Just as our academic arts, and athletic curricula spiral intentionally to assure that students grow in 
positive, healthy ways, we are equally purposeful about emphasizing our Core Values. Qualities such as respect, responsibility, compassion, and civic-mindedness are lived daily and are built into the fabric of Applewild. This aspect of our curriculum has been recognized by several awards for the ways we engage our students in stewardship, including the Parents' Independent School Network (PIN) most prestigious Outstanding Program Award for Community Service in 2007.
Our core values are integrated into our curriculum and come alive in regular, recurring ways that then provide natural opportunities for leadership. Examples include when first graders visit a local Head Start program and share their interest in reading, and third graders connect to their buddies at ARC on a recycling project. Similarly in the Upper School, students are involved with the Cleghorn Neighborhood Center at various times of the year. Additional opportunities for learning and service include "Greening the Apple" conservation project, UNICEF, OXFAM, Hoops for Hearts, and food drive activities.
Participation in these efforts is an expectation as students advance in their years at Applewild, providing genuine leadership opportunities that make a difference. In addition, our fifth and ninth graders take on specific leadership roles within their division. Our emphasis on public speaking provides an additional skill all combining to assure that Applewild students have developed competencies as confident, engaged, and participatory citizens - and know that their leadership matters.