Eighth Graders Work Hard and Serve Others During D-Term

On Wednesday, Dec. 14 through Friday, Dec. 16, eighth grade students participated in a service learning project called "D-Term". The D-Term project is named after former Middle School Head Linda Douglass, who envisioned it as a capstone Middle School experience. During D-Term days, eighth graders learn about issues faced by vulnerable local populations: elders, children, refugees, unhoused people, animals, and the environment.

In assigned groups of 12 supervised by faculty pairs, students volunteer off campus for a total of four hours of servicing the local community. In preparation for December's D-Term, the Middle School invited leaders of local service organizations to speak during chapel. Afterward, in their Theology classes, students discussed ideas for service and our school's commitment to social justice.

 

Community service took place at various locations: AGE's Austin Thrive Center, Family Eldercare's Lyon's Gardens, El Buen Samaritano, Casa Marianella, Interfaith Action of Central Texas, Trinity Center, Community First! Village, Red Bluff Nature Preserve, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, and the Austin Farm Sanctuary. 

Eighth grade parents are invited to attend the Middle School Chapel services in January when the 8th graders will be making D-Term presentations. On Jan. 10 the presentation will be led by those who worked for the animals and children groups; on Jan. 12 for the elders and environment groups; and Jan. 17  for unhoused people and refugee groups. All three presentations will be held during Chapel from 12:10 to 12:25 p.m.