Students Engage in Community Action

One of Potomac's commitments is to engage students at the intersection of service learning, DEI, and SEL. Community Action Days help us achieve this by enabling students to leave campus and get into the community to practice the skills of cultural competence, service to others, generosity of spirit, and emotional intelligence.

IS and US students volunteer with more than 40 partner organizations. After each Community Action Day, students reflect on the experience. Many of their reflections focus on how individuals can make a difference, effect change, and make connections through service. Ellen Fitzpatrick, new US director of service learning, recently observed, "It is rewarding to see the students' excitement and connection to their community partners." 

On their various Community Action Days, students have addressed food insecurity across the DC metro area, working with organizations like Common Good City Farm, Arlington Food Assistance Center, and Capital Area Food Bank. They performed a variety of tasks, working on a sustainable farm, organizing food donations, and restocking food pantry shelves to support community members in need. Other organizations that Potomac students have worked with include A Wider Circle, Red Wiggler Community Farm, Bikes for the World, Together We Bake, and Women Giving Back. Several advisory groups delivered dignity donations to our partners, including more than 120 textbooks from the World Languages Department for Habitat ReStore, more than 100 uniform items from the Panther Post for Women Giving Back, and artwork created by Middle School students for Sasha Bruce Youthwork. Upper School students also served others and our natural world on campus; their projects included making 50 literacy and math kits for Arlington Housing Corporation, removing invasive species from Potomac's campus, reading with Lower School students, and working on a repurposing project to share and recycle resources through dignity donations.

Photo Galleries:
Grade 8 Community Action Day  Grade 9 Community Action Day Grade 10 Community Action Day
Grade 11 Community Action Day Grade 12 Community Action Day