An integral part of the Newman’s Experiential Learning philosophy is a commitment to Community Service. Therefore, the students of the Lower School participate in many educational activities that not only facilitate their learning, but also benefit the local community.

Every year, the Lower School embarks on a community service project for three weeks after Thanksgiving break. Recently, the Lower School partnered with New Orleans Hornets player P.J. Brown and his national “Read to Achieve” program to renovate and stock the library at Agnes L. Bauduit Elementary School in Uptown New Orleans. Through raising the money, the students were also able to work on their math skills. All in all, the children raised $5,700 in only 15 days.

For several years now, Lower School Science teacher Jennifer Williams has had her students participate in a program she created called Students Teaching and Respecting Science, or S.T.A.R.S., in which Newman third-graders teach public school third-graders hands-on science experiments. "It works on so many levels other than just reinforcing science lessons,” Ms. Williams said. “It exposes our kids to the larger community. It has led to questions like, ‘Why are their schools different from ours?’ It also teaches the kids how to teach, how to speak in public and how to pay better attention."