Students at Kyrene Middle School (KMS) participated in their first International Baccalaureate (IB) Day of Service on November 14, engaging in nearly 20 service projects that aimed to benefit both local and global communities. The event was part of a statewide initiative now in its fifth year, but marked the first time KMS students joined.
Throughout the day, students from grades 6 through 8 worked with organizations such as United Food Bank, Feed My Starving Children, and the Arizona Humane Society. Their activities ranged from packing hygiene kits for people experiencing homelessness to preparing meals for children abroad.
“IB is about cultivating thoughtful, compassionate citizens,” said KMS Principal Scott Maxwell. “The Day of Service allows students to translate those principles into tangible action, whether supporting their immediate community or contributing to causes around the world.”
At Feed My Starving Children, one group packed enough meals to serve 256 children for a year. Eighth-grade student William shared his perspective: “It’s a great opportunity to preserve some of our humanity across the globe, and for us to be giving back to those in our community who aren’t as fortunate.”
Meanwhile, at United Food Bank, students and staff assembled more than 1,500 food boxes for individuals and families throughout the Valley area. On campus, other groups read to younger students at C.I. Waggoner Elementary School and took part in beautification projects such as cleaning classrooms and outdoor spaces.
Seventh-grade student Myra commented on her experience: “My team was able to pack 72 food bags in 15 minutes. I learned that when you’re all working as a community, it goes way faster.”
Projects also included making friendship bracelets for peers, weaving rugs for Gathering Humanity—an organization that supports child refugees—and performing basic car maintenance for school staff. Students created affirmation journals and bookmarks for humanitarian causes and wrote cards for senior citizens.
Principal Maxwell reflected on the event’s impact: “What impressed me most this first year wasn’t just the number of projects, but how thoughtfully students approached each one. They weren’t just checking boxes. They were thinking about the people they were helping, and that’s exactly the kind of engagement IB aims to foster. Next year, we hope to deepen that impact even further.”
The IB Middle Years Programme at KMS incorporates these values throughout academic subjects and electives by encouraging critical thinking and collaboration beyond traditional assessments.
