Our Philosophy

Our Service Learning program is an extension of the academic experience at Barat Academy. Student's academic classes intersect with Service Learning, through what they read in English, experiment and study in science, and discuss in social studies and theology. The Service Learning Program is designed to instill in Barat students an appreciation for the world that God has provided for us and a sense of our responsibility to preserve it.  

The Service Learning program is an integral part of the curriculum at Barat Academy. Each grade level has its own theme: freshmen focus on "Environmental Awareness and Ecological Stewardship," sophomores focus on "Nurturing our Youthful Neighbors," and juniors focus on "Assisting Area Adults." Seniors, through their "Peace Project," choose to delve deeper into an issue in which they are most passionate.

See our service learning in action!


Environmental Awareness and ecological stewardship (Freshmen)

Freshmen serve at World Bird Sanctuary, Faust Park or St. Charles County Parks and Recreation. Their service varies from week to week, but includes activities such as: historical preservation, clearing hiking trails, building fences, removing invasive plants, building birdhouses, planting trees and shrubs, and polishing the carousel at Faust Park.

During the freshmen Service Learning Afternoon Project time, the students learn about their local service organization in more depth, as well as explore the larger global environmental issues that affect their local service organization, including topics such as: biodiversity, nature and animal conservation, preserving our freshwater and ocean ecosystems, carbon dioxide emissions, alternative forms of energy, the ozone layer, endangered species, land conservation, overpopulation, recycling, global warming and climate change, polar sea ice loss, sustainable food sources, deforestation of the rain forests, erosion control, and eco-friendly farming, fishing and hunting.


Nurturing our Youthful Neighbors (Sophomore)

During the mornings of Service Learning days, sophomores serve at the organizations listed below:

  • Love in the Name of Christ (LINC), St. Charles County

  • Youth In Need - St. Peters

  • Youth In Need - Wentzville

Each service organization offers different means of serving our youthful neighbors. Some of these organizations aid low income families who could not otherwise afford an educationally stimulating preschool; others assist children with special needs and some serve as safe havens for children facing abuse or kids who have family in crisis. 

During the sophomore Service Learning Afternoon Project time, the students learn about their local service organization in more depth, as well as explore the larger global issues that affect their local service organization, including topics such as: education for special needs children, access to education in third world countries, child labor laws, poverty, homelessness, malnutrition, life threatening diseases such as AIDS and malaria, immigration, child trafficking, child abuse, governmental programs & other non-profit organizations, and human rights and dignity violations based on race, religion, class, gender, or age.


Assisting Area Adults (Junior)

During the mornings of Service Learning days, juniors serve at the organizations listed below:

  • Barathaven Alzheimer's Special Care Center

  • Delmar Gardens - Chesterfield

  • Emmaus Homes

  • St. Louis Life

Each service organization offers different means of serving our area adults.  Some of these organizations interact with the elderly in senior care living; others assist adults with special needs and some serve those affected by Alzheimer's disease.

During the junior Service Learning Afternoon Project time, the students learn about their local service organization in more depth, as well as explore the larger global issues that affect their local service organization, including topics such as: elder care conditions, social isolation, abuse, the booming increase in the elderly population worldwide, immigration, refugees, decolonization, health care plans, international health regulations, disease & disease prevention, malnutrition, euthanasia, adults with special needs, employment services for hiring special needs adults, and human rights & dignity violations based on race, religion, class, gender, or age.


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The Peace Project (Senior)

The culmination of our Service Learning Program is the senior Service Learning Project, known as the Peace Project.  It requires seniors to design and develop a program that focuses on a social justice issue of their interest. 

The Peace Project is intentionally cross-curricular, as it is inextricably woven into all the senior core curriculum classes, in order to connect our students’ classroom knowledge with real world practical applications that better the community and form habits of moral citizenship, including philanthropic entrepreneurship.