At Park, both our Community Service program and our Service Learning curriculum help us fulfill a vital element of our mission to help students grow into contributing members of the community. In general, classroom teachers lead service learning projects that incorporate an academic component. Community service activities are usually initiated by the Community Service Committee of the Parents' Association. The student outreach committee, Helping Hand, sponsors school-wide drives, organizes fundraisers for causes of their choosing, and supports annual Boston area events such as the Walk for Hunger. All service efforts are coordinated by the school's service learning coordinator.
The intention of all aspects of the service program at Park is to raise awareness of the causes behind societal problems as well as to empower students to make a difference. The School strives to instill a lifelong habit of service to others.
"I make sure to include service learning in my curriculum because the mixture of meaningful community service projects, instruction, and reflection, adds up to our future. Through the children we are nurturing the seeds of civic responsibility and lifelong instincts for healthy community building." (Second Grade Teacher)
"Motivation is high whenever service is involved in the assignment, because real relationships are the reward." (Fifth Grade Teacher)
"While tutoring my two students, I learned how to help myself in my own work. Shifting from student to teacher helped me discover what it was like to be on the giving, rather than receiving end. This makes it easier to take in what my teachers have to say." (Seventh Grader)
At Park, both our Community Service program and our Service Learning curriculum help us fulfill a vital element of our mission to help students grow into contributing members of the community. In general, classroom teachers lead service learning projects that incorporate an academic component. Community service activities are usually initiated by the Community Service Committee of the Parents' Association. The student outreach committee, Helping Hand, sponsors school-wide drives, organizes fundraisers for causes of their choosing, and supports annual Boston area events such as the Walk for Hunger. All service efforts are coordinated by the school's service learning coordinator.