A JK-12 pluralistic school that engages students in an exemplary and inspiring general and Jewish education.
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Community Service at CESJDS

At CESJDS, we view community service as part of our mission as Jews and world citizens. One of the core values and missions of our school is tikkun olam – repairing the world. This is an obligation incumbent upon all of us to work toward the perfection of society by taking on some of its challenges. Community service is not just a way to assist others in need. For our students, it is part of a journey to find their identity, define their own guiding principles, and incorporate a sense of giving and community connection into their lives.

Commitment to Service

  • Graduates must complete 80 hours of community service.
  • Students may earn credit for up to 20 hours of service while in Middle School (starting from the summer after completing 5th grade).
  • Guidance counselors help students select service projects that interest them.

We are proud that many of our students elect to go above and beyond the required number of service hours.

Lower School students participate in a variety of service projects throughout the year, including a Thanksgiving food drive, Kindergarten cereal drive and a Student-Council sponsored project.

Lehman Day of Service

One school day each year, Upper School students travel to area organizations to volunteer in groups. Students choose from a variety of organizations at which to volunteer on the Lehman Day of Service. Projects have included:

  • Bowling with seniors at Charles E. Smith Life Communities
  • Serving customers at Interfaith Works clothing center
  • Cleaning grounds and trails at Montgomery Parks
  • Preparing and serving lunch at SOME: So Others Might Eat

Families in Action on Good Deeds Day

More than 700 CESJDS community members volunteer for our annual Families in Action on the Sara and Samuel J. Lessans Good Deeds Day. Volunteers choose from a variety of projects through CESJDS and the Jewish Federation of Greater Washington. Projects include:

  • Pitching in at Days End Farm Horse Rescue
  • Assisting seniors with their use of technology
  • Making sandwiches for local homeless shelters
  • Cleaning up Locust Grove Nature Center

Kindergarten food driveKindergarten students collected 251 lbs of food to donate to Manna Food Center.

ShrekThe cast and crew of the Middle School and High School musicals collected $2100 for charity.

Families in ActionMore than 700 community members volunteer throughout the greater Washington area on Families in Action on Good Deeds Day.