photos by Priscilla Oberle at Priscilla Oberle Photography
Grace Academy Serves the Georgetown Community
On March 30, Grace Academy took a reprieve from classroom learning to allow students to spend a full day serving the community. More than 350 students, teachers, staff, and parent volunteers partnered with local organizations, and served in a variety of ways across the Georgetown area.
Mayor Josh Schroeder met with students before the event to share words of encouragement and appreciation, as well as a stirring charge to serve. “You’re learning to lead through service. That is a powerful tool that unites all of us in Georgetown around a common purpose and strengthens our community. Thank you for your time today and for setting a good example.”
Students in grades K-12 served all over Georgetown, including building rock gardens at The NEST at The Georgetown Project, mulching beds in San Gabriel Park, blessing first responders with Officer Delta Jolly at the Georgetown Police Department, planting flowers for the citizens of BiG, improving Key 2 Free living quarters, packing brown bag lunches for Helping Hands of Georgetown, and many more.
S.A.L.T. of the Earth
Grace Academy’s Head of School, Andy Cantwell, explained the mindset behind the day of service; the desire in classical Christian education is for students to not only receive an academically excellent education, but to receive training in virtue and character as well. This year he initiated SALT, “Serving and Learning Together”, with the hope to see it grow into an impactful annual event in the community. He spoke to the kids about a Biblical principle of being ‘salt and light’; serving the community as part of that. “We hope, as we grow as a school, we can expand to reach more people and agencies because there are so many wonderful places to serve in the Georgetown area.” Mr. Cantwell was also very intentional about scheduling the event during Holy Week, a time leading up to Easter during which many are thinking about service above self to help others.
Director of Communications, Tiffany McLendon, adds, “Virtue simply means excellence of character. Training in virtue starts in the home and church, but Grace Academy aims to come alongside parents with shared core principles and objectives, committing together to raise Godly young men and women. We are convinced that if we are aligned on the major objectives, we will give our children a profoundly formative academic, social, and spiritual education.”
PARTNERS AND PROJECTS
The 3rd grade students, directed by class moms, visited Brookwood in Georgetown (BiG) to help beautify their butterfly gardens. BiG is a vocational community that provides engagement and opportunity for special needs adults; their butterfly garden helps BiG’s Citizens learn about horticulture and gardening. The students broke down and removed old planters, emptied and hauled dirt, and impressed BiG’s founder, Erin Kiltz, with their commitment and hard work. “This was a wonderful and intentional service opportunity that private schools don’t often have. The students even had a parade that enabled them to interact with our Citizens while socially distancing. It was a benefit for all and I would love to have more days like this in the future.”
Amy Davis, CEO of The Key2Free said, “We had a list we thought would cover the whole day but our senior group knocked it out right away, with smiles, and asked what else they could do to help. I love how well they served our community and applaud Grace Academy for training up the next generation to serve. Some of them have even signed up to volunteer for our upcoming gala fundraiser. We love what they stand for and can’t wait to do more.”
Georgetown Police Officer Delta Jolly had a similar experience. “I got to spend the day with some amazing 1st grade students. They arrived at the Public Operations and Training Center ready to work! We stuffed blue teddy bears into bags so patrol officers could give them to children feeling scared or nervous during a police encounter; anything from a car accident to just being nervous around officers. They finished in record time, so I gave them a tour and they got to talk to dispatcher Michele Cox, to hear how emergent and non-emergent calls are processed. After that, they came back to assemble activity bags for children and hygiene kits. After lunch the kids got to experience the LEOPARD course and our rescue vehicle first-hand. The SALT project did more than help fill bags for the community; it it filled my heart to see the joy they had knowing their service and act of kindness was going to help another child someday.”
Visit GraceTX.org to see more about this wonderful school and its students.