Knights in the Community

Middle School Community Engagement program supports Menlo’s commitment to teaching students to become ethical, responsible, and engaged members of ever-wider communities and to develop a sense of commitment to purposes larger than themselves. The program exposes students to significant social issues and empowers them to take action.

The students will participate in service-learning within groups in 6th and 7th grades before exercising their design thinking skills to research and explore meaningful individual opportunities in 8th grade. The process will be structured and documented via in-class activities to shape actionable steps to serve and give back to their communities both globally and locally on a personal level. Their hands-on experiences and research will be shared with the wider community and displayed on campus in the spring.  

“Knights in the Community allows us to bring community speakers on campus, develop thoughtful curriculum, and help and support schools, organizations, and the environment outside of Menlo. It is more important now than ever before to teach students that everyone’s well-being is interconnected and that the students have the power to make a positive change.”

—La Vina Lowery, Middle School Director