Summer Session

Summer of Service

At Nativity School of Worcester, learning doesn’t stop when the traditional school year ends. Each July, students participate in three weeks of Summer of Service, a required component of Nativity’s holistic educational model that combines academics, service learning, leadership development, and experiential opportunities.

Rooted in Nativity Worcester’s four pillars of Scholarship, Character, Service, and Strength, Summer of Service helps students strengthen academic skills, build confidence and relationships, and prepare for the school year ahead. Students participate in daily English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Service Learning classes, working alongside teachers and student support staff to reinforce core skills and prevent summer learning loss.

Learning also extends well beyond the classroom. Throughout the three-week program, students serve alongside community organizations, putting what they learn into action while exploring issues affecting the greater Worcester community. Through these experiences and guided reflection, students develop a deeper understanding of service, empathy, justice, and their responsibility to become people for and with others.

Summer of Service also provides opportunities for students to explore new environments, challenge themselves, and imagine what may come after Nativity. Field trips, educational visits, team-building activities, and other experiential learning opportunities encourage students to step outside their comfort zones, discover new interests, and grow as scholars and leaders.

Youth Philanthropy Initiative

For eighth-grade students, Summer of Service includes participation in the Youth Philanthropy Initiative, an immersive introduction to philanthropy, nonprofit organizations, and community investment.

Each eighth-grade class explores needs within the Worcester community, learns how nonprofit organizations work to address those needs, and considers how philanthropy can create meaningful change. Students visit and learn from local organizations, reflect on their own values and priorities, and examine the many ways people can contribute their time, talent, and resources to strengthen their communities.

At the conclusion of the program, each eighth-grade class determines how to distribute its own grant funding among local nonprofit organizations. Students work together to evaluate what they have learned, discuss where they believe the funding can make a meaningful impact, and make collective decisions about how the funds should be awarded.

Through the Youth Philanthropy Initiative, students experience both sides of community service: contributing their own time and talents while also learning how thoughtful philanthropy can empower organizations and communities to thrive.