Habit of Helping
Country Day’s motto, “The Habit of Helping,” reflects the commitment of the faculty, staff, and parents to instill in our children the values of integrity, respect for others, and responsibility to their community. Termed in 1989 by former Head of School, Dan White, the motto and meaning are still honored and exhibited by our Country Day community today.
Students and families across all divisions come together throughout the year in support of community fundraising for a variety of charitable causes. Many events are part of our philanthropic fabric and have become annual traditions, like acting as campus host to the Breakthrough Sacramento summer program, our top-fundraising Run to Feed the Hungry team, our Sacramento Food Bank Turkey Drive, Red Cross Blood Drives, and student visits to seniors at Sunrise Assisted Living of Sacramento. Additionally, our student and parent community brings new ideas of philanthropy every year that we are always excited to support. Some of those organizations have included Opening Doors, the Dyer Kelly School, and Gifts of the Heart Toy Drive.
High School advisory groups and the Student Council also consistently engage in local and international fundraisers and charity groups, and each High School student must complete at least fifty hours of community service as a graduation requirement.
Country Day Garden
Our Garden is the pinnacle of our “Habit of Helping”, donating almost 150 pounds of food to the River City Food Bank in 2023. Those foods that can’t be used by the food bank go to our partners at Fairytale Town to feed their animals. Busy student and faculty hands all year make for an incredible gift to our community.
The Rulindo Project
Our students also act globally as active and engaged young people around many international issues, highlighted by our longstanding partnership and engagement with the Rulindo Schools in Rwanda. Our faculty and student-led fundraisers for the Rulindo Schools have aided the community in Rwanda to repair school facilities, provide student scholarships, provide curriculum materials, fund uniform purchases, expand the school lunch program, install a clean water tap, and so much more.
8th Grade
Community Service Day
Each spring, our 8th graders take part in a meaningful Community Service Day, partnering with organizations across Sacramento. Students work alongside the Sacramento Food Bank to package and prepare essential items, support distribution efforts at River City Food Bank, and serve in a variety of roles at St. John’s Program for Real Change.
Through these experiences, students deepen their understanding of local needs while putting compassion into action; living out our mission to engage thoughtfully with and contribute to the world around them.
