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|  Service to the community is an invaluable learning experience for students. Because of our desire to "Live Jesus" and our belief that serving others is key to the growth and development of young Christian girls, Lower School students participate in several community service projects throughout the school year.Service Projects Each Friday students in the Lower School Grades 1-6 gather with their Mes Amies Groups (School Families). The focus of many of these activities is Community Service. On one occasion one of our students organized a presentation from Ranken Jordan, a pediatric rehabilitation center. After the presentation, each of the 11 Mes Amies groups made HUGS blankets as a gift for the children at the Center. The Lower School also collected swimsuits for the Griffin center, a Catholic outpost program in East St. Louis which offers summer programs for 450 school age students. The effects of Hurricane Katrina touched our lives as we welcomed new second grader, Madeleine, from Our Lady of the Lake School in Louisiana. Our Lower school reached out with a fun-raiser and remembered the victims of Katrina with a Mardi Gras observance. The Upper School participated in a dress-down day which brought in $10.00 from each participant to dress down and purchase a pink and green tee shirt designed with "Save Our Cities." These efforts grossed over $8000 to be directed to Catholic Charities. Mission Carnival Grade 6 students organize a carnival each year with the proceeds going to the Missions, (Propagation of the Faith). "Make A Wish for Myriam" Lower School students, with the help of the Upper School Amnesty International Club, were successful in raising over $700 for Myriam, a young girl from Guatemala. Myriam and her family purchased a silversmith, dining room table and six chairs, wardrobe, two sweaters, one blouse, one pair of shoes, six socks and two packages of cookies. Myriam appears in a photo located on the wall outside Kindergarten with these items and drew a figure of herself as a thank you. Christmas Project Stuffing Christmas stocking is a tradition at Visitation. Stockings are filled with toys and candy and are sent to charitable organizations in hopes of bringing cheer to needy children at Christmas time. Food Drives Students collect food during the Annual Thanksgiving Food Drive and at other times throughout the year. The Lenten Project The Lenten Project for the students in Grades 1–6 will focus on the Corporal Works of Mercy: to feed the hungry, to give drink to the thirsty, to clothe the naked, to visit the sick, to shelter the homeless. Students will use this opportunity to plan activities to reinforce the responsibility we have as Christians not only to perform works of mercy, but to do so in Jesus' name. All money collected will be sent to the Jesuit and Marknoll Missions. | | ||
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