Every year, Maplewood Academy sets a day aside to volunteer in the Hutchinson community. It is an all-school event – Classes are cancelled and every student and staff member goes out into Hutchinson to share a little bit of Minnesota Nice.
Wednesday, October 31st, 100 Maplewood students and staff celebrated their Community Service Day by cleaning Veterans Memorial, Fireman’s, and Girl Scout Park; 
picking up trash at the McLeod County fairgrounds and on Highway 15; 
participating in the Harmony River Halloween Party; and raking for homes in the community.
While collecting food door-to-door for the city-wide Food Drive in October, a couple of our students met community members who needed a hand cleaning their yards. The students were excited to surprise these people by adding their homes to service project destination list.
Service is a pillar in Maplewood’s educational program. We believe it is important to educate our young people in the value of being contributing members of the community they live in. Our Community Service Day is a time when we purposefully take our focus off ourselves and work together to make something better for someone else. Our students like to know they can make a difference!
Glen Baker, Maplewood Academy Principal
