Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School (TJIDS) students are giving back to the community this holiday season through community-based volunteer work. Students led multiple initiatives throughout Nov. and Dec. that aligned with the TJIDS Honor Code and helped residents.

The initiatives started with TJIDS Upper School art students volunteering to paint the Salvation Army of Jasper and Newton Counties windows with holiday murals. The window design, made by junior Lincoln Miller, went along with the Salvation Army’s theme for this year: “Love Beyond.”

Next, the Early Childhood Division of TJIDS sponsored their annual mitten drive to collect mittens, gloves, scarves, hats, coats, and boots to donate to Souls Harbor in Joplin, MO. The Pre-K and Kindergarten students collected 164 warm clothing items to be donated this winter season.

The National Honor Society at TJIDS also led a school-wide canned food drive that collected 3,408 canned goods to donate to the Salvation Army of Jasper and Newton Counties.

The canned goods were used to fill over 400 holiday food boxes on Saturday, Dec. 9, at the Salvation Army of Jasper and Newton Counties by TJIDS Students, families, and faculty. These food boxes will be distributed to over 1000 families to help support them through the holiday season.

TJIDS Upper School Vocal Ensemble visited multiple venues this holiday season to sing carols and bring the holiday spirit to community members. These venues included the Joplin Ronald McDonald House and the Dec. Joplin Rotary meeting. The TJIDS Middle School Vocal Ensemble will also travel this Dec. to sing to residents at multiple long-term care facilities.

“Educating our students to make the most of their abilities and use those abilities to give back to their communities is an integral part of the education at Thomas Jefferson Independent Day School,” said Jeff Park, TJIDS President.

TJIDS delivers a rigorous liberal arts college preparatory curriculum in a supportive and nurturing environment while focusing on character education.

Students sign an Honor Code at the beginning of every school year, pledging to conduct themselves with integrity, compassion, respect, and honesty. Throughout the school year, students participate in community-based volunteer work centered on the key values of the TJIDS Honor Code.

For more information about TJIDS, contact our Admissions Office at 417-781-5124 or by e-mail at [email protected].

See this link to KSN16’s coverage of TJIDS students packing holiday food boxes at the Salvation Army here: https://www.fourstateshomepage.com/local-news/joplin-news/tj-students-spread-holiday-cheer-with-angel-tree-volunteering/