September 11th National Day of Service and Remembrance

Dear Service-Learning Friends,        

 

As we approach the end of the summer phase of United We Serve and recommit to service and service-learning going forward, I want to encourage you to participate in the September 11^th National Day of Service and Remembrance. Please see the list of ideas at the bottom of this letter.

 

In April, President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act which, for the first time, officially recognizes September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance.  This designation came as the result of years of hard work by 9/11 families and service organizations. The President and the Corporation for National and Community Service are asking all Americans to remember 9/11 and recommit to service in their communities throughout the year.  We encourage you to continue to promote service-learning by commemorating this milestone through the United We Serve initiative.

 

With the recent loss of Senator Kennedy, a champion for national service and service-learning from the very beginning, this effort takes on even greater significance. We can honor his legacy by redoubling our efforts to make service a part of every citizen's daily life and service-learning part of every young person's education.

 

We have just over a week until September 11. Think about how to connect your already-planned service-learning classes, programs, and projects to the National Day of Service and Remembrance.

 

 Here are some specific suggestions:

 

• Go to Serve.gov to find an event happening on/around 9/11 in your community, or post your own projects there if you're looking for participants.
  • If you post a project between September 7^th and 13^th, include an end date in the posting and include "September 11^th" in the title.
• To make sure we know about events you'd like to highlight for special attention, enter them here and be sure to use the attached media tools to recruit media on your own: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGxTZjJCbS1sQ0RnZ0NiT0hIcFhXcEE6MA
  • We encourage all organizations participating in the 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance to use the designated tagline, "I Remember. I Serve." in your media materials and communications.  

o        Logos are available here.

• Consider including discussions, writing exercises, or other activities related to 9/11 as part of service-learning projects. What happened and what was significant? What lessons can we take away? Why does it make sense for this to be a National Day of Service and Remembrance?
• Consider using September 11 as a time to gear up for the National Learn and Serve Challenge, which kicks off the week of October 5.
• See Youth Service America's "8 for 9/11" document for ideas for connecting lessons of 9/11 with service-learning projects.

 

If we can support your September 11 plans or United We Serve efforts, please contact your Corporation State Office (http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/contact/stateoffices.asp) or State Commission (http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/contact/statecommission.asp), or email serviceinitiative@cns.gov.

 

Thank you again for your continued participation in United We Serve.

 

 

In service,

 

 

Elson B. Nash

Acting Director

Learn and Serve America

Corporation for National and Community Service

 202-606-6834

enash@cns.gov

www.learnandserve.gov   

 

Nominations of Civically Engaged Youth Sought for Study

Dear Colleagues,

 

If you know of an 18-21 year-old who is highly committed to civic engagement through work in social and/or environmental causes, I am seeking your help in nominating him/her for my doctoral dissertation research study. The study explores how highly-engaged youth experience and meet the challenges of civic engagement during the formative adolescent and young adult years. Its purpose is to understand how these young people learn from others, construct meaning, and act to confront challenges in ways that foster continued engagement. The results may lead to a better understanding of specific program attributes and adult support that foster sustained civic engagement in a higher percentage of young people. The online nomination process is quick and easy. Please learn more.

 

Marilyn

 

Marilyn Price-Mitchell
Human & Organization Development
P. O. Box 11609
Bainbridge Island, WA 98110

Phone: 866-770-4760
Email: mpricemitchell@gmail.com
Website: mpricemitchell.com  

Young Worker Health and Safety - Training and Service Opportunity

Check out these great leadership opportunities for California youth. Our colleagues at the California Partnership for Young Worker Health and Safety are calling for youth applicants to participate in an all-expense-paid, youth leadership academy focused on young worker health and safety. They are also running their annual poster and PSA contest with cash awards to winners.

 

Please see announcements below, and contact Diane Bush at (510) 643-2424 or dbush@berkeley.edu for more information or go to their website at www.youngworkers.org.  If you are outside of California, contact Diane to find out how you can help get something like this going in your state!

 

 YOUNG WORKER LEADERSHIP ACADEMIES TO BE HELD IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY OF 2009
 

The University of California at Los Angeles and Berkeley, along with the Commission on Health and Safety and Workers Compensation, are once again sponsoring two 3-day all-expense-paid Young Worker Leadership Academies: January 28-30, 2010 (Berkeley) and February 25-27,  2010 (Los Angeles).  These Academies offer a unique opportunity for young adults to become leaders and advocates for teen labor rights and health and safety.

Each Academy will bring together six or seven teams of high school-aged youth (4 youth per team, plus an adult sponsor) from diverse communities in California. Participants will learn about how and why youth are injured at work, their rights on the job, and how youth can have an impact on public policy, at both the local and state level. As a first step, each team will plan a local action to promote teen worker safety during May 2010, Safe Jobs for Youth Month.

The organizers write, "Please encourage students you want to support for the Academy to form a team, and then complete and send in the application to our office by November 12, 2009. Each team must also have an adult sponsor who will attend the Academy and provide support to the team in planning and conducting their local activity. The application must also include the Adult Recommendation and Commitment form."

The registration packet is available online. For information, visit www.youngworkers.org or contact Diane Bush at (510) 643-2424 or dbush@berkeley.edu .

"SAFE JOBS FOR YOUTH MONTH" POSTER CONTEST and PSA CONTEST ANNOUNCED

The California Partnership for Young Worker Health and Safety has announced its annual Safe Jobs for Youth Month poster and PSA contests, open to all California youth between the ages of 14 and 18. Poster submissions are due by November 2, 2010, and PSA submissions are due by January 11, 2010. Please go to www.youngworkers.org for more information and to download the application materials.

 

United We Serve Marks Interfaith Service Week

Washington, D.C.— President Obama's United We Serve initiative has designated Aug. 31 through Sept. 6 Interfaith Service Week to honor the service efforts conducted through faith-based organizations working together across religious lines to strengthen our communities. Over the summer, interfaith volunteers have participated in more than 3,000 projects through the United We Serve effort, with numerous others scheduled this week.

 

In establishing the White House Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships in February, President Obama set a priority for the Office to work on interfaith dialogue and cooperation. He has called upon Americans to form new partnerships to cross historical divides and come together to serve our neighbors in need and renew our communities as part of United We Serve. 

 

In his speech earlier this year in Cairo, President Obama said, "Indeed, faith should bring us together. And that's why we're forging service projects in America to bring together Christians, Muslims, and Jews… .Around the world, we can turn dialogue into interfaith service, so bridges between peoples lead to action—whether it is combating malaria in Africa, or promoting relief after a natural disaster."

 

According to the Volunteering in America study, which was released in July by the Corporation for National and Community Service, 35.9% of all volunteers between 2006 and 2008 volunteered through religious organizations.

 

"Communities of faith are responding to President Obama's call to service in historic numbers and working together to strengthen our nation," said Joshua DuBois, Executive Director of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships.  "President Obama applauds their service and looks forward to their continued engagement, through the United We Serve initiative and beyond."

 

"For religious organizations, serving people in need is an integral part of their mission," said Nicola Goren, acting CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. "United We Serve builds on that reality by encouraging interfaith cooperation to continue and expand the important service that is currently being accomplished."

 

This week, United We Serve will highlight projects and volunteer successes on the stories of service blog at Serve.gov. Examples of activities taking place include:

 

●Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and a diverse delegation of interfaith leaders distributed compact fluorescent light bulbs at Maple Terrace, a senior citizens public housing facility at 2746 Maple Ave, Zanesville, Ohio. The Aug. 29 event, sponsored by Eastside Community Ministry and Ohio Interfaith Power and Light, was part of an effort by people of faith to recognize the need to be good stewards of the earth.  

 

●Interfaith Youth Core in Chicago sponsored a group of 12 youth leaders from diverse faith traditions this summer, who have served hundreds of members of Chicago's homeless population, engaged in weekly interfaith dialogues and blogged about their experiences. They have also trained in interfaith leadership, campus asset-mapping, service learning, and developed commitments to bring their interfaith leadership skills to their campuses over the next semester and year.  On Sept. 4, they will be conducting an interfaith service tour for staff of the Office of Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.  On the tour they will volunteer in a health clinic, a community garden, and at a homeless service center. 

 

●In Orlando, college Jewish students from Hillel, the Hindu Students Association, and evangelical Christian students from the Northland Church will join with the Muslim Students Association as part of Project Downtown, which aims to provide basic needs of the homeless, such as food, clothing and hygiene kits. The event will be on Sept. 6.  

 

●The Center for Interfaith Relations in Louisville, Ky., is sponsoring an "Adopt a Waterway Cleanup Event," on Sept. 7, as part of United We Serve's Interfaith Service Week.  The Adopt-A-Waterway Program brings together individuals from multiple houses of worship and faith traditions to work together to clean stream banks, test the water, and monitor the natural flora and fauna of the waterway.  "Water and natural sources of water are integral parts of all the world's faith traditions, said Turney Berry, local organizer from Interfaith Relations.  "By working together on a common project with tangible, local, outcomes we learn not to fear our differences but to celebrate our diversity and to capitalize on that diversity for the common good."

 

●Muslim-American community organizations are working to help communities, from Atlanta to Baltimore and from Phoenix to Philadelphia, through Muslim Americans Answer the Call. These community groups are offering programs focused on health care, the environment, education, and community renewal in communities across the country. Volunteer projects such as the Day of Dignity on Aug. 29, sponsored by Islamic Relief USA in Baltimore and 19 other cities, during which Muslim-American volunteers invite volunteers from diverse faith traditions to provide compassionate care to all those in need regardless of color, race or creed.

 

●The Sixth and I Historic Synagogue in Washington, DC, will host "Fast 2 Feed," an interfaith Iftar and community service rally to support the United We Serve initiative. The Iftar, the traditional meal that ends the daily fast during Ramadan, the Muslim holy month, will bring together participants from diverse backgrounds who will explore the potential of coming together for ongoing service projects to benefit the greater Washington community. This event is free and open to the public but participants are encouraged to bring canned goods or non-perishable food items to be donated to The Salvation Army's Emergency

Assistance Programs, providing help to community members who need it most. Fast 2 Feed is scheduled for 7 p.m., September 3 at the synagogue, 600 I Street NW.

United We Serve is President Obama's call to service challenging all Americans to engage in sustained, meaningful community service. United We Serve initially runs from June 22 through a new National Day of Service on September 11, but will grow into a sustained, collaborative and focused effort to promote service as a way of life for all Americans. United We Serve is led by the Corporation for National and Community Service. For more information, visit Serve.gov.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. Each year, the Corporation engages four million Americans of all ages and backgrounds through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.

###

 

Sandy Scott

Director of Media Relations

Corporation for National and Community Service

1201 New York Ave. NW

Washington DC 20525

Phone: 202-606-6724

Fax:  202-606-3460

email:  sscott@cns.gov

website:  www.nationalservice.gov

MusicianCorps Launches Service Initiative in San Francisco and Oakland

Dear Friends,
 
The civic value of music in America is far greater than entertainment alone. Music can help youth to develop "the imagination to create," as well as discipline, perseverance, teamwork and other critical skills needed to succeed in the 21st Century.
 
Music National Service (MNS) is a nonprofit enterprise that recently launched MusicianCorps, a domestic "musical Peace Corps," in four cities. MusicianCorps recruits, trains and places talented musicians in under-resourced schools, low-income communities and health care settings  for a year of "music public service." Our goal is to promote service through the arts, strengthen 21st century skills and bring diverse communities together through music.
 
The inaugural class of MusicianCorps Fellows has now completed National Training Camp (thank you!) and deployed throughout the country. David and Rebecca in New Orleans (NPR piece) are introducing new music programming in public elementary schools. Meagan, a certified music therapist, is bringing music education and engagement to children, veterans and seniors at UCSF and other hospitals in San Francisco. Carla, a certified music instructor, and Aaron in Seattle, as well as Jason in Chicago and Samuel in Oakland are providing instrumental instruction, digital production and arts integration programs to neighborhood youth. (more video)

In exchange for their full-time service commitment, MusicianCorps Fellows receive a modest living stipend, professional development and health care. Please consider making a tax-deductable donation to Music National Service to help MusicianCorps Fellows –– and our growing network of musician mentors –– reach, teach and heal through music.
 
MNS is building a national model, not only for music-driven service, but also to pilot the expansive Artist Corps (article) idea championed by President Obama and others during the 2008 campaign. The MusicianCorps model is replicable across all arts disciplines and will expand best practices in the field of arts-driven service. The Aspen Institute named MNS "1 of 10 policy innovations that will strengthen American communities" and Congressional supporters of MNS, like NY Congressman Joe Crowley (Kennedy Center video), galvanized bipartisan leadership for a "Musician and Artists Corps" amendment in the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. Americans for the Arts is now leading the charge with an Artist Corps Petition.
 
MNS is inspired and grateful for the leadership of our countless supporters, volunteers and partners (incl. Hewlett Fdn, Fertel Etc, AmeriCorps VISTA,  Arts Corps & Urban Gateways) who have made the dream of a "musical Peace Corps" a reality in under nine months –– but we still need your help to sustain and succeed.

Everyone can serve. Everyone deserves music. Please support music national service. Thank you.

Warm regards,
 
Kiff Gallagher
CEO and Founder
Music National Service

Twitter Updates

 

2010 State Farm Service-Learning Champion Award Seeking Nominations

State Farm supports service-learning as a teaching method that enhances the academic achievement of students while engaging in service to the community. Teachers and parents are usually the primary individuals guiding a young person’s education. Other adults often play a key role in broadening a youth’s formal education through community service-learning activities. State Farm created the Service-Learning Champion Award to acknowledge this non-traditional advocate of service-learning.

The State Farm Service-Learning Champion Award recognizes a business leader, community member or public official who has a passion for engaging youth in service-learning. Nominations for this annual award are due Dec.1, 2009, and are based on the following criteria:

• The nominee must be a strong supporter of school-based service-learning as shown by their words, actions and ability to engage youth.
• The nominee must be an adult community member, business leader or public official from outside the traditional service-learning ranks (cannot be a classroom teacher, service-learning practitioner, or associate of a service-learning organization).
• The nominee has added significant value to the success of a youth-led service-learning project that addressed a community need(s).
• Nominee must be a resident of the United States (one of the 50 states or the District of Columbia) or Canada (provinces of Alberta, New Brunswick, or Ontario.)
  
  

Examples of service-learning champions:

Edward A. Donaldson, a retired Florida Fire Chief of the Year, has engaged youth in the “I Can Program” to meet the life-safety issues of senior citizens in Miami-Dade County.  Working with teachers and developing a network of community partnerships, Ed has inspired young people to design and implement plans to address the needs of seniors regarding fire-safety, accident prevention, and hurricane preparedness and recovery.  Many of the students who were mentored by Ed have chosen careers as firefighters as well as with emergency management agencies. Through his continued commitment to the service-learning philosophy within the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, Ed continues to offer youth the opportunity to work with their community partners to make significant contributions.

Malala Pou, President of FuelOnly was born in Honolulu on the island of Oahu, Hawaii.  He moved to the mainland and grew up attending the public school system of Vancouver Washington.  With his roots in the environmentally conscious North West, Malala created the opportunity to match his experience in the petroleum industry with the need for specialized research and development of alternative fuels.  As FuelOnly was established as a leading voice in the quality control of the developing international biodiesel community, Malala learned of the Biodiesel research being conducted by the students within Evergreen School District – Malala’s early school alma mater. The Evergreen School District Biodiesel project was progressing into a fully integrated production to application course-work.  FuelOnly attended presentations by the students involved in this service-learning coursework and was impressed by the strides they had taken to use the waste cook-oil from the school district and converting it into an alternative fuel being actively used for vehicle application.  The research team and the chemists of FuelOnly donated their time with the students to bring the newest of biodiesel development to their project. The FuelOnly mission of bettering our global community advanced in our own back yard as we were able to donate thousands of dollars in quality control laboratory biodiesel testing to the students as they developed their product.  Not satisfied with this, FuelOnly donated a trailer for their portable biodiesel production technology and then used our connections within the Biodiesel community to supply the Evergreen School District with additional needed equipment to increase their production efficiency.  Malala led the way, donating his expertise and energy to empower the students and enhance their service-learning achievements.

To be considered, all entries must be postmarked no later than December 1, 2009 and include the following completed components: 

• Nominee profile information
• Nominator profile information
• Project(s) information
• Narrative not to exceed 2 typed pages in length. 

Nominations may be faxed or mailed.  FAX to: (309) 766-2314, or mail to:
                        State Farm Insurance
                        Stephanie Dagley
                        Education Leadership, B-4
                        Service-Learning Champion Award
                        One State Farm Plaza
                        Bloomington, IL  61710

Who may submit nominations for the State Farm Service-Learning Champion Award?

• Students
• Teachers
• School Administrators
• Community members
• Business leaders
• Public officials

This annual award will be presented to the recipient at the 21st Annual National Service-Learning Conference in March 2010, in San Jose, Calif.  Transportation, lodging, and conference registration costs for the award recipient will be provided by State Farm.  Visit the Web site of the National Youth Leadership Council at www.nylc.org for details concerning the 2010 Service-Learning Conference that has the theme Inspire. Imagine. Innovate!

Do you want to nominate someone that exemplifies service-learning leadership excellence but doesn’t qualify for the State Farm Service-Learning Champion award?  Visit these Web sites for information on other available awards sponsored by State Farm. 

• www.ysa.org
• www.nylc.org
• www.nslp.org

State Farm Service-Learning Champion Award

2009 State Farm Service-Learning Champion Award Recipient

State Farm Service-Learning Champion Award Recipients from Prior Years

State Farm Service-Learning Champion Award 2010 Nomination Form

 

 

Dropout Prevention Update - Volume 9, Number 3

Dropout Prevention Update
September 1, 2009 — Volume 9 Number 3
National Dropout Prevention Center/Network

CONTENTS

Top Stories | Sound Connections | Videos | Funding Sources | Policy Updates | International Notes | Students With Disabilities | Effective Strategies | Resources and Tools | Feedback

Online registration is now open for the 21^st Annual National Dropout Prevention Network Conference in San Antonio, Texas, October 25-28, 2009.
http://www.dropoutprevention.org/conferen/conferen.htm#2009_NDP_Network

Top Stories

The President will deliver a speech about the importance of persisting and succeeding in school on Sept. 8, the first day of school for many children across America, at 1 p.m. EDT. Broadcast live on the internet.
http://www.whitehouse.gov
Department of Education Teaching Ambassador Fellows are developing suggested accompanying classroom activities to be made available at
http://www.ed.gov

Listening to Latinas: Barriers to High School Graduation, explores the causes of the dropout crisis for Latinas and identifies the actions needed to improve their graduation rates and get them ready for college.
http://www.nwlc.org/pdf/ListeningtoLatinas.pdf

Meet Lucy Flores, a young Latina, as she tells her story in Listening to Latinas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s171IgapxMc

Sound Connections

Learn about the Graduation Coaches Initiative in Georgia. This interview with Allen Fort and Jessica Broome will prepare you for the next Solutions radio webcast.
http://cufan.clemson.edu/psaradio/ndpcfortbroome.asx

The kick-off Solutions to the Dropout Crisis radio webcast for the 2009-2010 school year is set for September 8 at 3:30 - 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The program will feature Laura Brown and Fran Bay and the topic is Graduation and Collaboration Coaches: Working Effectively Together.
http://www.dropoutprevention.org/webcast/ep.php?ep=00016

Video

The message to stay in school and graduate needs to be culturally sensitive. Knowing this, Wes Studi and the students from Santo Domingo Pueblo in New Mexico created a PSA with the strong message: Make your own history - Graduate. Produced by Silver Bullet Productions and Lightningwood Pictures.
https://rcpt.yousendit.com/730621919/8f4dbc6b1cd99b17f3302fd915cb521f

Funding Sources

Race to the Top Fund provides competitive grants to encourage and reward states that are creating the conditions for education, innovation and reform - implementing ambitious plans in the four education reform areas described in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.
http://www.tntp.org/files/TNTP_Interpreting%20R2T_Aug09.pdf

Youth Service America has funds for prevention of childhood obesity through service-learning.
Deadline: 10/22/09
http://ysa.org/MyYSA/YSAContent/YSANews/tabid/219/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/175/UnitedHealthHEROESServiceLearningGrantsDeadlineOctober22.aspx

State Farm’s Youth Advisory Board grants are going live to the public. The service-learning grants range from $25,000 - $100,000 and are designed to create sustainable change in local communities across the U.S. and Canada.
Deadline: October 2, 2009
http://www.statefarmyab.com/

Policy Updates

Ensuring effective data use by teachers requires focus from policymakers at all levels, and the recognition that it's a significant shift for most teachers in how they perform their jobs.
http://www.all4ed.org/files/AchievingWealthOfRiches.pdf

As part of a series on the shortcomings of NCLB as it relates to high school accountability and improvement, the Alliance for Education has released a policy brief proposing a strengthened federal role in preparing students for college and careers.
http://www.all4ed.org/files/PolicyBriefReinventingFedRoleEd.pdf

International Notes

The most recent issue of The International Journal on School Disaffection was the last edited by founding editor, Reva Klein of London. The NDPC/N thanks her for her long commitment to this ground-breaking publication. We now welcome new editors from University of Edinburgh, Gwynedd Lloyd and Gillian McCluskey.

Students With Disabilities

Conference presentations are online from the 2009 “Building for the Future” State Planning Institute, held May 2009. The Institute’s purpose was to provide professional development on school-completion strategies, other secondary transition education and services, and post-school outcome data collection and use within a continuous improvement process.
http://www.ndpc-sd.org/dissemination/conferenceMaterialsPresentations.php

Effective Strategies

Early Childhood Education

A report from the Alliance for Childhood warns that the nation is "blindly pursuing educational policies that could well damage the intellectual, social, and physical development of an entire generation."
http://www.allianceforchildhood.org/sites/allianceforchildhood.org/files/file/kindergarten_report.pdf

Professional Development

The Teaching Diverse Students Initiative (TDSI) helps educators meet this challenge by providing research-based resources for improving the teaching of racially and ethnically diverse students.
http://www.tolerance.org/tdsi/

Family Engagement

The economy is having an impact on the value parents place on the importance of volunteering in schools.
http://www.greatschools.net/pdf/The-Economy's-Impact-on-Back-to-School.pdf

Service-Learning

The latest issue of The Generator looks at how duration and intensity of service experiences enrich the service-learning experience.
http://www.nylc.org/rc_downloadfile.cfm?emoid=14:874&property=download&mode=download

Resources and Tools

A report from the GED Testing Service reveals that the number of adults who took the GED tests in 2008 rose to nearly 777,000, with an increased passing rate of 72% program wide. This is the highest number of test takers and the highest pass rate since the latest series of GED Tests was introduced in 2002.
http://www.acenet.edu/Content/NavigationMenu/ged/pubs/GED_ASR_2008.pdf

A new report from the National Governor's Association (NGA) details the results of its Advanced Placement Expansion Project, a large-scale initiative launched in 2005 to "redesign the American high school" in 51 pilot high schools in rural and urban school districts serving minority and low-income students.
http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/0908APREPORT.PDF

Establishing a uniform and accurate measure of the high school graduation rate that is comparable across states is a critical step toward improving high school accountability. High School Graduation Rate guidance is provided in this USDE publication.
http://www.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/hsgrguidance.pdf

Feedback

We appreciate comments from our readers. We invite new subscribers to receive the Dropout Prevention Update. Please contact us at ndpc@clemson.edu.

Sources:  NWLC, PEN Weekly Newsblast, USDE, State Farm, YSA, CNCS, NYLC

First Dropout Prevention Radio Webcast for 2009-10

Tune in to the next live radio webcast!
Solutions to the Dropout Crisis
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Eastern Time

Graduation and Collaboration Coaches: Working Effectively Together

Presented by Laura Brown and Fran Bay

• Learn how Graduation and Collaboration Coaches have contributed to an increase in Georgia's graduation rate.
  
• Learn about the roles of these Graduation and Collaboration Coaches.
  
  This radio webcast will address a framework for dropout prevention that has been effective in Georgia-the state's Graduation Coach program provides early intervention services to students at risk for dropping out of school. The state's graduation rate has increased from 72.3% in 2007 to 75.4% in 2008 - a record high for Georgia. This 3.1% rate increase represents 8,277 additional graduates for the 2007-2008 school year. Additionally, the state's dropout rate decreased from 4.1% to 3.7%. Georgia also funds Collaboration Coaches to assist middle and high schools in developing supports for students with disabilities. Schools implement strategies for engaging students academically and behaviorally as well as focusing on affective needs.
  
  Information about this free webcast and a list of resources, including a PowerPoint, are available now at www.dropoutprevention.org/webcast. Registration is not necessary. Any questions? Call 864-656-2580 or email ndpc@clemson.edu.
  
  Presented by the National Dropout Prevention Center/Network at Clemson University in partnership with Clemson Radio Productions, and with the generous support of Penn Foster.
  

Hopeful Voices: a free service-oriented curriculum supplement

Dear Colleagues,

The nonprofit My Class Cares (www.MyClassCares.org) has just developed a new (and free) publication for secondary social studies and languages arts teachers.  The publication, called Hopeful Voices, features essays from youth around the world whose incredible challenges have given them much to share about life and hope.  Each essay concludes with prompts for student writing assignments, making Hopeful Voices a unique curriculum supplement for social studies and language arts classes.  The website is: www.hopefulvoices.org
  
Groups interested in doing a service activity based on Hopeful Voices are welcome to follow one of the writing-based, fund-raising suggestions inside the publication.

Please feel free to share with your contacts!

Thank you,

Ben Schumaker
Executive Director
www.MyClassCares.org
483 Presidential Lane
Madison, WI 54558
P: 608-467-5706
E: ben@myclasscares.org

Fremont Administrators Participate in Environmental Service-Learning Training

On August 12, all administrative staff in Fremont Unified School District came together to participate in service-learning training.  The session focused on developing a common understanding of service-learning and brainstorming environmental service-learning projects in response to student leadership voting to adopt an environmental service-learning theme for the 2009-2010 school year. 

 

The focus on environmental service-learning presented a unique opportunity for site administrators (principals, assistant principals) to collaborate with department directors (facilities, maintenance, nutrition services, transportation, etc).  Table groups brainstormed a wide range of environmental service-learning project ideas that can be found (with other materials from the session) at: http://calservenetwork.org/fusdadmintraining.html

 

 

*************************************************************

Nate Ivy

 

Service-Learning Lead CalServe Region 4 | http://calservenetwork.org

Service-Learning Waste Reduction Project | http://recycle.stopwaste.org/slwrp

 

Alameda County Office of Education

313 W. Winton Ave., Room 220

Hayward, CA 94544-1198

Ph: 510.670.4283

Fax: 510.670.4578

nivy@acoe.org

 

New K-5 Service-Learning Curriculum on Childhood Cancer

Dear Colleagues;

 

Those of you who working with elementary students may be interested in this FREE book and curriculum on childhood cancer. (See announcement below).  As the author of the curriculum and the accompanying PowerPoint and handouts, I am available to provide inservice training using this program.  You can contact me directly at rahimawade@gmail.com.

 

Rahima

 

FREE Book and Curriculum for K-5 Students!

 

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation is proud to introduce our exciting new service-learning program, whose name was derived from the same principle that Alex herself followed: “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade.”  Aptly named “Lemonade from Lemons," this program aims to teach Alex’s inspiring message of making a difference, helping others, and overcoming obstacles to school-aged children (K-5) through a children’s book and service-learning lesson plans.  Available through our website for FREE to any school across the country, educators may request a book and download the curriculum online at http://www.alexslemonade.org/school-programs/lemonade-from-lemons.

Our service-learning curriculum is comprised of 3 units each for Grades K-1, 2-3, and 4-5 and was developed with emphasis on enhancing the literacy skills of children while teaching them about the “Power of One.”  It is also geared towards reinforcing key lessons from our children’s book, Alex & the Amazing Lemonade Stand.  The lesson plans includes supplemental handouts as well as special instructions for English as a second language learners, struggling learners, and gift & talented students.  For teachers new to service-learning, materials explaining this method of teaching will also be included.  

In addition to our website, ALSF hopes to provide materials for this program to underserved communities via a targeted mailing.  Those children, many whom face financial, academic and behavioral challenges, may not be aware that that they too possess the power to make a difference. 

Lemonade from Lemons is a pilot program designed to bring ALSF’s message of making a difference, helping others, and overcoming obstacles to school aged children.  This program is made possible with support by TD Bank.  Please contact Shirley Moy, Resource Coordinator, for any questions or comments at Shirley@AlexsLemonade.org or by phone: 610-649-3034.

I Remember. I Serve -- Participating in the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance

 

 

Dear National Service Colleague,

We all mourn the passing of Senator Edward M. Kennedy, a lifelong champion of national service. His passion for service and legislative leadership were instrumental to creating the robust national and community service movement we have today. No other legislator has done more to advance national service, and we will deeply miss him. But as our Board Chair Alan Solomont said yesterday, Senator Kennedy would undoubtedly have wanted us to honor his legacy by redoubling our efforts to make service a part of every citizen's daily life.

One of the first ways we have to answer that call to action is coming very soon - the first-ever September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance.
 

 

As we approach the end of the summer phase of United We Serve and recommit to service as a nation, we want to share some ways in which your organization can participate in the September 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. We all remember where we were the moment we learned of the tragedy, and now, we serve on this day in the name of the 9/11 victims and heroes.

The tragic events of 9/11 inspired Americans to come together in a remarkable spirit of unity and compassion. It was a stark reminder that our fate as individuals is inherently tied to the fate of our nation. Eight years later, September 11 continues to evoke strong emotion and is a homage to sacrifice and a call to action. With our collective efforts, September 11, like Martin Luther King Day, will become synonymous with an annual call on Americans to serve.

In April, President Obama signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act which, for the first time, officially recognizes September 11 as a National Day of Service and Remembrance. This designation came as the result of years of hard work by 9/11 families and service organizations. The President and the Corporation for National and Community Service will ask all Americans to remember 9/11 and recommit to service in their communities throughout the year. We encourage you to continue to promote service by commemorating this milestone through the United We Serve initiative.

Since the launch of United We Serve in June, Americans from all walks of life have responded enthusiastically to the President's call to service. By joining with friends and neighbors, they have replenished food banks, prevented summer reading loss, provided health services, supported our veterans and military families, restored parks and public lands, and given back in countless other ways. With your help this summer, the Corporation has launched a website featuring over 250,000 service opportunities, collected thousands of stories of service from people from all walks of life, highlighted examples of impact-oriented service activities in communities across the country, and developed exciting new partnerships.

To continue to support United We Serve and observe the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance, your organization can:

1.      Post your 9/11 service activities on Serve.gov. We will be highlighting 9/11 service activities on Serve.gov - especially those occurring between September 7 to September 13. To ensure your opportunities appear, we recommend that you select a start and end date within that time period and include "September 11th" in the title. Keep in mind that opportunities with more robust descriptions tend to appear first.
 

2.      If you are planning a particular service event you would like us to consider highlighting in the media or on the Serve.gov blog, share the details with Corporation staff by filling in the Google form available at the following link: http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dGxTZjJCbS1sQ0RnZ0NiT0hIcFhXcEE6MA.
 

3.      Inform your volunteer base about United We Serve and the President's call to service on 9/11. Use this day to mobilize current volunteers to serve on 9/11 and to recommit to service throughout the year.
 

4.      Spread the word about your 9/11 service activities by using United We Serve media tools available on Serve.gov.

• We encourage all organizations participating in the 9/11Day of Service to use the designated tagline, "I Remember. I Serve." in your media materials and communications. The phrase is a unifying element to commemorate the day and encourage Americans everywhere to both remember the events of 9/11 and to honor this memory through acts of service on the day and throughout the year.
   
• You can personalize the tagline - "I Remember, on 9/11/2001, I was (fill in the blank). This year, I Serve (fill in the blank)." Please incorporate this theme into media statements/news releases, promotional materials, internal and external communication messages, and websites.
   
• A graphic treatment and web banners are available on Serve.gov at http://www.serve.gov/link.asp#SEPT11.

5.      Identify stories of national service participants who were either personally involved in the response to 9/11 in the weeks and months after the attack, or who were inspired to participate in national service because of 9/11. Submit these stories to Serve.gov by Monday August, 31. These examples will be used in media outreach and events surrounding this year's 9/11 Day of Service and Remembrance. Great stories include:

• National service participants (AmeriCorps, Senior Corps or Learn and + Serve America) who served in response to 9/11 in NYC, Washington DC or other locations and who continue to be involved in their communities;
   
• People who were motivated in full or in part to join AmeriCorps or other national service programs as a result of the tragedy of 9/11; and
   
• Family members (parents, children, or other relatives) of people who were affected by 9/11 who have participated in service since the attacks.

In honor of the National Day of Service and Remembrance, the Corporation for National and Community Service will be supporting service activities in all fifty states and highlighting events nationwide. With the combined efforts of state governments, non-traditional service partners, businesses, and your organization, we are working together to reignite the spirit of unity and service that inspired Americans in the days after the September 11, 2001 tragedy.

If we can support your organization's September 11 plans or United We Serve efforts, please contact your Corporation state office or state commission.

Thank you again for your continued participation in United We Serve.

In service,

Nicola Goren
Acting CEO
Corporation for National and Community Service 

 
 

FW: Great Article on S-L At Flower USD, CA

Edutopia has a great article on the wonderful work occurring in Fowler USD…. go to Students Experience Greater Learning for the Greater Good (http://www.edutopia.org/service-learning-fowler).

 

For a quick look… Click on the following link to view a short presentation on the work of Sutter Middle School, teacher Monica Sigala's "Chávez Caring Crew"

"At Sutter Middle School, teacher Monica Sigala's language arts students were learning to perfect the art of letter writing while simultaneously reading about the contributions of farmworker advocate (and local hero) César Chávez. And in science class, these same kids researched the effects of ultraviolet rays. Their seemingly unrelated studies led students to pull together a service-learning project -- the Chávez Caring Crew -- in which they collected sunscreen and lip balm to help protect field workers from overexposure to the sun.

Sigala's student groups synthesized information about the Sun's effects, wrote letters to local businesses requesting donations, and created information cards in English and Spanish to accompany their collected items. Students take complete ownership of their learning, says Sigala.

"They're walking around saying, 'That was my idea. I came up with the sunscreen.' Or, 'I thought of sunglasses, because I found research that showed that ultraviolet rays can increase the risk of cataracts,'" she says. "The students don't even realize all the great stuff they're learning, because they're so involved with the project -- and all of this teaches the standards."

Consider the Gap Closed in this district…

 

Michael Brugh, CalServe Program Director

California Department of Education,

CalServe Initiative, Suite 6408

1430 N Street

Sacramento, California 95814

Ph. (916) 319-0543

FX. (916)  323-6061

mbrugh@cde.ca.gov

http://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/sl/

Supported by a grant from the Corporation for National Service, Learn and Serve America