On Wednesday, September 17, the Class of 2026 traded textbooks for hands-on work, dedicating their annual Upper School Community Day to service, mentorship, and class unity. The day, designed to center the MICDS Mission Statement through experiential learning, highlighted the seniors’ role as leaders both within the school and in the greater St. Louis community.
The morning had our seniors fanning out across the city for a variety of impactful community service projects. At Operation Food Search, 12th-grade advisories packed and organized meals to support hunger relief. Others put their energy into projects at the University City Children’s Center and Dewey International School, where they engaged in hands-on work, including landscaping, painting, and playing with preschool children.
Students lent a helping hand to Nurses for Newborns, participated in activities with people with intellectual and developmental disabilities at St. Louis Arc, organized supplies at KidSmart, and restocked food while interacting with children and teens at the International Institute.
Other seniors found unique ways to connect with the St. Louis Community. Shritha Devisetty ’26 and her advisory visited the Animal Protective Association. “We made enrichment toys with pocket pets, made snuffle mats, and did playful enrichment with the different cats and dogs within the shelter,” she said. “My favorite part about the experience was bonding with my advisory while also doing something fun that I also knew was helping the community! We all had a great time playing with the animals, which also allowed them to get some time away from the stressful shelter environment.”
Back on campus, a core group of seniors helped lead the ninth-grade Community Day. Olivia Hill ’26 remained at school to mentor freshmen advisories. “This experience helped me bond and get to know their class overall,” she said. The seniors led engaging games, including a highly competitive round of Jeopardy, giving the younger students an early glimpse of the Upper School community through the eyes of their senior role models.
In the afternoon, the seniors reconvened for a well-deserved class bonding experience at the St. Louis Zoo. They shared laughter and made memories, capping off a day that was not just about service, but about connecting as a class and enjoying their final year as compassionate and responsible leaders.