Annual Winter Exploration of Faiths
Deepening our understanding of others through faith exploration is one of the signature programs that sets University School of the Lowcountry apart from other schools. At USL, we learn firsthand about the many different faiths and faith practices of our neighbors. To prepare to be better-informed citizens of the community and the world, University School students visit 2-3 houses of worship each year to explore and talk to adherents of that religion.
Sharing time with people of different faiths allows our students to be curious, ask questions, and gain respect for the beliefs of others, and gives them broader insights into how we share more commonalities than we might think at first glance.
One of the many benefits of these experiences over long periods of time is developing adults who participate constructively in civic life — locally and in the greater world, regard others who are different with compassion, work collaboratively with diverse people, lead meaningful lives, and develop self-reflection skills.
Universities and employers find our students prepared and ready to lead and collaborate with others from across America and the globe. They are attractive potential community, school, and workforce members because they are unlike any other young people they’ve seen in our modern, interconnected, and diverse world! These are more critical and needed skills than ever, and they are rare and cherished/valuable.
Annual Day of Caring- 17th year!
University School of the Lowcountry took part in the Trident United Way’s Day of Caring on November 22; this was our 17th consecutive year of participating. We contributed 700+ hours of service to our community! This national effort powerfully resonates in the Charleston area: the TUW has traditionally had some of the largest number of projects and volunteers among all United Way chapters over the last 20 years. COVID impacted this service program and volunteering nationwide, and we are proud to be part of building it back.
University School students, faculty, parents, alumni, and alumni parents helped with service projects at 13 non-profits and underserved public schools across Charleston, Berkeley, and Dorchester counties. Creating and maintaining long-term relationships with organizations, schools, and people all over the tri-county area enables us all to better understand, work with, and help each other.
All of our students in our grades 3-12 school contribute 50+ hours of service to the community each year—during regular school days. We value empathy and active citizenship, and schools demonstrate what they are committed to by what they spend time on. Although there are additional opportunities like this on the weekends, we integrate community service into our regular weekday program. Learning at a school that honors helping others and where students and teachers regularly assist others together makes this normal. It also enables them to see firsthand all of the valuable work that our public schools and non-profits are doing. This approach yields good and compassionate adults who will help others and uplift their communities on their personal journey through life.
Please enjoy this slideshow from the day!
There was much to be proud of, and since returning we have been sharing stories among the participants. Everyone had new experiences, did things we’ve never done before, and made a real difference in others’ lives. We are grateful to everyone in our community who made this day possible!
Annual Civics and Election Day Prep
Becoming an informed voter is a lifelong process of learning. AT USL, we do not shy away from examining politics. We do examine the platforms and policies of all parties. We invite guest speakers from every political party to join us on campus, share their ideas, and answer our questions. Through every election cycle, we perform exit polling. Our yearly exit poll project on Election Day, during which students conduct exit polls across the county and neighboring precincts to make statistical predictions based on their collected data. In addition, Upper School students can participate as a poll worker on election day.
Exit Polling
The annual exit polling LOTC each fall is a traditional Learning Outside the Classroom event where students head out to dozens of precincts to conduct exit polls of registered voters.
Youth Poll Worker Initiative
Upper School Students participate in the Youth Poll Worker Program to train and work the polls on election day at various sites providing first-hand experience into the election and voting process.
Guest Speakers
USL’s civic education program is a great example of our belief in learning from the experts. USL invites every candidate from all political parties represented to share their platform and for students to listen and ask questions.
USL Traditions: Cookie Baking & Delivering
Each academic year, at the start of the semester, it is a beloved annual tradition to take part in cookie baking and delivering to our local neighbors along Coleman Blvd. We have done this for years, and its roots stem back to a summer activity in June 2007 before we opened our doors!
Students will bake cookies, deliver them, and clean up the kitchen. This will allow students to gain practice with the responsibility inherent to LOTCs, engage in some random acts of kindness, improve in small talk, and meet our neighbors around Coleman Blvd. and other parts of Mount Pleasant. It is also a terrific time for relationship-building.
