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2009: Community Service Citation

Founded on Good Citizenship
Claremont builds bridges with downtown, the city and the world

Many schools encourage students to engage in community service. But Claremont Preparatory School—situated in the former headquarters of Bank of America International, in the heart of the city’s financial district—takes that aspiration to a new level.

“Students at Claremont are taught responsibility to both the school community as well as the larger community,” said Irwin Shlachter, the school’s headmaster.

Claremont was founded in 2003, when residential growth in the downtown area created a need for more schools and the nearby World Trade Center site underscored the value of volunteering. With only 54 students in its first class, enrollment swelled to 510 under Shlachter’s guidance; next year, a high school division will open.

Christine Karamanoglou, assistant head of Claremont’s middle school and the former community service coordinator, explained that good citizenship has always been a cornerstone of Claremont’s philosophy. Being a new school in a mostly business area also made it necessary to reach out.

“There was a need for links with the community that were vital to both build a sense of community within the school, and have a relationship with the surrounding neighborhoods,” she said.

Community service initiatives start with what students wear. The first Friday of the month, each student contributes $3 to “Dress Down Friday,” a program that directs money to a variety of charities chosen by the student council.

“The program helps to teach kids that with a privilege—such as dressing down—there comes a responsibility,” Shlachter said.

Other efforts include visits to nearby St. Margaret’s nursing home, where students sing and bring gifts during the holidays, and the “Baby Buggy” initiative, which collects new and used items for families who can’t afford strollers, bibs, bottles and the like. Globally, Claremont sends care packages to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“The message is when you begin by training kids early on, they understand their responsibility to not only their immediate community, but to the world,” Shlachter said.

Brian Pacholke, the school’s PTA president, sees his daughter Erin participating in numerous school-wide community service initiatives. As part of a recent social studies curriculum, her 4th grade class participated in “Chores for Charity.” Students were paid to do chores at home, and then donated that money to a local farming community, which in turn provided fresh produce to the school.

“I like the fact that the school’s community service is tied to learning curriculums and not just charity for charity’s sake,” Pacholke said.

Another recent program was “Pennies for Puppies,” which helped support guide dog training for puppies. Pacholke said it was a great experience for children to see their efforts help the visually impaired.

Claremont also participates in the “New York Says Thank You” charity. Founded after Sept. 11 to give back to emergency responders and volunteers, the group dispatches members to disasters around the country, such as the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Katrina. Last year, during the first week of school, Claremont sent a group of 8th graders and teachers to help communities struck by tornadoes. The students eventually helped rebuild a barn in Greensburg, Kansas; this year, they are helping to rebuild a school in Little Sioux, Iowa.

“On the whole, we’re raising the consciousness of kids,” Shlachter said. “The inherent message is that since New York kids are more privileged than many others, they have a greater responsibility as well.”

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Claremont Preparatory School
41 Broad St.
New York, N.Y. 10004
212-232-0266
www.claremontprep.org
Irwin Shlachter, Headmaster
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— Alan Krawitz