Quarterly Update

Wow! We have done some amazing this so far!

We painted over graffiti. We visited the Andre House. We have begun the mural and it is adding beauty to our school. We'll be posting pictures of it really soon. One feature we will add to this blog is a weekly update written by one of the students. Great job students!

By The Numbers

• Service Hours: over 1,500 hours
• Cans of Food: 800
• Articles Written: over 200
• Letters Writte to Congressmen: over 200
• Money Raised for Life Straws: over $1,000

IMPACT Update

In the IMPACT program, we set high standards and stretch students to accomplish things that had never seemed possible. Students who have never participated in community service log in ten to twenty hours. Others who have a difficult time reading or writing begin creating articles for our Social Voice online magazine and participating in a challenging book club. Students who never considered themselves artists learn how to paint murals while those who have never used technology create blogs, wikis, concept maps, websites and presentations.

In the next two months, we will stretch you beyond what you first thought possible. All students will accomplish more community service, create a documentary, continue designing a website and have many opportunities to participate in meaningful experiences. Those who take up the greater challenge will write a book, join a book club, learn photography, create a play, design a newscast and several other activities.

If I have learned anything as a teacher it is that students can accomplish amazing things if they are given the opportunity and the necessary guidance. Some of our greatest ideas came from students with an idea of how they would make an impact in their community. If you are not involved in many of the activities, I challenge you to try something out that is difficult for you. As a result, you will grow as a person.

Quarterly Update

It is not uncommon for adults to rant and rave about the current generation of youth. "They're so selfish," one complains. "It's such a me-focussed generation," experts suggest.

True, the current generation might enjoy portable music on mp3 players and posting pictures on myspace. Yet, this is also a generation that wants to serve, that cares about the issues in society and that wants to make a difference.

This last quarter of IMPACT was one where students really took ownership to make sure IMPACT lived up to its bold name. You can read the "Current Projects" or "Calendar" to realize that there is something happening every day, before school, during school and after school. Often, there are even weekend events.

We can quote data to suggest that things are happening: nearly 1,000 cans of food, over 500 service hours, 100 articles written, etc. We can show websites and murals to try and prove it. We can view our documentaries or listen to our podcasts.

However, ultimately, it is not in websites or cans or anything like that where we make the biggest impact. The truth is that none of that matters if lives are not changed through the learning that occurs. I am encouraged when I read the service learning reflections.

The truth is that the biggest impact we can make is often with those who are closest to us. It's in the smaller things, such as when students choose not to fight or stand up for what they believe. It's in an attitude that says, "I will do what is right, regardless of whether I get anything in return."

The students have worked hard and we, as the teachers, are really proud. Thank you for what you are teaching us in the process.