An International Baccalaureate (IB) education is special. It is globally considered to be the gold standard of education, and we agree.  While there are many aspects to an IB education that make it stand out from the pack and make it exceptional, service learning is one of our favorites.

Service learning is an integral part of the IB program because, inherent in the IB itself, is the cultivation of students who can think critically, ask questions, see connections, develop a global perspective, and engage in inquiry-based learning by fostering curiosity and a love of learning. Self-directed service learning allows students to develop and flex these skills in real-life situations and make a real impact on the world. It enables them to see firsthand what it means to be a global citizen, since local actions can have global impacts. 

The ISDenver 8th Grade Community Project

The community project is one of my favorite elements of the Middle Years Programme. Our students use their research skills to learn about an issue impacting their community. Then they infuse their interests, passions, and talents to take action and make a positive impact. What is cool is that so many of our students continue on with their projects even after the school requirements have been met. It is hope-restoring to know we are raising good humans.  

Katie Williams, Director of Middle and High School 

At the International School of Denver, the 8th Grade Community Project takes learning from the classroom into the community. It is a culmination of student learning in ISDenver’s IB program to date, where service learning is an integral part of the curriculum - ultimately helping students understand how they can positively engage with and impact the world around them.

Students work throughout the first semester of their 8th-grade year to identify a problem or challenge in their community, make connections to global contexts, conduct research about their topic, propose and carry out service, reflect on their learning, and finally present it to the public during our school-wide Celebration of Learning. This process teaches and reinforces valuable life skills from planning to collaboration to communication to time management.

A Sampling of this Year’s Projects

I was impressed by the breadth of different projects students undertook this year. Even when several students started with a common concern, each found their own path forward to address the issue and asked their own unique questions along the way. I was also impressed with the student presentations at the Celebration of Learning. Students who hit roadblocks along the way were able to reflect so thoughtfully about what went well and what went wrong, articulating their learning and takeaways from going through that process. I feel confident that every single student learned what it means to affect change by doing the Community Project. 

Nicole Hand, ISDenver Middle School Faculty 

This year’s 8th grade class undertook a wide range of projects, affecting communities around Denver and beyond. Students’ passions and interests inspired them to collect donations to help unhoused people, serve meals to those facing food insecurity, raise funds and awareness about leukemia, volunteer at local animal shelters, improve trail systems, promote wider access to books, raise money for displaced people in conflict zones, support youth sports at local rec centers, raise funds to combat horse abuse, construct websites to help students studying abroad, perform music for residents of a senior living community, and more. 

Beckham// Healthy Meals to Combat Food Insecurity 

Beckham says his dad was the inspiration behind his 8th Grade Community Project. He sees his dad’s effort to help the underserved, even in the busyness of everyday life, and give back to the community in a meaningful way.

“It is so easy to take what I have for granted, “ Beckham reflected, “and I wanted to help get healthy food to the communities my dad helps.” Beckham focused his efforts at a food pantry run by Jewish Family Services in Denver.

He studied food insecurity, not just in Denver but all over the world, and discovered that one action, even a small one, can create a difference in someone’s life.

Ever//Denver Rescue Mission

Ever carefully packs the donations he’s collected from the neighborhood into the family SUV. He closes up the back, lets his mom know it's time, and they leave for the Denver Rescue Mission where Ever has coordinated a year-long monthly collection drive. Denver Rescue Mission has been serving the most vulnerable in our community for 132 years through emergency services, rehabilitation, transitional programs, and community outreach. 

Ever, who will be in the founding class of 9th Graders at the new International School of Denver High School when it opens in Lowry this fall, said he was inspired by the Denver Rescue Mission. “I saw the Denver Rescue Mission help out so many people and give them hope. This really made me feel good, so I wanted to do my share and try to make a big difference in someone's life.”

What started as part of Ever’s 8th Grade Community Project continued long after he’d met the requirements for the assignment when he saw the impact he could make. “I am proud of the difference I’ve made in a few people’s lives,” Ever shared, “I think that this really helped me understand that I can be a strong, independent, young member of society and not to taper my expectations.”

Ever’s community service project demonstrated his dedication to helping those in need by organizing monthly donation drives for the homeless. He worked hard to collect and donate essential items to the Denver Rescue Mission, showing both leadership and a strong sense of responsibility. It was inspiring to see Ever grow through this experience, developing empathy and compassion while making a real impact on his community.

Aaron Siegel, Faculty Advisor for Ever’s Community Service Project

Lyla//Literacy for Everyone: Unlocking the Power of Books

Inspired by her love of reading, Lyla built a Little Library for her neighborhood. Drawing from her time living in Ethiopia, her understanding of what a privilege books are to a community, and the whimsical nostalgia of family bike rides to Little Libraries during her childhood, Lyla’s 8th Grade Community Project leaves a legacy of literacy for all who encounter it.

Perfectly situated across from her neighborhood public school and access to the trail system, Lyla knew her home was a perfect location for her Little Library.

Lyla had a multifaceted project both building the Little Library from scratch but also stocking it with children’s and chapter books. While she studied the impact of literacy across the world, she ran a book drive and researched the best way to build her library from the ground up. 

Her project wasn’t without challenges. “The first night my Little Library was set up” Lyla reflected, “ it snowed and water leaked into the box and got on the books. I had to add more cocking which is like a glue that fills cracks so that this did not happen again. I also made sure to put a grate in the bottom of the box so that the books would not get damaged in future rains.”

It has been several months since her Little Library opened, and Lyla delights each time she sees children gathering outside it. As the days get nicer, she hopes to see more and more families out for bike rides pause at her library to select a book to take and, in doing so, stir up the same love of reading like those childhood visits did for her.

Macy//Spreading Smiles: Education and prevention of blood cancers

My goal was to not only educate the community about blood cancer, but also to take action towards what has negatively affected my family the most. After my grandma's passing, I felt a passion for justice, in both the prevention of blood cancer, and support to those who have experienced such a tragedy. The service project was an opening to start young; at just 13 years old, while getting a larger audience to become aware of this life-threatening cancer that may enter their close inner circle. Additionally, I had hoped to make an impact that wouldn’t stop with my partnership and work with Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, but rather continue on, allowing the project to further its potential, and continue making a big difference. 

- Macy, ISDenver 8th Grader

After losing her beloved grandma to a battle with leukemia, Macy knew what she needed to do. “My grandma had a wonderfully bright soul, shedding love, positive energy, and advice to everyone around her. When the Community Service Project was introduced, I knew this is what I had wanted to do, despite the challenges that may come with it,” Macy shared.

Macy partnered with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (known as LLS), to elevate the project and draw more professional attention to it. She didn’t just want a “casual bake sale run by middle schools” but envisioned a much more sophisticated fundraising effort. “After communication, coordination, and planning with my contact at LLS, we collaboratively created a poster sharing both the bake sale and our alliance. This brought media attention to the event, and gave off the correct impression that this was and still is a topic of importance that needs to be addressed amongst our community.” 

From partnering with Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, to becoming an official Student Visionary, my project achieved great success. My partners and I raised $500 from our bake sale, worked with a drug drive (that can be connected with cancers), and formed a union with a globally oriented charity. Moreover, my work with LLS on my project led to even greater achievements, as I was invited to an exclusive Student Visionaries of the Year team, to compete alongside my team of 11 girls and raise as much as possible. My project led to even greater success, and I couldn’t have wished for a better outcome.

Macy said that the project taught her that patience, perseverance, and adaptivity are essential when aiming for big objectives with a project. Most importantly, she wants others to know that one is never too young to take action toward something that matters to them. “Work like this can take you places in the future,and age is just an excuse used to convince yourself you can’t do something. Always keep pushing forward, despite the obstacles that may come your way.” 

Noah//Supplying People with Sustainable Food (Plate by Plate)

Noah partnered with Jewish Family Services on his 8th Grade Community Project. JFS was founded 153 years ago and currently offers more than 30 programs and services, including food security, housing stability, mental health counseling, aging care, employment support, refugee resettlement, chaplaincy and Jewish life, disability services, and aeroponic farming.

Noah’s project tapped into their food security outreach where they believe everybody deserves food and care, despite their beliefs or circumstances. As an outcome of his project, Noah hoped to give access to healthy food and other health products to those facing food insecurity in Denver.

Sophia Butcher--Bringing Home With You: Supporting students who study abroad

Sophia drew from her own lived experience for inspiration for her project. As an exchange student in Quebec, Sophia experienced homesickness. She realized that she was likely not alone and that other exchange students probably shared similar feelings of missing home.

Sophia had two main objectives for her project:

• Spread awareness of the impact of cultural exchanges on a student’s well-being
• Create a community of exchange students (past, present and future) that can share their tips, thoughts, experiences, and questions

Sophia developed a user-friendly website to act as a forum for this exact community. She shared her own experiences from her time studying abroad and created a welcoming conversation and resource for other students can do the same.

As an educator, I care about helping students become forces for good in the world. I want them to engage in life with a sense of compassion, thoughtfulness, humility, and self-reflection. I want them to have the confidence that they can create a positive impact even in the face of large challenges, and that what they choose to do with their talents and energy matters. Service learning allows students to take ideas and conversations they’ve had in the classroom and apply them to real-life situations. Through this experience, they learn that making change (or even getting someone to answer your email) can be hard and messy, but that with determination and persistence, they are more than capable of putting their mark on the world.

Nicole Hand, ISDenver Faculty