Service Learning at Salem Academy Charter School
At Salem Academy students apply their learning to service projects throughout their middle and high school years. These hands-on projects in the community allow students to connect academics to their lives, bringing learning alive! Projects are conducted in conjunction with community-based organizations such as the Peabody Essex Museum, Salem Harbor CDC, the Salem Mission, the John Bertram House, and Salem Sound Coastwatch.
How it works:
First Form students meet in 3-5 half-day service labs throughout the trimester. At the close of each trimester, First Form students meet for one (1) week in groups of twenty-two (22) students with two (2) teachers. The primary purpose of these intensive projects is to introduce students to the concepts and skills involved in service learning. While discovering what service learning is, students become familiar with issues in their community and learn how they can help address these issues using Salem Academy's Five Step Process (Identify, Research, Plan, Act, Reflect). Second & Third Form students, who are familiar with the Five Step Process, engage in year-long service projects through one of their academic classes and, thus, have the opportunity to connect academics to service throughout the year. Teachers guide students in using their skills and knowledge from academic classes to implement service projects. The teacher directs students in identifying an issue in the community, researching the issue, planning their project, implementing it, and reflecting on their work. Their experience in the community enhance student understanding of academics and increase their awareness and appreciation of their surroundings.
News in Service Learning
In the 2010-2011 school year students applied their skills learned in the classes to real issues in their community. The 7th Grade made waves in the Salem Evening News witht their idea and advocacy of "Trash-ketball" in the Salem Community: GAME WITH A MESSAGE.
For the 2011-2012 school year grade teams will be focusing on the following themes:
6th Grade: Hunger (locally, nationally, and globally)
7th Grade: Interactions
8th Grade: What makes a community?
9th Grade: Identity within the community
10th Grade: Power and Balance
Current News in Service Learning
Salem Academy's 8th grade team is learning “What Makes a Community”. The community partner for the 2011-2012 school year is the Lion Conservation Fund. The projects they have been working on include collecting school supplies for the children of the Maasai tribe in Kenya and writing letters to students in their community. The 8th grade is also working on a fundraising project LCF.
Service Learning Scheudle 2012
Wednesday, February 15th, 2012 - Service Learning (grades 11 & 12, p.3)
Thursday, February 16th, 2012 - Service Learning (2hrs, PM)
Wednesday, February 7th, 2012 - Service Learning (grades 11 & 12, p.3)
Friday, February 16th, 2012 - Service Learning Half Day, 12pm Dismissal
Wednesday, March 21st, 2012 - Service Learning (grade 11 & 12, p.3)
Wednesday, April 4th, 2012 - Service Learning (grade 11 & 12, p.3)
Friday, April 6th, 2012 - Full Day of Service Learning
Wednesday, April 25th, 2012 - Service Learning (grades 11 & 12, p.3)
Thursday, April 26th, 2012 - Service Learning (2hrs, PM)
Wednesday, May 9th, 2012 - Service Learning (grades 11 & 12, p.3)
Wednesday, May 23rd, 2012 - Service Learning (grades 11 & 12, p.3)
Friday, June 1st, 2012 - Full Day of Service Learning
Monday, June 25th, 2012 - Half Day Classes/Half Day Service Learning
Tuesday, June 26th, 2012 - Full Day of Service Learning
Tuesday, June 26th, 2012 - (US) Service Learning Presentations