Service Learning

PK3 students partner with the organization Kids' Meals whose mission is to end childhood hunger in Houston. In order to deliver meals to Houston’s preschool aged children, Kids' Meals requests brown paper bags. As a response, our early childhood students decorate lunch bags throughout the year to spread joy among the recipients.

Since 2006, Kids’ Meals has been making and delivering free, healthy meals directly to the homes of hungry children. Since inception, we have given more than 7.2 million free meals to food insecure children in 43 Houston-area zip codes.  Kids’ Meals is a first-responder to children under age 6 facing debilitating hunger due to extreme poverty.

PK4 students partner with the organization Kids' Meals whose mission is to end childhood hunger in Houston. In order to deliver meals to Houston’s preschool aged children, Kids' Meals requests brown paper bags. As a response, our early childhood students decorate lunch bags throughout the year to spread joy among the recipients.

Since 2006, Kids’ Meals has been making and delivering free, healthy meals directly to the homes of hungry children. Since inception, we have given more than 7.2 million free meals to food insecure children in 43 Houston-area zip codes.  Kids’ Meals is a first-responder to children under age 6 facing debilitating hunger due to extreme poverty.

Kindergarten students partner with the organization Kids' Meals whose mission is to end childhood hunger in Houston. In order to deliver meals to Houston’s preschool aged children, Kids' Meals requests brown paper bags. As a response, our early childhood students decorate lunch bags throughout the year to spread joy among the recipients.

Since 2006, Kids’ Meals has been making and delivering free, healthy meals directly to the homes of hungry children. Since inception, we have given more than 7.2 million free meals to food insecure children in 43 Houston-area zip codes.  Kids’ Meals is a first-responder to children under age 6 facing debilitating hunger due to extreme poverty.

First Grade students partner with the organization Kids’ Meals whose mission is to end childhood hunger in Houston. In order to deliver meals to Houston’s preschool aged children, Kids’ Meals requests brown paper bags. As a response, our first graders create seasonal lunch bags to spread joy among the recipients. First graders decorate the bags five times a year: back to school, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentines Day, and summer. Additionally, our school collects food items donated by the PS community each year to distribute as meals. Our first graders are responsible for sorting and packing these items in decorated paper bags after the all school drive.

Since 2006, Kids’ Meals has been making and delivering free, healthy meals directly to the homes of hungry children. Since inception, we have given more than 7.2 million free meals to food insecure children in 43 Houston-area zip codes.  Kids’ Meals is a first-responder to children under age 6 facing debilitating hunger due to extreme poverty.

Second Grade students help take care of Main Street Ministries’ Community Garden. The mission of Main Street Ministries Community Garden is to grow vegetables, fruits, herbs, and flowers which are ultimately given to Heights Food Pantry. Students will have the opportunity to walk from our school to the nearby garden to be involved in the harvesting process, experience the beauty of God’s creation, and discuss the process of how the food is generously donated to impact our city.

Main Street Ministries is a nonprofit organization to build paths out of poverty by providing identification assistance (i.e. helping clients acquire state-issued ID along with related documentation), life empowerment to help community members secure housing, and community gardening to provide participants a place to grow vegetables, fruits, herbs and flowers.

Third Grade students partner with the Emergency Aid Coalition whose mission is to provide temporary assistance (in the form of food, clothing, and other basic needs) with an emphasis on serving the working poor. The organization hosts a store open to members of the local community to come and shop for their families. As a response, our school collects shoes donated by the PS community each year to stock their store. Our third graders are responsible for transporting, sorting, and counting those donations. Similarly, throughout the year, our third graders support the EAC’s important mission by packing lunches for distribution and organizing items on site. 

Since 1983, the Emergency Aid Coalition has helped thousands of families in the Houston community meet their basic needs and has promoted self-sufficiency through an interfaith association of member congregations. Today, 14 member congregations collectively participate in the services of the Emergency Aid Coalition, thus, combining their strengths to serve the emergency needs of the people of Harris County.

Fourth Grade students partner with the nearby Nehemiah Center. The Nehemiah Center’s mission is to provide assistance to low income families through education, emotional wellness and spiritual enrichment. Our fourth grade students serve through building relationships with their assigned buddy throughout the school year. Each week, one fourth grade class walks to the Nehemiah Center to read, play, and build relationships with the Pre-K students. Additionally, our school reserves an amount of books from our annual book drive to be distributed to the Nehemiah Center Pre-K students during a “book fair” event hosted by the fourth graders.

The Nehemiah Center serves and follows children as toddlers through their college years by engaging and retaining family participation year after year through early childhood programming, academic enrichment, college prep and family services. The Nehemiah model is a holistic approach to building children’s lives, minds, hearts and spirits by working with the entire family.

Fifth Grade students will partner with the Houston Zoo and SPLASh, two local organizations aimed at educating and caring for animals and wildlife. Through their service work, students will build a greater understanding of our Earth and how it functions. Throughout the year, students will support the work of the zoo and learn about the importance of loving our world by taking care of God’s creation. This ongoing service project will ultimately conclude with an expansion of conservation awareness with a coastal cleanup through SPLASh (Stopping Plastics and Litter Along Shorelines). 

The Houston Zoo is committed to being a leader in the global effort to save animals in the wild. They are home to over 6,000 permanent residents for whom they provide the highest standard in animal care. SPLASh is creating a cleaner environment for people, birds, and other wildlife in the greater Houston-Galveston region through community science, education, and outreach. 

Our middle school students participate in an annual Day of Service. Every class goes out into our community to serve at one of the following Presbyterian School community mission partner organizations.

• Hermann Park Conservancy is a nonprofit citizens’ organization dedicated to the stewardship and improvement of Hermann Park through conservation and stewardship, tree care, as well as operations and general park maintenance. 
• Emergency Aid Coalition (EAC) is an interfaith organization that collaborates to provide temporary assistance in the form of food, clothing and basic needs, with an emphasis on serving the working poor in the city of Houston.
• Nehemiah Center creates a safe haven in which children are motivated, inspired and equipped to realize their God-given potential. It provides education for students while helping their families find resources necessary to have stability in the home.

At the end of the Day of Service, students return to campus to reflect on their experience and think about how they can incorporate compassionate service into their everyday lives.

Our middle school students participate in an annual Day of Service. Every class goes out into our community to serve at one of the following Presbyterian School community mission partner organizations.

• Hermann Park Conservancy is a nonprofit citizens’ organization dedicated to the stewardship and improvement of Hermann Park through conservation and stewardship, tree care, as well as operations and general park maintenance. 
• Emergency Aid Coalition (EAC) is an interfaith organization that collaborates to provide temporary assistance in the form of food, clothing and basic needs, with an emphasis on serving the working poor in the city of Houston.
• Nehemiah Center creates a safe haven in which children are motivated, inspired and equipped to realize their God-given potential. It provides education for students while helping their families find resources necessary to have stability in the home.

At the end of the Day of Service, students return to campus to reflect on their experience and think about how they can incorporate compassionate service into their everyday lives.

Our middle school students participate in an annual Day of Service. Every class goes out into our community to serve at one of the following Presbyterian School community mission partner organizations.

• Hermann Park Conservancy is a nonprofit citizens’ organization dedicated to the stewardship and improvement of Hermann Park through conservation and stewardship, tree care, as well as operations and general park maintenance. 
• Emergency Aid Coalition (EAC) is an interfaith organization that collaborates to provide temporary assistance in the form of food, clothing and basic needs, with an emphasis on serving the working poor in the city of Houston.
• Nehemiah Center creates a safe haven in which children are motivated, inspired and equipped to realize their God-given potential. It provides education for students while helping their families find resources necessary to have stability in the home.

At the end of the Day of Service, students return to campus to reflect on their experience and think about how they can incorporate compassionate service into their everyday lives.

8th grade students also have the opportunity to partner with Yellowstone Academy in an elective fine arts class. The first year, students worked together to stitch a quilt. The following year, students had the chance to sketch in the sculpture garden after a tour of the MFAH. This partnership encourages rich relationships formed between the two schools over a shared desire to explore and encounter the arts.

Our campers spend one day each week giving back to the community. These weekly service days give students the opportunity to build empathy, develop leadership skills, and make a real impact—all while living out the core values beyond the walls of PS.

Hermann Park Conservancy: Hermann Park Conservancy is a nonprofit citizens’ organization dedicated to the stewardship and improvement of Hermann Park – today and for generations to come. Website: https://hermannpark.org

Houston Food Bank: The Houston Food Bank distributes food and other essentials to those in need through a network of more than 1,600 community partners. In addition, they also provide programs and services aimed at helping families achieve long-term stability including nutrition education, health management, and help in securing state-funded assistance. Website: https:houstonfoodbank.org