Ethical Education in the Upper School

Through the entirety of the Upper School's curriculum, students broaden their understanding of the historical arc of ethical paradigms to internalize thoughtful decision-making. A required world religions/ethics class explores the history and traditions of faith.

Active participation in the larger community is a major focus in the Upper School. Students lead and participate in all-school efforts as well as service-learning units related to classroom curricula and volunteer their service to nonprofit organizations as members of our extracurricular service clubs. Service learning, which includes a reflection component, is designed to supplement and enrich their academic studies.

Recent community engagement activities include the Upper School’s annual Beyond the Classroom experience, October food drive, Thanksgiving and Christmas food giveaways with Crossroads Urban Center, urban heat mapping with Salt Lake City and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and tree planting with the Jordan River Commission.

Through Leadership Lab, a semester-long action research project in leadership, students engage, reflect, respond, and build on the mission-centered concept of community engagement. In short, they embrace being community builders. The project culminates with a self-directed action project that allows students to reflect on their experience and the difference they made in the community. View a list of organizations students often choose to work with.

Student-led service clubs such as Amnesty International, the Environs Club, Interact, and world-language clubs constantly seek and sponsor service-oriented projects that are open to all Upper School students.

The Upper School gathers once a month for Chapel, broadening understanding of the practices and philosophies of many world religions. Monthly Chapels celebrate World Food Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, the Jewish High Holy Days, Christmas, St. Mark’s Day, and Ramadan. Rowland Hall is an independent school that offers a universal and inclusive message about many of the world's faiths and beliefs.

Students gain cross-cultural competency through learning to be an ally: they’re taught to interrupt discriminatory speech or acts, whether or not they’re a member of the targeted group.

A variety of guest speakers visit Rowland Hall annually to engage students with personal and professional stories of how one lives an ethical life.

Upper School athletics provide a platform for developing not just the skills to play competitively but also the values of fair play and responsibility.