated to that selected charity.  Some of the organizations they have supported in the past include Dare to Care, World Food Program, and Global Fund for Women.
 

JR. NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
Students who maintain a high GPA are invited to join the JNHS. Each member is required to perform ten hours of local community service and serve as leaders within the school community by demonstrating good citizenship. One of the many organizations they have supported in the past includes Blessings in a Backpack.

DAY OF SERVICE
The Lower and Middle school homerooms collaborate on projects to aid their school and the local and global communities. A few of the organizations assisted in the past include: nursing homes, US troops (care packages), Dare to Care, Kosair Children's Hospital, and VA hospitals. On the fall service day, students reaffirm their commitment to Walden’s Compassion Resolution.

 
 

HIGH SCHOOL

 

REQUIRED SERVICE
Walden High School students have an obligation to fulfill community service requirements. Each student is required to perform 20 hours of community service annually.

NATIONAL HONOR SOCIETY
Admission into the NHS is based on high GPA, a formal application, and rigorous review by a faculty committee.  Once admitted, each member commits to service-related leadership role. NHS organized the high school’s Day of Service.

DAY OF SERVICE
One Friday each semester is devoted to a Day of Service off campus.  The High School works together as a whole and volunteers a day of physical labor.  The High School has worked at Jefferson Memorial Forest, The Americana Center, Caperton Swamp, and Yew Dell Botanical Gardens.

 
 
 
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RECORD SERVICE HOURS

At Walden, we are committed to demonstrating compassion. Our Service requirement is one way that students can practice and build their own compassion. Walden High School students record service hours through our High School Service Hour Form and on their Scoir account. Recording service on Scoir provides students with a robust portfolio of their service activities that they can use in various applications to organizations and colleges.

Service Hour Form
 
 
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Service Learning Clubs

Y-Club - Each member commits to extra service hours. Walden participates in the Y-Club affiliated programs– KYA and KUNA– to foster leadership and civic and global citizenship.

KIVA - Kiva is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of micro-finance institutions, Kiva lets individuals or groups lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world.

Girl Up - Girl Up is a campaign partnered with the United Nations to support its programs in several developing countries to give girls an equal chance for education, health, social and economic opportunities, and a life free from violence.

 

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

Students looking for ways to get involved should start with the below community service volunteer opportunities