Community Service

The Country School's Helping Other, Helping Ourselves (HOHO) program is a community service program that involves all grades in the school. Through our HOHO initiatives, we hope that children will more fully learn the importance of being a part of something bigger than themselves, that a part of individual human responsibility is to help others, and that seemingly small, everyday actions matter and can make a tremendous difference. We want children to develop greater empathy, learn about the importance of long-term commitment and follow-through, understand that material goods aren't everything, and that by helping others, we also help ourselves.

Our teachers work with our students to discern meaningful projects that work toward these goals. Students take a significant role in shaping each grade level or advisory group's efforts. Activities are hands-on and ongoing in nature. They build long-term relationships with people and organizations in our community, and promote active involvement. 

The Country School is pleased to continue expanding service learning opportunities for its students. These have long been an integral part of our program. This year, in addition to Helping Others, Helping Ourselves, 3rd-5th grade students again deepened their understanding of philanthropy through a curriculum-driven partnership with The Giving Square. Eliza Craig and Erin Collins's fourth-grade classes investigated local organizations through the Giving Square's hands-on Kids for Kids Fund curriculum. The program culminated in the students' choosing, through a March Madness-style oratory activity and bracket, an organization to give a $1,000 gift. This year's fourth-grade class chose CASA of the Mid-Shore.