Service Learning
Service-learning is a teaching and learning approach that integrates community service with academic study to enrich learning, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. As the name implies, it involves two equally important components: service and learning.
Service-learning is part of a larger program Everyday People Make a Difference. The mission of Everyday People Make a Difference is to help young people develop a sense of passion and purpose through the integration of service-learning, character education and career development within the school curriculum. As a Catholic school we also design our project planning to make sure Catholic Social Teaching comes alive in all of our classrooms.
Service-learning takes many forms, and service-learning projects are as varied as the teachers and students who engage in them and the schools and communities that foster them.
Our entire school participated in a project called
The goals for H2O for Life are:
• To raise awareness of the issues surrounding the water crisis in our world through education
• To raise funds to support a WASH project (water, sanitation, and hygiene education)
Classes participated in individual service learning projects to raise money and awareness, as well as several school-wide events throughout the year. Our efforts will benefit Shikhan Girls’ High School in Afghanistan.
Shikhan Girls’ High School
Location: Shikhan village, Mirbacha Kot district, Kabul province, Afghanistan
915 students
Teachers: 26 women, 4 men
Current WASH Status:
1 hand pump, 0 hand washing facilities, 8 toilets,
0 waste disposal/incinerator
Support Requested:
1 hand pump, 1 water tank, 5 hand washing facilities, toilets
Click here to find out more about H2O for Life.
A school wide walk-a-thon helped us to exceed our goal!
Every student at Our Lady of Peace School was given a pledge form. They asked family and friends to pledge money in return for “walking a mile in someone else’s shoes”, seeing what it is like to carry water over a long distance. Students walked a 3 mile route around the school grounds, counting off each of 15 laps. At the beginning of each lap the students were given a card on which was written either a prayer or a water fact. On their backs students carried their school backpacks containing bottles filled with water. It didn’t seem too heavy at first, but soon they realized how difficult it is to carry water over a long distance!
We were able to earn $8,498.74 to provide a hand pump, a water tank, hand washing facilities, and toilets for the Shikhan Girls’ High School in Afghanistan!
Click the arrow to watch a video which is running on American Forces Network about how OLP students are helping the students at Shikhan Girls’ High School.
Click http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aaL6i1Gd-8&feature=share to view
the US Embassy's more detailed video.
Past and On Going Service Learning
Grade 1 - Partners In Conservation
Grade 2 - H2O for Life Project
Grade 3 - Holy Family Soup Kitchen
Grade 5 - St. Ladislas Pantry Special Project (2007-2008)
Grades 2 and 4 participated in Kids Building Hope. Watch the video to find out more about this project. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=An4mizJnuzo