"The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it; the world, and all who live in it."  Psalms 24:1

Every Spring, the Junior Kindergarten classes puts into practice the lessons they have been learning about taking care of God's creation.   After collecting donations of pet food and other miscellaneous pet supplies, the students and teachers take a field trip to the Nashville Humane Shelter where they spend time meeting the cuddly residents of the shelter, sharing their collected goods and learning about how the shelter's operations.

"Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God."  Hebrews 13:16

In previous years, our kindergarten students have worked with local aid organizations to provide for the needs of families who lack basic hygiene supplies and students who lack school supplies.  Students collected items from their homes and gathered them together at school where they created care packages.  It is truly a joy to see these little ones learning empathy and practicing compassion for those who need their help and care.

"Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others."  Philippians 2:4

Our first grade students have continued to look for ways to serve others in the Nashville area, especially by providing food for those who are experiencing hunger or recent loss.  Students held a food drive in the spring and collected several bins of dry and canned goods which they were able to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank.  Thank you, first grade, for your selflessness and commitment to serving others!

"He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart ."   Isaiah 40:11

For the past several years, our second grade students have partnered with the Ronald McDonald House to provide care and encouragement to families who are experiencing illnesses.  A representative from RMDH comes to campus each fall to teach our second-grade students about the work that is being accomplished at the hospital and to offer our students guidance on how they can be encouragers when they visit with patients. 

In the spring, students and faculty from second grade take a field trip to the Ronald McDonald House where they get an opportunity to meet families and patients, offer encouragement and support, and develop a heart for helping others in need.

"Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ ."   Galatians 6:2

Our third grade has been involved in several projects in recent years, many of which have involved serving the elderly in our community.  Students have organized and attended a bingo social at the St. Paul Senior Living Center on our campus, as well as spending time interviewing grandparents and grandfriends about their experiences when they were chidlren.  Third graders also did a fantastic job collecting and donating shoes for children in Haiti after last year's earthquake.  Sixty students collected nearly 200 pairs of shoes and filled each one with hand-written notes and encouraging passages from Scripture.  The shoes were given to Soles4Souls who then transported them to Haiti along with other shoe donations from around Nashville.

"This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you."  John 15:12

In recent years, our fourth grade students have worked with disabled children from Gower Elementary school in West Nashville.  St. Paul students planned a program with games, a craft, lunch and a photo opportunity... all of which were designed to encourage the students from Gower and to provide a springboard for building relationships.

Most recently, the fourth grade put together several kits of medical supplies and had them shipped to Haiti along with encouraging notes and passages of Scripture.  Part of that project involved a time of discussion and prayer for the victim's of the natural disaster in Haiti.

"Freely your have received, freely give." Matthew 10:8

Our fifth graders have chosen over the last several years to carry out their service project during the Christmas season, and to that end, have partnered with More Than A Toy and World Relief Nashville to provide for others in need.  This past Christmas, students decorated shoe boxes and tupperware bins with messages of the Christmas story and filled them with hygiene supplies and notes telling them of the love of Jesus.  Well done, fifth grade!

"Share with God's people who are in need.  Practice hospitality." Romans 12:13

Sixth graders at St. Paul are serving in a number of ways. They set up chairs for Wednesday chapels, collect the recycling around campus, walk junior kindergarten students to class each morning, raise and lower the flag each day, and lead the daily devotion. These among many other leadership opportunities teach our sixth-grade boys and girls that it is better to give than to receive.

One of the leadership initiatives that we are most proud of here at St. Paul is our buddies program.  Students from third grade are partnered with students from junior kindergarten, students from fourth grade are partnered with students from kindergarten, and so on. During buddy time, younger students have opportunities to simply spend time with the older students and soak in all the excitement of what life will be like in four years!  At the same time, the older students are learning to lead, to listen, to share their gifts and talents and to practice patience.  One of the greatest outcomes of this buddy time is seeing our little ones growing more confident as they encounter older students around campus and seeing our older students take the time to give hugs and high-fives to the little ones.