Service Learning

Preparing empathetic, insightful, proactive citizens of the world

At Langley, service learning isn’t just a checkbox on an application. Working to improve others’ lives — whether next door or on the other side of the world — is essential to living our school’s philosophy. Students grow as citizens and leaders as they conceptualize, organize, and take part in a variety of projects, including reading to students at local schools, coordinating on-campus recycling efforts, working with students with disabilities, supporting our American Legion neighbors, and engaging in countless other endeavors that spur compassionate action and enduring self-awareness.

In March 2018, students joined with parents, teachers, and alumni at Langley's first-ever Day of Giving to pack 75,000 meals for hurricane victims in Puerto Rico. The Day of Giving has continued to be an annual community-wide service project that focuses on food relief in areas of immediate need.
During Langley's Week of Giving, students develop proposals for donation drives and lead efforts to collect items for a range of organizations.
Each grade participates in Roots & Shoots — the youth-led community action program developed by the Jane Goodall Institute — designing and implementing original projects throughout the year.
Middle Schoolers serve breakfast at So Others Might Eat (S.O.M.E.), a Washington, DC, soup kitchen where Langley students have helped to serve those in need for more than 40 years.
In eighth grade, students participate in a week-long capstone trip to immerse themselves in a different culture, take part in several service projects, and reflect on their impact on the world at-large.

To us, service learning means more than “community service.” Our programs intentionally empower students to identify needs in specific areas, conduct well-thought-out service activities, measure the impact, and reflect upon and share the experience so that they and others may build upon it. Through service learning, students come to understand how to help solve challenging social problems while contributing to communities beyond their immediate circles. They also uncover a personal sense of accomplishment as they find themselves making real change.

Moving into high school, your student is already a citizen of the world who empathetically and effectively listens, analyzes, cooperates, and leads.