6-8 Community Service
At Gateway, community service is emphasized throughout the grades, and younger classes reach out to the community in various projects with local parks, retirement homes, and service agencies. Entering middle school, Gateway sixth grade students start by planning and leading all-school community service projects. After that, they are ready to connect to the greater community as an individual and to meet the challenge of Gateway’s community service requirements. Seventh graders perform 20 hours of on-campus community service, and eighth graders are required to give 25 off-campus hours, in service to the greater Santa Cruz community. The program offers opportunities for connection and recognition, which helps adolescents reach beyond themselves and their peer group.
