Service-learning programs in action!
Service in Schools kicked off the semester with the launch of three service-learning programs: Kids Action Team for grades K-3, Students Taking Action Today for grades 4-8, and Race Against Waste in collaboration with the Office of Sustainability for Green Teams and sustainability-focused classes in grades 4-8. Through these programs, teachers from 44 schools across all five boroughs are launching service-learning initiatives focused on animal welfare, disability rights, waste reduction, and other community needs in NYC. Teachers in these programs have attended three professional learning sessions to learn from experts on media, text sets, and their service topic and to collaborate with each other in developing rich learning experiences for their students that will culminate this spring in projects that support their communities. Read about one of these schools in the School Spotlight below!
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School Spotlight:
P.S. 59 The Harbor View School
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This spring, students in Kelly Mattarelliano’s grade 5 class at P.S. 59 Harbor View School in Staten Island are working on a service-learning project to support animal welfare as part of Service in Schools’ Students Taking Action Today program.
Students read interesting articles about animal welfare and used media resources from Service in Schools, including a virtual field trip to an animal shelter. To conduct research, students developed community surveys on animal welfare, utilizing tools they learned about line plots in their math class. Teachers at P.S. 59 will assist the students by distributing the surveys to their classes.
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After the survey data is analyzed, the students will develop ways that they can take action and advocate for animals in the community. The students plan to collaborate with local organizations such as NYC Parks’ wildlife unit and Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden, which oversees wetlands, in order to learn more from experts who work directly with animals in the community. As participants in the Students Taking Action Today program, P.S. 59 students are excited to spring into action and advocate for animals in their community!
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DOROT Summer Teen Internship Program
Applications reviewed on rolling basis through Friday, May 6
Program Dates: Session 1 June 27-July, 21; Session 2 July 26-August 18
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DOROT alleviates social isolation among older adults through the assistance of volunteers, fostering mutually beneficial relationships while enabling older adults to remain independent in their homes. The Summer Teen Internship Program brings together a diverse group of socially conscious teens committed to creating meaningful connections with older adults.
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Through a variety of intergenerational activities including discussion groups, home visits, creative arts and tech assistance, teens can give back to the community this summer while earning over 112 community service hours. All DOROT intern programs are free. This program will be hybrid with in-person and virtual sessions. To have a rewarding summer experience making a difference for older adults, apply for the DOROT Summer Teen Internship Program. For questions, contact Elijah Wong.
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NYC Community Fridge Mapping Project |
During the Covid-19 pandemic, food insecurity has been exacerbated in New York City. As a result, mutual aid groups began supporting community fridges in various neighborhoods throughout the city. The NYC Community Fridge Map Project was developed in July 2020 as a resource to keep track of all of the community fridges in the city. The NYC Community Fridge Map Project provides a map and list of over 120 fridges, with an info page highlighting the location and status of each fridge. To help out with a fridge in your neighborhood, click on an entry on the map to learn more. You can also add a new fridge or edit information about an existing fridge. For questions, email info@nycfridge.com.
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Resources for Educators, Students, & Families |
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GrowNYC
GrowNYC improves New York City's quality of life through environmental programs that transform communities and empower all New Yorkers to secure a clean and healthy environment for future generations. GrowNYC School Gardens program helps DOE public or charter K-12 schools with their garden projects and is free of charge for schools. GrowNYC provides one-on-one garden consultations with schools who register. Educators can sign up for upcoming virtual workshops that highlight topics related to school gardening. GrowNYC’s Outdoor Learning Toolkit has additional outdoor learning resources for educators to expand outdoor learning opportunities for students this spring.
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NYC Department of Education
Office of School Wellness Programs
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Empowering young people to take care of their minds, bodies, and the people around them builds a foundation for lifelong learning. The DOE’s Office of School Wellness Programs works directly with schools, DOE offices, city agencies, and community partners to prioritize equitable, standards-based, and high-quality health and physical education (PE) for all students. Their mission is to partner with schools to create conditions where health education and PE thrive and engage school communities with programs to support student well-being. DOE staff can visit the Office of School Wellness Programs Professional Learning Catalog for resources. School-based staff, families, and community partners can subscribe to their newsletter to stay up-to-date on the latest opportunities and resources to support school wellness. Visit the archive website to browse past published issues.
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Contact the Service in Schools Team |
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Does your school have a great service project to share? If so, the Service in Schools team wants to know!
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 on Twitter and @ServiceinSchools on Instagram to receive program updates, upcoming service opportunities, resources, and more. We encourage students who use social media 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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