April 2019 Newsletter
Program Highlights
Service in Schools High School Leadership Institute
This spring break, high school student leaders from across all five boroughs joined together to participate in the Service in Schools (SIS) Leadership Institute. The students were chosen from a highly competitive pool of applicants, and each of the selected 37 students expressed a deep commitment to making a difference in their community.

During the Institute, SIS Leaders investigated different issues affecting NYC: hunger, homelessness, health, water pollution, and animal welfare. To enrich the SIS Leaders’ learning on these topics, Service in Schools collaborated with Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen , The Bowery Mission , Kids in the Game (KING) , Gowanus Canal Conservancy , and The Humane Society of New York . SIS Leaders interviewed representatives from these partner organizations in order to learn more about how youth can help to combat each issue. The students used this experience, as well as the information they gathered utilizing media techniques they learned from The Paley Center for Media, to create original lesson plans and service activities for the SIS Youth Service Summit that will take place on Friday, May 24.

The Youth Service Summit will bring together over 200 elementary school students from across the city to engage in service activities facilitated by these student leaders. Through the lessons they designed, high school students will inform elementary students about each community issue and execute a project in service of their partner organization. The 2019 SIS Leadership Institute proved to be a meaningful and fun experience for everyone involved, and the SIS Team is looking forward to the Summit!
School Spotlight
11X455 Harry S. Truman High School
Project Overview: Students at Harry S. Truman High School lobbied local business owners to provide plastic bags and straws only upon request and held an informational fair for their school community.

Investigation: First, the students conducted a waste audit at their school to determine what items were most commonly found in the garbage. They discovered that most of the trash came from lunches that students brought from local stores. They also attended the Youth Climate Strike this spring to make their voices heard and observe the broader movement around environmental justice.

Preparation: The students mapped out the businesses at which most students bought their lunch and wrote a pitch to encourage the business owners to reduce their plastic usage. They also created a sign that would discourage customers from requesting plastic bags, straws, and utensils.
Action: First, the Green Team went to different businesses and gave them the pitch. Many smaller businesses signed on while larger chains had strict regulations about signage and plastic use. Additionally, the Green Team students students helped facilitate Truman High School's Earth Day Celebration in their school by leading five stations, each with their own theme and educational game. If students completed all stations, they won a prize made out of reused materials, like an origami pencil holder.  



Demonstration: The Green Team will be presenting their hard work at the Sustainability Showcase on May 22 at Brooklyn Expo Center.


Reflection: This experience has empowered the students on the Green Team to be the change they want to see in the world, and they are gearing up to reduce waste in their school next year. They are interested in getting bins for organics recycling and identifying non-recyclable materials that can be used as art supplies.
Current and Upcoming Opportunities
2019 TD Five Boro Bike Tour/Bike New York, May 3-5
Opportunity for ages 10 and up
Every May, 32,000 cyclists from every state in the nation and dozens of countries around the world roll into New York City for a tour of the Big Apple. Bike New York relies on a small army of more than 2,000 volunteers to ensure that riders have the best experience possible. Groups of students ages 10 and up and their chaperones are invited to help distribute food to hungry cyclists over the course of the tour, which ensures a safe, fun time for all. For more information, email tourvols@bike.nyc .  
Kids for Kids at Project Sunshine
Ongoing opportunity for ages 18 and under
Project Sunshine is a nonprofit organization that provides free educational, recreational, and social programs to children facing medical challenges and their families. The Kids for Kids youth service program at Project Sunshine gives children and teens the opportunity to volunteer and give back in a meaningful way. Kids for Kids volunteers help out by fundraising, creating art projects to send to hospitalized children, and organizing book, toy, Band-Aid, and other collection drives. Project Sunshine partners with schools, youth groups, community service clubs, National Honor Societies, sports teams, and more. Priority is given to groups of five or more volunteers. Learn more about the Kids for Kids program . Complete the volunteer inquiry form today.
Resource Highlights
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. Their mission is to help teachers and schools educate children and youth to be active participants in a diverse democracy.
Learning to Give
TeachOne Lessons
Build community through giving while teaching interdisciplinary skills and art. TeachOne with a classroom or whole school to empower students to want to do good and do well. TeachOne 2018-19 by  Learning to Give  includes three vibrant service initiatives, each with a lesson plan and project for grades K-5, 6-8, and 9-12. TeachOne for Earth Day using the resource,  Messing Around With Nature!   Learn more about TeachOne and check out inspirational stories of classroom service and action .  
Contact the Service in Schools Team
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. 
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.
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.