Step out of the classroom walls and into the community, engaging in projects directly impacting the world around you. From environmental initiatives like beach clean-ups to collaborations with local organizations, find opportunities that resonate with your passions and interests. Reflection is vital to this journey, where you connect your experiences with more significant societal themes, deepening your understanding and empathy. Lead a service project, apply what you learn in the classroom to help others, and grow as a student and a community member.
The Service Learning program is a significant part of who we are at Crystal. It is about becoming intelligent, kind, compassionate, and ready to improve the world.
The Hillsborough Youth Commission (HYC), including Crystal students Rohan D ‘25, Griffin J ‘24, Chase H ‘26, Erica L ‘26, and Chiara L ‘26, as well as Hillsborough City Council member Leslie Ragsdale, P '17, P '21, P '21, hosted its first-ever Fentanyl Awareness Day to coincide with National Fentanyl Awareness Day on May 7.
Ava C '24, Lauren L '24 and Rohan D ‘25 participated in the Young Changemakers Series at The Carey School where the 2nd grade is learning about changemakers in our community. According to the teacher Glenn Heuser, Ava and Rohan did a spectacular job. Mr. Heuser said that their presentations “were truly inspiring, and sparked a wave of enthusiasm among the students. They were captivated by your projects and the concept of becoming Change Makers themselves.”
During a recent Upper School Assembly, Alexander W ‘26 presented about his recent trip to Pakistan to visit schools run by Door of Awareness. Alexander shared his drive to collect books to be used in the libraries of their 26 schools. Through the end of the school year, he will be collecting books in the Commons, primarily encyclopedias about space, animals, dinosaurs, cars, etc., as well as famous novels. Alexander wrote, “Together, we can help these kids achieve their dreams by providing them with some of the resources they need to succeed.”
During February, the Crystal Community Engagement Committees from both the student and parent communities partnered with Samaritan House and LifeMoves. They worked to educate themselves about the struggles of food insecurity in San Mateo County and to contribute to getting food to neighbors.
Food insecurity, and the actions we can take to combat it, are featuring prominently on campus this month. Upper School students recently hosted Owen Dubeck, a founder of the nonprofit organization Farmlink, to view his award-winning documentary Abundance.
The call was made to the Gryphon Community and it roared back! Over 80 people contributed to the MS Garden Build project on a Saturday. Every volunteer was needed to finish all 19 garden boxes.
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