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Every
month, from January - April each year, approximately 280
students and 50-60 adult advisors interact with the project,
both during class time and after school. They participate
in planning, service, video and website production, fundraising
and research. |
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In addition, hundreds of individuals at community organizations
interact with our students. Students may help prepare
dinner at a homeless shelter, help to groom and care for
animals at a shelter, play games or do activities with
elderly nursing home residents, read to young children,
play basketball with mentally retarded adults, clean up
trash at a park, etc.
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Students
gain the opportunity to communicate through media, as well
as through their personal interactions with community agencies,
adult advisors and other team members. They also learn ways
in which individuals can participate in the political process
and in civic life. |
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This
program helps us to support the mission of the B.F. Butler
School of Technology which states that students who complete
four years with us are expected to have a variety of technological
skills, including word processing, internet and intranet
research skills, computer graphing and database skills,
and a variety of multimedia skills.
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This
program is truly our own creation. Statistics have shown
that students who perform community service tend to do better
academically. As the only middle school in Lowell (out of
nine) to conduct such a program, we believe that it has
contributed to the fact that our students lead the district
in testing scores in English language arts. Bilingual and
ESL students seem to reap great benefits in their oral and
written communication skills. |
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We are particularly proud of our students because so many
have been observed to demonstrate empathy, understanding
and care for others when they have their own obstacles
to overcome. We are a racially diverse urban middle school
composed of 48% majority students and 52% minority students
(40% asian, 10% hispanic, and 2% black). 61% of our students
qualify for free or reduced lunches. 18% of our students
receive special needs services.
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During
the last eight years, over a thousand 7th and 8th grade
students have participated - most of them for both years.
They have volunteered thousands of hours of their time to
community causes, and have raised their own awareness about
social issues through fieldwork and research. Through fundraising
efforts of the various teams, many thousands of dollars
have been raised and donated to community organizations.
As well, hundreds of video infomercials have been produced
in an effort to raise awareness about community needs.
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Student
attitudes are definitely affected in a positive way. This
is evidenced in the reflective essays they write at project's
end as well as in the journals some of the students keep.
Some students even continue to do community service after
the project is over.
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Judging
from the letters that we have received from community organizations
over the years, the program has been positively received
and the service and fundraising has been appreciated and
put to good use. |
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Social justice is learned firsthand as the students interact
with and learn from people different from themselves.
Exposing students to new technologies prepares them for
the future and allows them to have the confidence to fully
participate in the cyber-driven new millennium.
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During
the remainder of the school year, an average of 20-30 educators
per month become acquainted with our program through workshops
and conferences and school visits. Year-round, our website
is available to raise awareness for any and all who care
to log on. |
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Students take ownership of the program as they take on
the roles of leaders and givers. Also, the fact that busy
and important professionals take the time to come to our
showcase and listen to the students talk about their projects,
gives the students a sense of validation and empowerment.
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It
has encouraged a diverse and intergenerational collaboration
to achieve common goals. By welcoming parents and professionals
into our classrooms, these adults provide a variety of role
models for our students who represent different backgrounds
and occupations. Because of the positive efforts of the
students who have gone before them, each year new students
are welcomed back to many of the same organizations.
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