Upper School Students Lead with LOVE

AT PRINCIPIA, LEARNING AND IMPACT ARE SO INTERTWINED THAT IT’S WRITTEN INTO OUR DEFINING POLICIES. “Teaching at Principia emphasizes the point of view that education carries with it the obligation to use skills and knowledge for the betterment of humanity and our world,” states Policy 10. This approach—what Head of School Terry Grigsby (US’97, C’01) once described as “Principia’s secret sauce”—is present in the work of School faculty, staff, coaches, and administrators. And the School’s core value of “Lead with LOVE” is demonstrated in the actions of students of all ages. 

This year, student ingenuity, creativity, and good old-fashioned elbow grease have produced service projects ranging from civic beautification projects to food drives and direct donations to local, national, and international causes. The organic permaculture gardens on campus provide academic lessons in sustainability as well as sustenance through local food banks. 

“Each year, the fourth-grade class sows seeds for a spring garden,” explains Hope Gribble, the School’s garden education coordinator. “They grow fresh lettuce, collards, kale, and radishes to donate to a local food pantry. This enables the students to experience hands-on the interconnection of soil, plant, and human wellbeing. The donation isn’t a one-time experience, it’s the culmination of many studies and actions, which makes it even more meaningful.” 

Principia’s fourth annual Empty Bowls community dinner took place in November. Principia students crafted one-of-a-kind bowls for a silent auction and for guests to bring home as a gift, and community members provided an array of homemade soups, breads, and desserts for dinner. All proceeds benefited Urban Harvest STL, a nonprofit network of urban farms that help alleviate local food insecurity. 

Upper School Visual Arts teacher Mary Lamboley reflected on the way Principia students blended creativity with community service. “Seeing what these students produced, and all the growth and joy over just a few short months, is incredible,” she said. “Partnering with Urban Harvest STL has been a great way to extend our knowledge of the systems that created this food insecurity, while doing something about it. There is room for everyone to share, learn, and grow to make the world a better place.” 

Benjamin, an Upper School junior who partnered with Seed STL to support urban farming beyond Principia’s campus, summarized his experience this way. “The level of food insecurity in St. Louis astounds me,” he said. “I wanted to see concrete evidence of progress, and volunteering at the garden brings a lot of contentment. . . . We’re all about taking action.”