{"id":6617,"date":"2017-08-10T20:06:54","date_gmt":"2017-08-11T00:06:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/?p=6617"},"modified":"2017-08-14T09:16:58","modified_gmt":"2017-08-14T13:16:58","slug":"summer-learning-service-middle-school-students","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.acpsk12.org\/news\/?p=6617","title":{"rendered":"A Summer of Learning through Service for Middle School Students"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"This summer more than 200 students from George Washington Middle School, Hammond Middle School and Jefferson-Houston K-8 School participated in an enrichment program designed to help students enhance their skills in reading, writing, mathematics and social studies. The program was focused around the theme of service learning.<\/p>\n

During the four-week program, students engaged in a range of hands-on learning experiences, including projects in and visits to Alexandria and D.C.\u00a0The program encourages opportunities for students to work in teams solve\u00a0real-life problems and become creative thinkers. Students participate in a wide-range of activities and they become engaged in learning by doing.<\/p>\n

Building on the theme of service, students participated in a variety of service learning projects. They researched issues in our community that they care about, including hunger, water quality, and bullying and then worked together to develop projects to address these issues.<\/p>\n

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Students spent the summer learning that they can make a difference in their community. As they talked about their projects, students demonstrated confidence, excitement and a sense of empowerment. This program has placed these young people on the road to success for themselves and their community,\u201d said Summer Learning Coordinator and Lyles-Crouch Fifth-Grade Teacher Sue Horita.<\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Students studied their issues, conducted research and engaged in classroom activities and field experiences. They traveled to D.C. to remove trash from the National Mall, learn about environmental preservation and beautification and they toured the Aquatic Resource Education Center<\/span> and <\/span>the Alexandria Renew water treatment facility to learn how our water gets cleaned.<\/p>\n

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Students then designed activities they could put into action to help our local community. Groups completed activities like collecting food for local shelters and food banks, creating anti-bullying public service announcements and posters, fixing up a student courtyard at Hammond and raising money for hunger relief.<\/p>\n

At the end of the program, students presented their projects, through which many learned that they really can<\/strong> make a difference in our community. And, they learned the skills needed to put their learning into action.<\/p>\n

The summer enrichment program is free and available to select students who might not otherwise have access or exposure to these experiences.<\/p>\n

This program is another example of our commitment to ensuring that our students have access to the programs, resources and tools they need to be successful in school and in life<\/a>.<\/p>\n