Character & Service

Giving back to others is a concept that begins in Lower School and continues throughout the student's experience at Westchester Country Day School. Not only do our students learn to be academic leaders, but also they learn community leadership skills. Our service programs involve fundraising, tutoring at local public schools, and visiting hospitals and senior citizens. In fact, one requirement of Upper School graduation is the completion of a weeklong community service project chosen by the graduating student.

The most important work we do at Westchester Country Day School is to teach our students the importance of giving back to others.
Cobb Atkinson, Head of School

C.A.R.E.S. Crews

Central to Westchester's mission of instilling moral excellence is the C.A.R.E.S. Crews program. An acronym for Compassion, Awareness, Responsibility, Empathy, and Service, the program is an opportunity for the entire school community to gather several times over the year to engage in service opportunities.

Older students are paired with younger students as "buddies," and students and faculty members are all assigned to one of seven "Crews." During all-school gatherings, crews and buddies participate in a variety of activities including sharing a Thanksgiving meal, creating notes for residents in retirement homes, or wrapping books to donate to area schools. 

Change for Change

Each year students collect change for the annual "Change for Change" drive. Nominations are solicited from students for the recipients of this change, and the entire school votes on the winners. The program culminates with the counting of the change, presentation of the money to the recipients, and a school field day.