Community Service
At Dexter Southfield, community service is more than an activity—it is directly tied to our mission to cultivate the individual talents of our students while instilling a strong ethical foundation for life. Community service activities are tailored in each division to ensure they are age-appropriate and aligned with students' social-emotional development.
In the Lower School, students participate in the School-Wide Supply Drive around Thanksgiving and a Book Drive in the spring. In the Middle School, community service is student-led and organized as we encourage them to take an active role in their communities. Upper School students take on even more leadership in organizing fundraisers, planning activities, and soliciting participation. All Upper School students must participate in at least 40 hours of community service as part of their graduation requirements.
Through community service, students learn the transformative power of compassion, leadership, and civic responsibility as they engage in meaningful projects throughout the year. Our students’ commitment to helping others enriches the lives of those they serve and fosters a sense of community, teaching invaluable lessons in empathy and social responsibility.
Student-Led Community Service
John ’29 proudly serves as a member of the Middle School Community Service Committee. “At School, we are really encouraged to think about how we can help others,” explains John, “It is fulfilling to make a difference beyond our community by helping those in need.” John spearheads an annual community-wide coat drive benefiting Cradles to Crayons. “The first year, I was nervous about reaching the goal, but the School and Community Service Committee supported my efforts, and it was a great feeling to exceed our donation goal,” shares John.