Ashley Hall students are proud to have taken part in the IB Loves SC Week of Service, Learning, and Citizenship, a new statewide initiative led by South Carolina IB Schools (SCIBS). This coordinated week brought together IB students across South Carolina to live out the IB mission by engaging in meaningful service and active citizenship within their communities.

At Ashley Hall, both Lower School and Middle School students celebrated IB Loves SC through hands-on experiences that connect learning to real-world impact and encourage students to care for the world around them.

Middle School: Learning Through Environmental Stewardship

Ashley Hall’s Middle School marked IB Loves SC Day through a series of learning and service experiences focused on environmental education, restoration, and community care. In partnership with The M.A.R.S.H. Project and other local organizations, students explored how thoughtful stewardship can protect Charleston’s natural ecosystems. 

Our students learned about native plants, sustainable gardening, and the role these plants play in supporting pollinators, birds, and healthy waterways. Through hands-on gardening and seed-starting activities, students developed an understanding of their local growing environment while contributing to the care and maintenance of Ashley Hall’s campus gardens. 

Students are also engaged in community cleanups, helping remove litter that threatens wildlife and pollutes waterways. These experiences emphasize responsible citizenship and encourage students to see themselves as caretakers of their community. In addition, Middle School students learned about composting and waste reduction, discovering how small changes at home can significantly reduce household waste. By sharing what they learn with their families, students extend the impact of IB Loves SC Day beyond campus. Grade 7 and 8 students are pictured below with the trash they collected. 

Lower School: Caring for Our Coast

Ashley Hall’s Lower School launched the week with a coastal conservation experience rooted in service and curiosity. Fourth grade students partnered with Charleston Waterkeeper for a marsh cleanup and learned about the impact of microplastics and other pollution on local waterways, pictured below.

Through this hands-on experience, students saw firsthand how caring actions—both big and small—help protect Charleston’s coastal environment. “Our girls loved getting their hands dirty while caring for a small section of our local marsh,” said Elizabeth Flowers, IB PYP Coordinator and Lower School Faculty Member. “Beyond the cleanup itself, it was meaningful for them to learn about Charleston Waterkeeper and the important work the organization does to protect our waterways. We talked about the family-friendly events and volunteer opportunities Waterkeeper offers, and how this small act of service at school can spark even bigger action at home.”

Living the IB Mission Together

IB Loves SC highlights the power of service learning at every age. Across divisions, Ashley Hall students are learning that making a difference starts with awareness, grows through action, and thrives when communities come together.

We are proud to join IB schools across South Carolina in this celebration of learning, service, and citizenship, and to see our students lead with care, purpose, and compassion.