Welcome to our second session of Service Learning of 2017
Every session is slightly different as each class partners with different K-12 schools in the community. What happens at those schools are different each session, but usually has an objective. Check it out!
FOODBANK FOR THE HEARTLAND
The students primarily work with the School Backpack program. This helps them to work in teams as they all try to make as many lunch bags as they can for the students. All of the students enjoy this service as they feel like they are truly contributing to the community.
CELEBRATE WITH A CUTE TITLE
Celebrating the Mural
Holling Heights Elementary project
This session, Ms. Loftus' class worked again with this elementary school as they completed the final phases of the mural for the school and for Omaha Public Library.
There were three phases:
1. getting to know each other
2. writing the book
3. creating the murals
Both the book and the companion mural are housed at the Millard Public Library and the main mural is housed at Holling Heights.
The public has access to what is being displayed at the Millard Public Library, while the main mural at Holling Heights will require prior permission.
NEW CASSEL RETIREMENT HOME
FACES OF OMAHA GAME
The second visit with Holling Heights students was a month later where we celebrated the unveiling of the mural at Millard Public Library.
This retirement home is one of the largest in Omaha - located off of 90th and Dodge. It is a community of elders who either want to live independently or need minimal assistance.
This is the second time students of Service Learning have visited the residences and during both times have played games: this one was called, Faces of Omaha.
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The faces shown in the game were of people who were famous here in the metropolitan city. It included people like President Ford, Malcolm X and even Hilary Swank and ofcourse Omaha's Oracle: Warren Buffet.
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Students and residents both enjoyed the communication and the camaraderie they built in sharing their information about their beloved city.
NE HUMANE SOCIETY
OPEN DOOR MISSION
The NE Humane Society is a non-profit organization that allows students to see how the community helps with animals who are left homeless, or just need help. The students learn that even animals deserve to be cared for and that comes as a surprise to some of them as animals are viewed differently in other cultures.
Overall, this visit always serves as a good trip for students as they learn the value in the American community. Anything living matters.
Students are often surprised that the community is so generous to homeless people, so when we visit this non-profit organization, they feel good about being able to help with the needs of this outreach center. Most times, students are organizing the donations, placing them in the designated areas, distributing items to those that need it, or otherwise just cleaning and straightening the center.
No matter what they do at the center, students always feel better about being able to contribute their talents.