KIDS Service-Learning Awards 2006

2006 Educational Leadership Awards

Kelvin Hasch, Greely High School, Cumberland, ME

Kelvin Hasch has been involved with service-learning for almost ten years. He uses it as the primary teaching strategy in all of his courses. Hasch is committed to offering all of his students an authentic learning opportunity that brings their learning to life. For example, Video Production students work with the local access television channel to produce a biweekly show addressing issues of concern to students. Hasch’s Wood Technology students have worked with community leaders on a variety of projects, including repairing bridges in the Town Forest and creating a Veteran’s Memorial. Kelvin Hasch has recently worked with the MSAD#51 School District to develop a Senior Capstone course in which students develop their own service-learning projects.

Michelle Briley, Winthrop Middle School

Winthrop Middle School teacher Michelle Briley is an accomplished advocate of service-learning who sits on Winthrop’s Leadership Team. One of her accomplishments was developing a high-quality service-learning project involving all sixth-graders. As part of their Ancient Civilization unit on governmental structures, students discuss what it means to be an effective citizen. Hearing from local experts, they investigate the problems that people in the Winthrop community have in meeting their basic needs. Then, students work together to identify solutions and develop projects to help. Past projects have included food drives, serving meals at the soup kitchen, and holding a holiday dance to raise funds for the needy. Briley is clearly committed to making service-learning a common experience for all students and she has helped her colleagues at the middle school and throughout the district see the benefits of service-learning. Now, there are district-wide service-learning projects for all sixth, seventh, eighth, and tenth grade students.

2006 Student Leadership Awards

Johnna Pallesci, Winthrop High School

Last year, Johnna Pallesci participated in a service-learning project as part of her art class at Winthrop High School. She and other students decided to beautify the new high school with murals depicting areas in the high school. Partnering with two other students and local graphics business Screamin’ Machines, Palleschi worked to create a directional sign for the front of the school with room locations. This past fall, when Palleschi learned that the school’s configuration had changed over the summer, she worked to make changes to her sign, even though the service-learning project was officially over. Palleschi is also a student representative on the district’s service-learning Leadership Team.

2006 Community Partner Leadership Awards

Mount Desert Island Water Quality Coalition, Mount Desert Island, ME

Since 1999, the Mount Desert Island Water Quality Coalition (MDIWQC) has engaged students across all grade levels in meaningful environmental stewardship projects that meet real community needs and are integrated into school curriculum. For example, third grade students from the Union 98 district have learned about non-point source solution and have stenciled local storm drains and seventh and eighth grade students have monitored local waters for red tide. The relationship between the MDIWQC and the schools is strong and continues to grow. Currently, the organization works directly with over 400 students. The organization continues to seek grant funding to transform more of their existing environmental stewardship projects into service-learning projects. It serves on the Union 98 Service Learning Steering Committee and is also in the process of developing a KIDS as Stewards model to help other districts incorporate service-learning into their science curricula.

Pineland Farms, New Gloucester, ME

Pineland Farms is committed to working with students at Greely High School in Cumberland, ME. Education Director of Pineland Farms Sarah Hunt partnered with Greely High School science teacher Kelly Welch to co-teach the school’s Reflections on the American Landscape course, using the working farm of Pineland Farms as the classroom. Students learn about the importance of the local community, local food sources, agrarian landscapes, and environmental impacts of everyday life in an integrated society. This year, they visited the farm twice a week to learn about and participate in its daily workings. Pineland Farms has proven its commitment to service-learning and will continue to provide an authentic classroom in which students can learn.