Bulldog Life
Springing Up, Reaching Out
On the Middle School Bartram Campus, students begin to develop skills in applying structure to their philanthropy. While there are some annual campus-wide community service efforts – such as the Woodland Acres food drive and a book drive for West Riverside Elementary School – much of the philanthropy excitement is generated by the School’s service clubs. Students who want to help must sign up to be part of the club and attend planning meetings. These groups -- including the Animal Lovers Club, the Angels for Allison Club, the McKenzie Club and others – stage fundraisers throughout the year and are managed by students and faculty sponsors.
Middle School also is the first time students have the opportunity to achieve a President’s List award. Each quarter, the Head of School selects worthy students who demonstrate The Bolles Way “above and beyond” what is expected of them as a Bolles student. By recognizing students who have dedicated themselves to serving others and letting the school community know about their work, school leaders hold President’s List winners up examples of The Bolles Way: Pursuing excellence through courage, integrity and compassion.
As these life lessons in effective community service and servant leadership progress, a beautiful trend begins. In middle school, there is a marked increase in students who are developing the courage to participate in or plan charitable events on their own time. Many middle school students assist on the Community Hospice PedsCare teen board and others support groups or events that touch their lives in some personal way. This trend takes a skyward trajectory as students make their way to the Upper School San Jose Campus. As students mature in their servant leadership development, it becomes easier – and more rewarding – to make a difference in the lives of others. The Bolles Way becomes students’ personal way.