Service Learning
In the Lower Division service learning is woven into the fabric of the school. From classroom curriculum to the art and music rooms, the PE fields, and the library, students are taught from their first days at that they are part of a community that begins at Brentwood School and extends outward. They learn that they have a responsibility as future citizens to know about the world around them and to respect and appreciate diversity. They also learn to identify problems and find resources to address these problems. Students report that helping others is rewarding and important and can be a lot of fun. Through service experiences students are introduced to new places and people and educated about issues in their community.
Each year as students move from Kindergarten to Sixth Grade their knowledge of their community grows. By the time today’s Kindergarteners enter the Middle Division, they will have had seven years of diverse service experiences—cooperating, helping, caring, and demonstrating civic responsibility while also learning. They also will be familiar with many community organizations and diverse groups of people. One of the goals of the service learning program is to make students aware of their responsibilities to their community. Service teaches students values for citizenship including dignity and tolerance along with an appreciation of human diversity and a desire for social justice.
Program Description
Brentwood School is committed to being an active participant in the Los Angeles community. We strive to teach students that community participation and service are part of their responsibilities as good citizens. To this end, we hold a number of school drives throughout the year to help people in need living in our community and beyond. This year there will be a Backpack Drive in September, a Thanksgiving Food Drive in November, a Toy Drive in December, a Tuna Drive in January, and a Coat and Blanket Drive in February.
Each grade participates in a service project linked to its classroom curriculum. In this way, students are able to apply lessons learned in school to real life experiences in the community (and vice versa). Recognizing the potency of learning through service, will provide students opportunities to reach out to those in need, as well as to address environmental issues. In the process, our children learn about important community issues and that they can make a difference at any age. Classroom projects, by grade, for the 2006-07 school year include the following.
- Kindergarten Hide
This year Kindergarten will learn about community and helping others. Through literature and discussion Kindergarteners will be introduced to all of the Lower Division drives and the organizations our school community supports. Each month, with help from parents, the Kindergarteners will make muffins to donate to the Salvation Army Transitional Housing Center and to our neighborhood fire department. In the fall, students will visit the family shelter and our local Fire Department to see where their muffins will be delivered. They will learn about the importance of helping others and will show their appreciation for the firefighters who keep us all safe.
- First Grade Hide
First Grade is studying the environment. They will take an eco-tour at TreePeople where they will learn about recycling and taking care of the Earth. They will also hold an assembly to encourage the school community to recycle. Students are so interested in recycling that they will spend time every day at lunch recess collecting empty water bottles. Parent volunteers will be asked to help bring the bottles to the Santa Monica Recycling Center.
- Second Grade Hide
Second Grade will learn about poverty and homelessness in Los Angeles. Through literature, discussion, and direct service experience the students will gain insight about the lives of our cities poor and homeless people. In October, both classes will visit SOVA Food Pantry to help sort food donations and to tour the facility. Beginning in January, students will return to SOVA in small groups of 10 to help pack and distribute lunches to families in need of assistance. In February, the Second Grade will host a “Heroes Breakfast.” As they begin their social studies unit on Heroes they will have a chance to meet some of our own local community heroes and hear about their work.
- Third Grade Hide
The Third Grade has pre-school buddies at LaBrea Kedren Head Start in Los Angeles whom they visit frequently throughout the year. Students learn about friendship, responsibility, and caring as they form nurturing attachments to their young friends. Third Grade will also learn about international relief organizations as they travel around the globe. This year we will learn about the work of the Red Cross and Operation Smile and that there are ways to help others all over the globe. Students will organize a bagel sale in the fall and proceeds will be donated to these organizations.
- Fourth Grade Hide
The Fourth Grade will visit the Jewish Home for the Aging in November and in February as part of their study of migration to California. They will learn how residents came to California. They will also learn about various physical and psychological effects of aging. The Fourth Grade will also help with this year’s Toy Drive. They will visit One Voice in December to deliver toys and help them prepare for their annual food packing and distribution event. To honor Dr. Martin Luther King, fourth graders present their own “I Have a Dream” speeches in February. As a class they will then select one of the Dream topics and generate their own service-learning project. Students will go through the process of identifying an issue, examining policy related to the issue and choosing a method to address the problem.
- Fifth Grade Hide
From October to January Fifth Graders will tutor Second Grade students at Inglewood Preparatory Academy in Inglewood. Students will visit weekly in small groups and work one-on-one with younger children helping them with math, spelling, reading, and computers. At the same time, Fifth Grade students from Inglewood Prep will come to Brentwood to assist in the First Grade classrooms. Fifth Grade students will also have the opportunity to work with physically disabled students from a school in Westchester as a part of a program sponsored by Shane’s Inspiration. This service-learning project will accompany the Fifth Grade study of Ben Mikaelsen’s novel Petey.
- Sixth Grade Hide
The Sixth Grade will participate in a service-learning project connected to their study of persuasive letter writing. Students will select their own public policy issue to research and address. This project will be a student effort with teacher guidance.
