Community Engagement - Francis Parker School Colonel Francis W. Parker believed that students should “learn by doing.” Over a century later, community engagement is still at the core of our curriculum. Community engagement at Parker has 3 parts: Connecting service to academic instruction Partnerships with local nonprofits The Think, Act, Reflect approach Our goal is for our school and students to build meaningful partnerships with non-profit organizations rooted in humility and long-term commitment Kevin Dunn Director of JK-12 Community Programs Think Through proper preparation, students come to understand the real needs and assets of nonprofits and partners. Discover More about Think Act Students take a leadership role in choosing activities that are meaningful and personally relevant. Acts of charity are not the goal–acts of solidarity through direct service indirect outreach , and advocacy are. Discover More about Act Reflect Reflection prompts students to think deeply about complex community problems and encourages them to explore and understand their roles and responsibilities as citizens. Discover More about Reflect Lower School Each year, Parker's Lower School supports organizations such as Rady Children's Hospital to Reach Out and Read San Diego. Students are introduced to the "Think, Act, Reflect" framework to begin to explore challenging issues both intellectually and emotionally. Explore the Lower School Middle School Community engagement in Middle School ties in with each grade’s theme: Self Awareness Community Awareness , and Global Awareness . Grade 7 students travel to various nonprofits throughout San Diego, continuing to practice the “Think, Act, Reflect” approach. Grade 8 international trips also include service-learning in developing countries. Explore the Middle School Upper School All Upper School students must prove that they are engaged with the community. However, we do not measure student impact by logging “volunteer hours.” Instead, students learn the process of investigation, planning, action, reflection and demonstration (IPARD) to engage in a way that is meaningful to them. Nonprofit Service Internships Honor Societies Elective Courses Student Leadership All Grade 9 to 11 students are required to engage with social and environmental challenges affecting local, national and global communities. In Grade 9, this takes the form of researching and working with 3 nonprofits that address 3 different challenges. In Grades 10 and 11, this consists of a “deep dive” into a societal/environmental issue that interests the student, developing and executing a project themselves. Parker runs a comprehensive Internship Program that allows motivated Grade 11 and 12 students to connect with a business, government agency, or service organization in the community for an internship. Internships are offered multiple times during the year, and Parker maintains a robust database of potential internship sponsors. Students are mentored in resume-building and professional communication as they secure the internship. During the internship period, they keep a daily log of their learning experiences to prepare a presentation to the community. They also enhance their knowledge and skills in areas of punctuality, responsibility, cooperation, and communication. Every year, many Parker students choose to join the National Honor Society or the California Scholarship Federation. Each of these organizations requires their students to participate in community engagement projects. In the 2023-2024 academic year, over 50 students led community engagement projects as a part of their NHS membership. These projects worked to fight hunger, promote STEM in the community, spread therapeutic art techniques, and teach sports in underprivileged communities. Upper School offers elective courses that encourage students to acquire a deeper understanding of complex social issues and develop the skills needed to promote change within their community. Social Justice, a popular social studies elective, focuses on topics ranging from the AIDS pandemic in Africa to homelessness in San Diego, and includes hands-on outings throughout Southern California to explore relevant social justice topics. Grade 12 students in the National Honor Society mentor Grade 9 students and advisors in the Think, Act, Reflect framework. Students not involved in NHS can also lead a club that focuses on community service, such as Teens Volunteer in Action, Jewish Teen Foundation, and Female Athletes Volunteer. Explore the Upper School Quick Links Character Education Global Learning Student Organizations Out of Classroom Learning Strengthens Academic Experience about Out of Classroom Learning Strengthens Academic Experience San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria Visits Grade 5 about San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria Visits Grade 5 Parker Student-Athlete, Sophia Namazy, Class of 2024, Made a Positive Impact Over Summer Break about Parker Student-Athlete, Sophia Namazy, Class of 2024, Made a Positive Impact Over Summer Break Questions about our community Engagement Program? Fill out our inquiry form to connect with our admissions team and ask any questions you may have. Plus, you can register for on-campus events information sessions campus tours , and more. Take The FIrst Step inquire to connect with our admissions team