Community service is engrained into classroom and extracurricular activities at the school, says Dr. Eric Denton, headmaster at the school, which serves students grades K-12. Students can build valuable skills by orchestrating and participating in the events, which adds a sense of purpose into their lives as well.

The Senior and Junior Beta Clubs require high academic achievement, strong character and community service. “Our student government, athletic teams, Bible classes and Fellowship of Christian Athletes all encourage community service as well,” Denton says. Some projects are annual initiatives and others are one-time events they undertake as needs arise.

Here are five amazing projects that St. John’s students have been involved with during this school year:

1. Stepping Up: 

Soles for Souls is a new project for the school this year. Students collect shoes for children in Haiti and Honduras and pass the shoes off to local mission teams, who deliver them to those in need.

2. Celebrating the Reason for the Season:

For the holidays, St. John’s students packed shoe boxes with Christmas gifts that were sent to impoverished countries as part of Operation Christmas Child.

3. Moving Forward:

Students from the school participated in the Lowcountry Pregnancy Center’s Walk for Life, which supported the center in helping mothers through their pregnancies.

4. Spreading Cheer:

Last Christmas season, members of the senior Beta Club visited residents at the Lake Moultrie Nursing Home. These high school students gave up a Saturday to visit and play games with residents.

5. Pitching In:

In an effort to replenish inventory at local food banks, the students collected food for local church-operated food pantries.

Some of the most impactful good deeds don’t support groups, but make a huge difference in the lives of individuals, Denton says. Members of the school’s varsity football team took a second grader with cerebral palsy under their wings. Their efforts were not coordinated on a grand scale, but still made life brighter for another person. At a pep rally before a playoff game, the players presented the boy with a football. Another player presented him with Christmas presents at school. And a few of the players visit with him during lunch almost every day.

“They encourage him and serve as role models for him and for the rest of the student body,” Denton says.

“The Bible consistently teaches us to love God and love people,” Denton adds. “By serving our community, we look beyond our own needs to those of others, and that adds greater purpose to our lives.”

Parents looking for a K3-12 school that teaches the value of service should consider St. John’s Christian Academy, located in Moncks Corner. To find out more, visit SJCacavaliers.com or call 843-761-8539.