Service Learning is a vital part of the PDS community. As we develop boys in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man, service learning helps our boys gain insight into challenges faced by others and the satisfaction from knowing they have helped in some way.
In addition to connecting with our mission, service learning connects with the seven virtues of our Building Boys, Making Men program. As a “Servant Leader,” we teach our students to use leadership skills to serve others, and as a “Moral Motivator” they learn to make a positive impact in their community.
Much of our service learning is integrated in our curriculum by engaging in creative problem-solving and relationship-building to connect to the needs of our community whether at a local, national, or global level.
In addition to connecting to our curriculum, service learning helps our boys gain empathy and an appreciation for a variety of experiences and backgrounds. They learn important communication skills, and it instills a lifelong commitment to service while giving them an opportunity to do real work and develop real skills.
In the PDS EDGE Studio, 4th graders engaged in design thinking and found creative ways to raise funds to build a well for a community in Africa.
Every other year, our 5th- and 6th-graders participate, through the World Leadership School, in a service learning project for the Chilamate School as they immerse themselves in serving for a week in Costa Rica.
Each year, a group of elementary students learn aspects of business by running a lemonade stand. Proceeds from the stand provide schooling for a child in Africa.
PDS partners with Berclair School in Memphis in a variety of ways.
Presbyterian Day School (PDS) is a private, Christian preschool and elementary school serving boys from 2-years-old through 6th grade for almost 75 years.
With our mission of striving to glorify God by developing boys in wisdom and stature and favor with God and man, we take a holistic approach to education, nurturing the heart, soul, mind, and body of each boy.