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Service Learning Gets a Fresh Start With New Coordinator

Namita Prakash|October 7, 2014

Seniors Leila Raschti, David Fan and Winston Sun discuss their Service Learning project Math Field Day with their advisers, math and science teacher Chris Vivo and math teacher Dr. Drew Ishii.

The Service Learning program this year hit the road running with the new Service Learning Coordinator, John Paulsen, as its leader and provides students with an opportunity to address prevalent issues and pursue their passions.

“One of the major initiatives is to get away from fundraising, which really isn’t serving. We want more hands-on, face-to-face working with the organizations, working with real people, rather than just handing someone a check at the end of the Service Learning year,” Paulsen said.

Freshmen and sophomores will continue to interact with students from El Sol Science & Arts Academy, Edward B. Cole, Sr. Academy and Quest Academy in Santa Ana. Sophomores will help their partners write an essay over the year. Freshmen will work on a variety of subjects and build a kite.

Freshmen gather in the Argyros Family Lecture Hall (MMLH) to learn about their Service Learning project, a yearlong Science Technology Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) project with 3rd graders at local elementary schools.

“Students will be learning about the history of kites, all the science behind kites and the cultural connections around the world of kite-making,” Paulsen explained.

Juniors and seniors can still create projects inspired by their passions or help tackle predominant problems. Juniors who create their own groups have the option of associating with a nationally recognized organization. They can also join an established group at school, but will have to elaborate on what they intend to reform.

“You can’t just join up with a senior group because you think it’s fun. You need to express what those changes are going to be,” Paulsen said. “This year, juniors are going to have to be pretty much locked in by Oct. 8.”

For seniors, groups like the Wounded Warriors project still run with strong future goals.

Diego Izurieta, teacher-adviser for the project, explained “[They] include having actual soldiers come to Sage and talk to the student body; making Wounded Warriors real to the students at Sage; and making it easy to contribute and become a part of [the project].”

Both juniors and seniors also have new opportunities like the March of Dimes project headed by Nicolle Bradshaw. Bradshaw also holds high hopes for the project’s future and looks forward to working in conjunction with the nationally recognized organization.

“I’d like just to see us getting in the community, especially students who have an interest in medicine. I think this is something that they would just be naturally interested in.”