Service learning

"Service Learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich students’ learning experience, to teach civic responsibility, and to strengthen communities." - National Service Learning Clearinghouse

 

Our Program

The Early Childhood and the Elementary Program at PCDS incorporates service learning within their grade-level curriculum.  For example, the Jr. Kindergarteners visit the Park City Senior Center to sing holiday songs they have learned within class bringing happiness and companionship to the seniors; the second graders use their letter writing skills to send letters to U.S. troops abroad in support of their dedication and services.

The Middle School Program provides students with all-grade level required service learning opportunities as well as various independent service-learning opportunities in which middle school students can choose the area of community service that appeals to them and their level of involvement.

 

Service learning at PCDS allows students' opportunities to:

  • Improve leadership skills
  • Make a positive difference in the community
  • Meet new people in your community and gain first-hand experience of diverse life situations
  • Apply knowledge, skills, and talents gained from school to impact positively the members of the community
  • Explore possible career opportunities and gain hands-on experiences

Service within the school community


Fifth Grade:
Reading Buddies with the the Jr. Kindergarten classes
Math Buddies with Kindergarten classes

Service within the Park City community


Student Tutors/Facilitators:
Middle school students will have an opportunity to take a leadership role within their community by becoming Junior Volunteers to elementary school students. Middle school students will work side-by-side Holy Cross Ministries teachers to tutor elementary students and assist small groups of students with various enrichment activities.

Service for our Nation and others


Adopt-a-Native Elder Program
Both Kindergarten and Third Grade study about the Native Americans of the United States. This study includes learning about the history and culture of the Navajo People. To tie this curriculum to service learning, Kindergarteners and Third Graders lead a school-wide adoption of Ruth Benally, a Navajo Grandmother.

Letters to the U.S. Troops
Within the Second Grade social studies curriculum, students learn the history and significance behind the United States flag, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the National Anthem.  With this knowledge, the students practice their letter writing skills to let the U.S. Troops know that students at PCDS support them and are thinking of them.

Current Projects

DesignBuildBluff
During the month of October the Middle School students are partnering with DesignBuildBluff to learn essential design and building skills to be applied as they design and build a new shed for the PCDS greenhouse and again in the Spring where students will participate in the building of environmentally sustainable homes in the Navajo Nation.

Completed Projects

Facilitated through the Visual Arts and Spanish departments, students designed and constructed Pinwheels for Peace in conjunction with International Peace Day. Students designs represented individual ideas of peace as guided by the PCDS school values.

Up Coming Projects

Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF
First Graders at Park City Day School learn about the global organization called UNICEF. The Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF campaign’s slogan is “Kids Helping Kids Around the World”.  Every class at PCDS participates and raises money for UNICEF by collecting spare change. Math skills are then integrated when First Grade students total all of the change collected and create a grand total of money raised for the entire school.