Course Catalog

Community Service

CSW has a proud tradition of social activism. We have committed ourselves to a requirement of 15 hours minimum, per student, per year, of community service. The work may be done in the summer, during D Blocks, one-time weekend efforts, or with ongoing projects. Each student will plan an individual way to meet this requirement according to personal interests and scheduling considerations with the Community Service Coordinator.
     The Community Service Coordinator, as well as other members of the faculty, will facilitate volunteer efforts and offer a wide range of options for meeting the requirement. Examples of service include: making baby quilts for homeless children; working at soup kitchens and shelters, walks, such as the Walk For Hunger or the Jimmy Fund; the Bikes Not Bombs Bike-A-Thon; phone work with the Samariteens Hotline; letter-writing campaigns, such as Amnesty International; tutoring children and newly-immigrated Latin Americans in Waltham; hospital work; river clean-ups; art projects; and playing music in nursing homes. Pocket Players can also fulfill the Community Service requirement (see course description under the Theatre Arts section).

  • Community Service

    CSW has a proud tradition of social activism. We have committed ourselves to a requirement of fifteen hours minimum, per student, per year, of community service. The work should be done during the school year, during D Blocks, one-time weekend efforts, or with ongoing projects. Students could also elect to participate in summer projects, however we encourage students to participate during the school year.

  • Empty Bowls

    Empty Bowls is a long-running tradition here at CSW. In this D-Block, students will have the opportunity to paint bowls, call local restaurants, create marketing plans, and plan the performance/raffle. The night of Empty Bowls is a huge celebration of food, laughter, and performances, all to benefit a good cause. This D-Block builds and celebrates skills in social justice, community engagement, and marketing/business.

    Student work primarily breaks down into two roles:

    One task is the production of the bowls, which includes creative painting as well as other  tasks, such as applying clear glaze, cleaning off excess glaze, firing the bowls, and packing them up. Preference will be given to candidates with experience in illustration, drawing, and glazing. The bowls are intended for sale, so all designs must have a broad appeal to the general audience.

    Another task is organizing the Empty Bowls event. This involves calling restaurants for donations, getting members of the CSW community to donate food, organizing live music performances, and organizing raffles, trivia, and other entertainment. The organization of the event needs to be coordinated with the Community Service Committee. 

    Tasks prioritized may vary from mod to mod or week to week. 

Department Faculty

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CSW—a gender-inclusive day and boarding school for grades 9-12—is a national leader in progressive education. We live out our values of inquiry-based learning, student agency, and embracing diverse perspectives in every aspect of our student experience. Young people come to CSW to learn how to learn and then put what they learn into action—essential skills they carry into their futures as doers, makers, innovators, leaders, and exceptional humans who do meaningful work in the world.