LS Service Learning Committee Mission Statement:

The Lower School Service Learning Committee concentrates on projects that:

• expand our children’s’ world view
• demonstrate the meaningful power of one persons’ action to improve their world
• broaden the definition of community at OES.

LS Service Learning Committee Projects

The LS Service Learning Committee projects are planned to respond to needs in our local and world community on an ongoing basis and in response to emergency relief efforts. To this end we align ourselves with charitable groups, organizations, and individuals who generate projects that fit our guidelines for selection.

We solicit project ideas from students, faculty, staff and families. The selection of a project is according to the following guidelines:

• Is it aligned with the mission of the LS Service Learning Committee?
• Is it age group appropriate?
• Is it a well-defined project targeting a clear community need?
• Do we have the resources necessary?
• Are there existing agencies to align with?
• Can meaningful service learning be accomplished?
• Will this engender community support?
• Does it provide diversity for service learning? (e.g., environmental, elders, other children)
• Are we providing activities for pre-K through 5th grade aged students?

We do not expect any single project to meet all of these guidelines.

Projects are developed and implemented by volunteers from the OES LS Community. Committee grade level representatives are dedicated to assisting the grade level faculty conceive of, support, and help implement the service learning projects.

Coordination

The LS Service Learning program is a joint effort between the LS PAL and the teachers, which is coordinated by an ad hoc committee consisting of the LS Chaplain, the PAL Service Learning chair(s), and a teacher representative.