FIND OUT MORE: Launching Our New Service Learning Program
From November 1-9, a group of students traveled to New York City for a service-learning trip that was as challenging as it was rewarding. While many were part of the school’s volleyball teams, others joined from different backgrounds, including students who had been leaders at Camp LCS. Together, they set out not only to serve but also to learn—about themselves, about others, and about what it truly means to lead through service.
This was LCS’ second service trip to the Bronx. (Read about our first one: LCS Students Take a Bite Out of the Big Apple) The fall 2025 time in New York centered around volunteering at PS-29 Melrose School and St. Ann’s Episcopal Church after-school program in the Bronx. In classrooms and gymnasiums, they worked with younger students, running activities, tutoring, and forming meaningful connections. This trip was about more than just teaching skills—it was about encouraging confidence, teamwork, and joy in each other and those we met. Some students served in mentoring roles, forming big brother/big sister relationships that provided younger students with guidance and encouragement. And our students also had opportunities to learn how to play lacrosse from the students at PS29 who were part of the inspiring Bronx Lacrosse Program.
Yet, the service went beyond structured programs. The team spent time getting to know the children on a personal level, listening to their stories and sharing their own. They witnessed firsthand the realities of life in an underprivileged urban community—challenges that were often far removed from their own experiences—but they also saw resilience, hope, and joy in the students they met. Through these moments, they developed a deeper sense of empathy and a greater understanding of what it means to serve with humility.
There’s a growing body of research and evidence showing that value-based character teaching is ineffective without being rooted in faith and what psychologists call a “moral community.” Christian schools that provide opportunities for students to practice community and global service, generous giving, and inclusion of disadvantaged and marginalized people, are more likely to produce graduates who remain committed to their faith practices and serving in their community. (For an example, see: Findings from the 2023 Cardus Education Survey)
New York was an incredible experience for our students, allowing them to see God’s gifts in action. It was amazing to witness them using their talents to serve students in the Bronx. This opportunity opened their eyes to new perspectives and the beauty of different communities.
MRS. DaVIS – HOUSE DIRECTOR (FRASER) & SENIOR GIRLS VOLLEYBALL COACH
Guiding the trip was Chris Seppelt, the school’s Service Learning Coordinator, who has more than 20 years of experience leading service trips to inner-city neighborhoods in the Bronx and Los Angeles. Having once worked as a teacher at a faith-based school in New York, he brought not only deep knowledge but also meaningful connections that enriched the students’ experience. Other leaders on the trip included Adam Woelders, Head of Schools, along with senior volleyball coaches and teachers: Taylor Howe, Julianna Howe, and Kara Davis.
“Echoes of God’s Love”
Reflecting on the week, Mr. Seppelt shared that so many aspects of the trip “echoed God’s love.” Whether it was the way students encouraged and uplifted the children they worked with, the warmth and hospitality they received from the churches and schools they visited, or the powerful moments of faith shared within their own group, the presence of Christ was woven throughout their experience.
This trip challenged students to step outside their comfort zones, calling on them to lead in new ways. Whether through coaching, mentoring, or sharing personal testimonies, they found themselves in roles that required confidence, patience, and a willingness to grow. Some led activities for the first time, while others engaged in deeper conversations about faith and service. In these moments of vulnerability, they came to understand that leadership isn’t about having all the answers—it’s about showing up, serving with an open heart, and being present for others.
MR. SEPPELT – LCS SERVICE LEARNING COORDINATOR
Beyond their service work, the trip was also a time of exploration and reflection. They visited historic sites like Ground Zero, walked across the Brooklyn Bridge, and attended church services where they were welcomed with warmth and hospitality. A particularly moving experience took place at St. Ann’s Church, where they saw young children recite the Lord’s Prayer with deep conviction—a powerful reminder of faith’s ability to sustain and unite communities.
The New York Service Trip was more than just a volunteer experience—it was about learning to be uncomfortable in our struggles to be the reflection of Christ’s love in action. It challenged students to see leadership in a new light, to embrace service as an ongoing practice, and to recognize that the most profound lessons often come from stepping into someone else’s world with open hands and an open mind to truly understand how we’re the same and different.
ADAM WOELDERS – HEAD OF SCHOOL
By the end of the week, it was clear that the students had not only given their time and energy but had also received something invaluable in return—a deeper appreciation for the power of mentorship, the importance of stepping outside their own experiences, and the realization that service is as much about learning as it is about giving. Some even expressed an interest in teaching, recognizing how meaningful it was to invest in the growth of others. The goal of service learning isn’t necessarily to change others, but instead that our own students might be changed.
