Reflections 2009:Reflections v4 - Manlius Pebble Hill School

ServiceTRADITIONÉyBy Kristin Hempel, director of community outreachManlius Pebble Hill School(MPH) has a long andinspiring history of service to country,to God, and to community. Founded in1869 as St. John’s School, the ethic ofservice to others was even then a drivingprinciple behind our mission. Indeed,throughout each phase of our history asa school, the combination of strongacademics and active citizenshipprovided an important cornerstonefor our community and brought theSchool national acclaim as a premiereducational institution.Over the years, the embodiment ofthese principles has evolved, reflectingthe changes in American culture andsociety. One important facet of thisbroader shift was the rise of socialinstitutions charged with protecting andproviding for those most in need. Aslocal nonprofits became more prevalentand as American citizenry became moreactive in addressing broader social ills,MPH, too, expanded its engagement inservice through government andreligious avenues to incorporate all ofthe secular, nonprofit initiatives in ourcommunity.At MPH, not only was service a virtue inand of itself, but it was also understoodas the logical outcome of strongcharacter education. In other words,MPH and its forefather schools putconsiderable attention on helpingstudents develop into adults of strongmoral and ethical character. An aware -ness of the plight of others, a commit -ment to be responsive to needs, and adesire to advance our community as awhole were the values MPH espoused.Under the direction of Martha Heer(1962-95), MPH formalized thecharacter education program into whatwe all now know as the “5 Cs.” Indeed,confidence, consideration, cooperation,concern, and courtesy became thebanner for the Lower School. Studentsand teachers worked together to under -stand the importance of and meaningbehind these words. Selfless ness andcommunity engage ment wererecognized and altruism was applauded.Recently put to music, the 5 Cs haveendured the test of time and have for allintents and purposes become theanthem of the Lower School andregularly referenced guideposts in ourstudents’ growth.Over the years, MPH continued toexplore multiple permutations of whatservice and character education can looklike in an independent school. Inaddition to service projects or fund -raising efforts spearheaded by individualstudents, MPH has offered a course inthe Upper School on community serviceand has developed an active DressDown Day program. Dress Down Daysare student-sponsored occasions duringthe year when classmates and teacherscan pay to be out of dress code. Beforeeach Dress Down Day, the student bodyis educated on the charity that themonies will support. During our lastaccreditation process, MPH identifiedsocial responsibility as one of its toppriorities for growth and began anextensive process of reviewing theprograms, opportunities, and initiativesit had in place and laying the ground -work for expanding and strengtheningthat work.Predating this accreditation catalyst, ithad already become tradition forMiddle and Upper School classes to takeon service projects, often forgingsustained relationships with organiza -tions and working with them over thecourse of three or more years. The workof the Class of 1999 raised $7,560between 1995 and 1999 for theMake-A-Wish Foundation as part of the“Kids For Kids Wish” program. Asfreshmen, the Class of 2002 forged apartnership between MPH and MartinLuther King Elementary School (MLK)in which MPH students visited MLK ona regular basis to mentor Kinder -garteners. This program has been4 MPH REFLECTIONS 2009