The 2018-19 Service-Learning Institute Commences
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On Tuesday, October 23, Service in Schools kicked off its 2018-19 Service-Learning Institute, bringing together over 50 educators from across the city for the first of four full days of professional learning focused on implementing service-learning in their classrooms.
During this first session, participants learned the foundations of service-learning as well as engaging techniques and activities for connecting service to classroom instruction. All attendees, including the Service in Schools team, tested out these techniques and had a lot of fun in the process.
We are very excited to see the service-learning projects our participants and their students will undertake!
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Site Visits to Support Service-Learning
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Over the past several weeks, the Service in Schools (SIS) team has traveled throughout the city to visit teachers participating in the Service-Learning Institute.
The SIS team witnessed many classes making steady progress in identifying community needs and planning for action. These include first grade students interviewing each other about their talents and passions, high school seniors using action research methods to learn about economic justice issues, and fourth and fifth grade students selecting a focus for their service efforts from the variety of community needs they observed. These investigations are rich with opportunities for students to learn and serve, and this is just the beginning.
The SIS team is excited to see students’ progress with their plans for service and to continue to support teachers and students in developing meaningful ways to help their communities. Teachers interested in implementing service-learning in their school are encouraged to send an inquiry to
ServiceinSchools@schools.nyc.gov
. The team would be happy to assist any educator in fostering a culture of service in their school community.
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Pathways to Graduation, Brooklyn
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Project Overview:
As part of the Race Against Waste program, students at Pathways to Graduation at the Marcy Hub in Brooklyn created a human powered blender from upcycled materials. This project came to fruition by melding two initiatives: their Bicycle Repair and Maintenance program (B.R.A.M) and their sustainability goals. Teachers Nicole Stevens Santiago and Ariff Hajee developed this hybrid program to teach students bicycle repair and to put their values around sustainability into practice.
Investigation:
Before deciding on the Blender Bike, the students brainstormed several ideas that they could use to promote sustainability and demonstrate their skill set. It was through this investigation that they discovered that bicycles could power blenders. The students saw this as an opportunity to save bicycles from the landfill and draw attention to the versatility of old bicycle parts. Once they had mastered the mechanics of bicycles and simple machines, they researched how to modify a blender to use a bicycle as its power source.
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Preparation:
The students drew up a design plan for their Blender Bike and built it using donated parts in their bicycle mechanic’s workshop. It took several iterations to achieve the desired appearance, but the students persevered.
Action:
The students tested out the bike, and made delicious smoothies! Their machine promoted several of their values: zero-waste, mechanics, exercise, collaboration, and innovation.
Demonstration:
These inventive students presented the Blender-Bike at the 2018 Sustainability Showcase. Attendees were able to taste smoothies students had made sans electricity and get tips from the students on reusing and repurposing materials normally relegated to landfills. The students ultimately won a grant to continue their endeavors.
Reflection:
This project was a testament to sustainability in action. The students acquired implementable knowledge on teamwork, creativity, public speaking, and citizenship. They are looking forward to the next Sustainab
ility Showcase, and we are excited to see what they do next!
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Current and Upcoming Opportunities
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Students in Action Leadership Development Series
Rolling Application Deadline for Middle and High Schools
Students In Action
,
a Jefferson Awards Foundation program, is an intensive youth service, leadership, and recognition program that unleashes potential in each young person and multiplies the good they achieve. Through in-person leadership trainings, an online network, and end-of-year competition, students across New York City and the country are changing themselves and their communities through service with Students in Action. Joining is free for schools. Contact Janai Smith at
J.smith@jeffersonawards.org
to learn more.
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Citymeals on Wheels
Ongoing volunteer opportunities for students of all ages
Volunteers with
Citymeals on Wheels
make a difference in the lives of the home bound elderly by providing nutritious food and friendly company. Opportunities are available for students ages 16 and older to volunteer on weekday and weekend meal deliveries (accompanied by an adult), and students of all ages can create personalized cards for Citymeals recipients or help package food for delivery. Volunteers are free to choose the frequency and length of their commitment. All potential student volunteers must attend an orientation at Citymeals on Wheels. Learn more about
volunteering with Citymeals on Wheels.
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DOROT Summer Teen Internship Program
Rolling application deadline for high school students
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Karma for Cara Microgrant
Application Deadline: January 1, 2019
Karma for Cara Foundation
(K4C) focuses on creating opportunities for youth engagement and volunteerism in communities and supporting the well-being of cancer patients and their families. In the effort to support youth volunteerism, K4C runs a youth microgrant program. Youth 18 years of age and under are encouraged to apply for funds between $250 and $1,000 to complete service projects in their communities. These grants have engaged thousands of volunteers in more than 3,000 hours of community service.
Learn more
, and
apply for a microgrant today
!
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Teaching Tolerance
Classroom Resources
Teaching Tolerance
provides free resources to educators—teachers, administrators, counselors and other practitioners—who work with K-12 students. Educators use these materials to supplement their curriculum, to inform their practices, and to create civil school communities where children are respected, valued, and welcome participants. Teaching Tolerance’s mission is to help teachers and schools educate children and youth to be active participants in a diverse democracy.
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Contact the Service in Schools Team
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Invite the Service in Schools team to visit your service project. We want to see your students and school community in action. Email the Service in Schools team at
ServiceinSchools@schools.nyc.gov
with two weeks’ notice, and we’ll schedule a visit to your school to learn about your project and see the impact you’re making on the community.
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Follow
@ServicenSchools
to receive program updates, upcoming service opportunities, resources, and more. We encourage students who use Twitter and are interested in service opportunities to follow us.
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Mission:
Service in Schools
strives to expand the number of NYC students engaged in transformative community service and service-learning experiences that enable them to use their voice, skills, and critical thinking to strengthen communities.
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