So much current research shows that the optimal age for learning is 3 or 4 years of age. Operating under that premise we are embarking on new territory—we are initiating service learning experiences at two day care and preschool centers in the Cedar Valley, Cedar Valley Preschool and Child Care in Cedar Falls and Grin and Grow day care in Waterloo. These experiences have been made possible by the Volunteer Generation Fund Grant.
Many of our other service learning classes are concluding their projects. The home schooled students have collected or made and given coats, blankets, scarves and hats to the Salvation Army. The eighth graders at Peet Junior High are busy raising money for the Humane Society and the Food Bank. The Janesville eighth graders have raised money for a pedestrian bridge. They also experienced some civic responsibility when they wrote letters to their elected representatives and spoke at a City Council meeting.
West High students are writing public service announcements and planning a radio show about hunger in our community. Expo students continue to work on service projects. One class is writing some public service announcements on why students should stay in school.
Our Do Something Clubs at the Boys and Girls Club continue to learn about our community and work to give back. Students at the Poyner site have visited a retirement home and played games with, painted fingernails of, and enjoyed treats with the residents.
Service Learning may be summed up in the words of a West High student: “Until we started discussing this, I didn’t realize the needs in our community. Now I want everyone to know and then to do something.”
For more information on Service-Learning contact Jean Seeland at 272-2087 or Jean_Seeland@vccv.org.
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