Friday, May 29, 2015

Hillside's Latest CSL Projects

May has been a busy month at Hillside for Community Service Learning. 4Hsu and their buddies, 2Watts did such a great job performing and brightening their Senior Buddies' day at Avery Senior Center in May. They sang songs, recited poetry, passed out tissue paper flowers and took the time to talk with our Buddies about their lives and interests. It was really sweet to see the students interacting so nicely with their Senior Buddies. Please see attached pictures. 



























Friday, May 15, 2015

Community Service Learning at Pollard

Second Grade Buddies


On May 7, 2015 cluster 7-5 went to The Newman School to work with the second grade students. Prior to this event, the 7th grade students worked hard in their science classes to write and illustrate age-appropriate stories about evolution. They read these stories to the 2nd graders and took the opportunity to get to know other students outside their grade level. After completing the stories the 7th graders then helped the 2nd graders create a poem about their favorite place, and accompanied them on stage as the second graders presented their stories to everyone. Overall it was an enjoyable day which allowed the students to take leadership responsibilities and work with other students they would not normally see throughout the course of a typical day. Mr. Bayse, the assistant principal at Newman, expressed he was very impressed with the multi-age activity and hopes that Pollard continues it in the future.

Seventh Grade Walk-a-thon

On May 7th, Cluster 7-3 organized a fundraiser Walk-a-thon at DeFazio Field to benefit LoveLane, a therapeutic horseback riding program that helps children with special needs.
Prior to the Walk-a-thon, Sally Spiers, Director at Lovelane, came to Pollard to speak with the cluster about their program.


On the same day, Cluster 7-4 organized a fundraiser Walk-a-thon at DeFazio Field to benefit the Needham Community Council, a non-profit organization that supports people in need within the Needham community. The organization provides a variety of different programs that support all ages including a food pantry, thrift shop, a courtesy van, and tutoring. Following the event, a member of the Needham Community Council will meet with the cluster to speak more about their organization.


Both clusters enjoyed the beautiful sunny day, spending time with friends, and raising money for good causes. Cluster 7-4 walked over 210 miles!



Seventh Grade Community Service Learning Projects



Scholarship, Citizenship, Community, and Personal Growth are the fundamental values embedded in an education at the Needham Public School district and Pollard Middle School’s Cluster 7-1 showed an uncanny devotion to these values through their 7th grade Community Service Learning Project.  By partnering with Lifeworks, the teachers of 7-1 hoped to raise awareness for the need to give support to adults with developmental disabilities.  Lifeworks is an organization that looks to empower their clients, allowing them to lead meaningful lives within their communities.  7-1 was eager to help out, starting their day with the students watching a clip from the television show “What Would You Do?” which highlighted the prejudice faced by many disabled adults within the community.  Immediately following the brief introduction, students had the opportunity to meet some of the Lifeworks staff and clients in order to learn about the organization. The educational meet and greet was followed by pictures, a picnic lunch, and ample opportunity for students to make personal connections with all those involved.  At the end of the day students, teachers, and Lifeworks employees all built strong connections and a foundation for future relationships focused around community service. 



Pollard Middle School CSL Experiences.


Grade 8 Community Service Learning Experiences:
An integral part of the 8th Graders experience at Pollard Middle School is engagement in a Community Service Learning Project. Students need to select a cause and organization that addresses some need or problem in our community - either right here in Needham, or in neighboring communities. They research the organization and social issue before performing their service, and write a reflection on the experience and their learning when it has been completed.


Some students were interviewed about their experience and report the following:
Audrey Mock, chose to do her service with Birthday Wishes, an organization that arranges and hosts birthday parties for young children living in homeless shelters who may not otherwise have the opportunity to celebrate their birthdays.

A birthday party event happens once a month in a number of different shelters, both in Massachusetts and some other states around the country honoring all those who have their birthdays in the same month.  So the joy of these events spreads far and wide!

The children are usually 3-4 years old, and live with their single mothers at the shelter. Audrey has extremely fond memories of her own birthday celebrations with friends at this age, and wanted the same for children who might not otherwise have birthday parties. So she googled "birthday party organizations" and Birthday Wishes came up! What a perfect fit this was for what she wanted to do!

Audrey saw and learned a little of what it is like to live in a homeless shelter She did not know what to expect and described the home as a "regular house" in a neighborhood not all that far from her own. Families have their own rooms and there is a large recreational area for all to use downstairs. This is where the birthday parties are held. There is a security system in place at the front door to check on who is entering the shelter.

Audrey has enjoyed her experience very much. She feels quite natural and comfortable interacting with the moms and their children in the party environment. Volunteers, moms and paid workers all help with the parties. Audrey also loved seeing the children having such a good time at their birthday celebrations.

Preparation to do this involved an orientation, and if the volunteers are under 18, they need to be accompanied by a parent. Both of Audrey's parents have accompanied her and assisted with the birthdays too.

Audrey liked going to a neighborhood different from her own and doing something meaningful and uplifting with small children. She hopes to continue to help with birthdays, beyond completing her hours for the Grade 8 program!!