All girls, grades 1-12, Catholic, independent school with a co-ed early childhood program

Social Action

Living Goal III

At Stone Ridge, Social Action begins with a question: How is my well-being bound up in yours?

Rooted in Goal III, our program invites students to recognize their responsibility to one another and to the wider world. Inspired by St. Madeleine Sophie Barat’s belief that a child who knows she is loved by God can transform the world, our students learn that love moves outward. It acts.

Service at Stone Ridge is not a single program. It is a shared commitment woven throughout every division and sustained across generations. Through preparation, action, and reflection, students cultivate critical consciousness around issues of justice, develop leadership in building and sustaining just partnerships, and embrace a lifelong commitment to service.

A Community Committed to Service

Students in every division participate in meaningful service throughout the year.

From Generous Hearts during Advent and Lent to community drives, environmental stewardship, awareness campaigns, student clubs, and local partnerships, students engage local and global issues while building authentic relationships in our region.

These experiences challenge students to grow in empathy, responsibility, and awareness — seeing service not simply as charity, but as solidarity.

Upper School Social Action Program

In the Upper School, Social Action becomes a structured, immersive experience fully integrated into the curriculum. 

Students participate in 10 dedicated academic days each year, earning Theology credit through preparation, direct service, and guided reflection. Each Social Action Day begins with a community-wide morning assembly featuring speakers who share stories of faith in action and help our students to confront the complex issues impacting communities right here at home—across our nation’s capital. Students then engage in grade-level specific programming:

  • First Academics (Orientation): Introduction to Social Action rooted in Catholic Social Teaching with select off-campus experiences. This foundational year, led by Social Action Leaders (SALs), deepens understanding of the principles of Catholic Social Teaching and prepares students for meaningful community partnerships.
  • Second Academics (Exploration): Rotation through multiple partner sites to gain broad experience and awareness across different advocacy areas.
  • Third & Fourth Academics (Partnership): Sustained, year-long collaboration with one community organization to develop deeper relationships and lasting impact.

Student voices and leadership shape the vision and programming through the Social Action Student Advisory Board (SASAB), Social Action Leaders (SALs), and Reflection Teams — ensuring authentic, peer-led engagement.

Students collaborate with over 30 partner organizations throughout the DC Metro Area, addressing critical needs in education, environmental protection and restoration, equitable access to housing and food, inclusion initiatives, and elderly care support, among others. 

Through this transformative work, students grow in social awareness and leadership — fully embodying our Sacred Heart mission and revealing Christ’s love in the world around them.

Formation for Life

At Stone Ridge, Social Action is not about hours fulfilled. It is about hearts formed.

Our students graduate understanding that leadership begins with listening, compassion requires courage, and faith calls us to act. They leave prepared not only for college, but for lives rooted in purpose — knowing that their well-being is forever bound up in the well-being of others.

A group of people wearing white aprons and hairnets stand together in what appears to be a commercial kitchen or food preparation area, with various kitchen equipment and supplies visible in the background.
A group of people in white uniforms are working behind a counter filled with various fruits and vegetables.
A group of people, likely volunteers, are standing behind a table filled with various supplies and donations in what appears to be a storage or distribution center.
The image shows a display of various fruits, including apples and pears, in a grocery store setting. Three employees are standing behind the display, wearing uniforms and assisting customers.
A group of people standing in front of a nature center building, surrounded by lush greenery and trees, with some holding trash bags, suggesting an environmental cleanup or conservation effort.
The image shows a woman sitting on the floor of what appears to be a classroom, reading a book with two young children sitting next to her. The background includes various educational materials and supplies, suggesting this is an educational setting.
Two young women in casual clothing are holding boxes in a cluttered storage room or warehouse setting, with various items and clothing racks visible in the background.
A group of young people, likely students, standing in front of a pile of donated clothing and other items in what appears to be a school or community center setting.
A group of students are seated at a table, intently focused on completing paperwork or forms in a classroom setting.
Four young women, all smiling, stand together in what appears to be a classroom or office setting. Behind them, framed artwork and other decorations adorn the walls, creating a vibrant and engaging backdrop.
A group of young students are gathered around a table, engaged in a learning activity with a teacher or instructor, surrounded by shelves of books and other educational materials in the classroom setting.
A group of people standing in front of a vehicle with the trunk open, surrounded by a fall landscape with trees and a building in the background.
A group of people, likely students, holding a banner for a student organization called %22Families 4 Families%22 and standing in front of a university campus with brick buildings and trees in the background.
A group of smiling young people, some wearing colorful clothing, are standing in a hallway holding various items.
The image shows three people in white lab coats and hairnets standing behind a counter displaying various food items.
A group of people, likely students or staff, are gathered around a table in what appears to be a classroom or storage area, surrounded by various supplies and equipment.
Two young women standing in a lush, green forest environment, smiling and posing for the camera.
The image shows a group of young children sitting on a colorful rug in what appears to be a classroom setting, surrounded by educational displays and materials on the walls.
Two people, a woman in a pink sweatshirt and another person, are crouched down in a lush, green garden, examining plants or vegetation.
A group of people, likely students, are gathered around a workbench, engaged in a hands-on project that involves using power tools and constructing a wooden structure.
The image shows a group of people working together to sort and package various items in a large warehouse-like space, with colorful decorations and signage visible in the background.
Two smiling women are standing together in what appears to be a greenhouse or conservatory, with large windows providing a view of the outdoors. They are holding small potted plants, suggesting they may be engaged in gardening or plant-related activities.
A group of people, mostly young women, are standing together and holding a banner for an organization called %22Nourishing Bethesda%22 in what appears to be a commercial or office setting.
A group of people, likely students, are working together to sort and package various food items in a classroom or community space.
The image shows several people, likely customers, browsing and selecting items from the shelves of what appears to be a grocery or retail store. The background features various products and displays, suggesting a well-stocked and organized retail environment.
A group of people, dressed in casual clothing, are gathered in a wooded area, engaged in what appears to be an outdoor activity or discussion.
The image shows a group of people standing behind a table displaying various produce items, including potatoes and other vegetables, in front of a colorful mural depicting a rural scene.
A group of smiling individuals, including a young woman in a yellow jacket, a young woman in a white jacket, and an older man, are gathered together in what appears to be a classroom or educational setting, with various educational materials and posters visible in the background.
The image shows a group of young students sitting on a colorful classroom floor, surrounded by educational materials and displays on the walls.
A group of people sitting on the floor surrounded by various canned goods and other food items, with shelves of additional supplies visible in the background.
Grade 3 students make valentines
Volunteers at Project GiveBack

Partner Organizations

Bikes for the World
Bread for the City
Brightview Senior Assisted Living & Memory Care
Capital Area Food Bank
Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of Washington
Children’s Inn at National Institutes of Health (NIH)
Christ Child Society of Washington D.C.
Comfort Cases
DC Central Kitchen
Earth Sangha
Father McKenna Center
Food and Friends
Friends of Sligo Creek 
I Support the Girls
Interfaith Works 
Janney Elementary School
L’Arche Greater Washington D.C. 
Lutheran Social Services of the National Capital Area
Martha’s Table
Montgomery County Parks Clean-up
Nourishing Bethesda 
Nourish Now
Our Lady of Mercy Inclusion Program
Project Linus
Rock Creek Conservancy 
SHARE Food Network
Sterling Care Hillhaven Memory Care
St. Bartholomew Inclusion Program
St. Francis International School
St. Jerome Early Childcare Center
The Arc Montgomery
True Ground Housing
United States Holocaust Museum
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All Staff Retreat Social Action Sites
Love in Action: Sacred Heart Educators Live Goal III

Faculty and staff gathered for Stone Ridge’s annual All-Staff Retreat, “Love in Action,” a day of reflection, learning, and hands-on service rooted in Goal III’s call to social awareness that impels to action. Through prayer, workshops, and community partnerships across the region, our educators recommitted to living the Sacred Heart mission with courage, compassion, and love at the center.

Frances Call '58
From Christophers to Cross-Country Adventures

Frances Call ’58 reflects on a Stone Ridge education that sparked her love of service, leadership, and the outdoors—guiding a life spent teaching, coaching, and leading others on adventures across the country and beyond.

Collage with three photos (1) Caroline O'Sullivan Thomas in uniform (2) Brigid Carey Silberstein in helicopter (3) Alicia Chin Greer in uniform
Courage and Confidence: Stone Ridge Alumnae Answer the Call to Serve

This National Veterans and Military Families Month, we celebrate the courage and confidence of our veteran and active-duty alumnae. Meet Alicia Chin Greer ’95, Caroline O’Sullivan Thomas ’05, and Bridgid Carey Silberstein ’13 and discover their inspiring stories!

Lower School student present with grandmother about Colombia
Stories That Connect Us: Grade 2 Family Cultures Project

In Grade 2, students explore identity, culture, and community through the Family Cultures project—an immersive, student-driven experience where 7- and 8-year-olds research their heritage, share stories and artifacts, and celebrate both differences and shared humanity. This hands-on project brings Goal III and Goal IV to life, fostering empathy, cultural awareness, and connection across generations.

Tiny Forest
Stone Ridge's Tiny Forest Takes Root

In a once-overlooked corner of campus, Stone Ridge students have planted over 450 native trees and shrubs to create the Tiny Forest—a student-led, hands-on project that blends sustainability, faith, environmental stewardship, and leadership. Planting a self-sustaining outdoor classroom for generations to come.

Stone Ridge Alumnae, Share Your Social Action Story
Stone Ridge Alumnae, Share Your Social Action Story

Calling all SR Alumnae: This year, as we focus on Goal III: A social awareness which impels to action, we invite you to reflect on how the Social Action Program shaped your heart and your journey. Help inspire the next generation—read on to learn how you can share your story!

Kit Collins
A Legacy of Justice

Marking 50 years of the Network and the Goals and Criteria, this reflection from Director of Formation to Mission Kathryn Heetderks honors the visionary leadership of Sister Kit Collins, RSCJ, and affirms that justice is not a peripheral value—but the very heart of Sacred Heart education.

Grade 9 students participate in water filtration lab.
Social Action Formation: First Academic Experience in Upper School

Through Stone Ridge’s Social Action program, First Academic students begin their journey toward social justice by pairing hands-on service with faith-based reflection, laying a foundation for compassionate leadership and lifelong commitment to community engagement.

Generous Hearts at Advent: Lower School Pajama Drive
Generous Hearts at Advent: Lower School Pajama Drive

During the Christmas season, Lower School students embraced the spirit of generosity through the annual Generous Hearts at Advent Pajama Drive. Guided by Sacred Heart Goals, students learned about the challenges faced by children in foster care and donated pajamas to Comfort Cases.