What Is ‘Service Learning’ and Why Are We Committed to It at PFFS? 

This is from the National Youth Leadership Council, the leading national organization that promotes service learning:

“Service-learning is an approach to teaching and learning in which students use academic knowledge and skills to address genuine community needs.  Picking up trash on a river bank is service.  Studying water samples under a microscope is learning.  When science students collect and analyze water samples, document their results, and present findings to a local pollution control agency – that is service-learning.”

Ironwood Pig Sanctuary 4-24-15

At Paulo Freire, service learning happens in a variety of ways.  It can be the focus on a day-long expedition.  Sometimes teachers will write it directly into a unit of instruction.  Individual service learning projects are a requirement of our Graduation Portfolios.

Next Friday (April 8, 2016), students will be taking part in a school-wide service day at both schools in which each advisory embarks on a unique service learning experience.  The day is intended to build upon the success of past service days that PFFS-University has conducted with its advisories (See November 13, 2016 and April 24, 2015 for details on two previous PFFS-U service days).  Our Advisory Service Day on 4/8/16 kicks-off Global Youth Service Day.

Please remember to make sure your young person comes to school next Friday with a filled water bottle, a sack lunch, and is wearing closed-toe shoes.  That Friday is also an early release day for all students at both schools; students will be dismissed at 12:00 pm.  In the afternoon there will be student/teacher/parent conferences by appointment.