Service, Girls, and Self-Esteem How Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart Students Develop and Experience Competence, Confidence, and Connectedness through Social Action Lauren Brownlee, Bill Hulseman, Denise Key & Kate Morin Stone Ridge School of the Sacred Heart Bethesda, MD
AGENDA Video Introductions & Icebreaker Research The Social Action Program Reflection & Discussion
SERVICE, GIRLS, AND SELF-ESTEEM
INTRODUCTION & ICEBREAKER Lauren Brownlee, Director of Social Action Bill Hulseman, Director of Professional Development Denise Key, Counselor Kate Morin, Head of Upper School
RESEARCH Girls and Self-Esteem Joann Deak, How Girls Thrive Emerging Themes in Service Learning Janet Eyler and Dwight E. Giles, Jr., Where s the Learning in Service Learning? Service and Leadership Girl Scouts Research Institute Transforming Society The National Task Force on Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement, A Crucible Moment: A Call to Action
RESEARCH: GIRLS AND SELF-ESTEEM Joann Deak, How Girls Thrive Connectedness: finding meaning by being a part of something Competence: skill development due to experience, education, and adequate sleep Confidence: the result of patience and perseverance as one commits to meeting a challenge
RESEARCH: EMERGING THEMES IN SERVICE LEARNING Janet Eyler and Dwight E. Giles, Jr., Where s the Learning in Service Learning? Themes that emerged from national survey on servicelearning: I learned the people I served are like me. I learned to appreciate other cultures. I learned to understand myself better. I learned spiritual growth. I learned how rewarding it is to help others. I learned how to work with others effectively.
RESEARCH: SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP Girl Scout Research institute, Exploring Girls Leadership Conditions for leadership development 1. Safe and supportive space to develop voices and values 2. Opportunities to develop critical thinking skills to analyze the world around them 3. Opportunities to connect with other girls and adults on issues that are important Leadership is not just about taking charge ; rather, it is seen as being charged with taking a stand and having a vision. (p.16)
RESEARCH: SERVICE AND LEADERSHIP Girl Scout Research institute, Exploring Girls Leadership Girl Scouts Program provide: Context, connecting with others in the local and global community! PREPARATION Taking action to make the world a better place! ACTION Opportunities for discovering themselves and their values! REFLECTION
RESEARCH: TRANSFORMING SOCIETY The National Task Force on Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement, A Crucible Moment: A Call to Action Reinvention of education through powerful pedagogies Intergroup and deliberative dialogue Service learning Collective civic problem solving Reliance on wide range of studies pointing to the positive effects of service learning: Cognitive development Intrapersonal and social development Moral development Social responsibility leadership and communication skills, and importantly, a sense of being able to effect change in their community (60-61)
RESEARCH The Three C s Competence Confidence Connectedness Current Approaches to Service Learning I learned: the people I served are like me. to appreciate other cultures. to understand myself better. spiritual growth. how rewarding it is to help others. how to work with others effectively. Service and Leadership Conditions for leadership development Voices and values Critical thinking skills Connection on the issues Transforming Society powerful pedagogies Intergroup and deliberative dialogue Service learning Collective civic problem solving Positive effects of service learning: Cognitive development Intrapersonal and social development Moral development Social responsibility
THE SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAM Your example, even more than your words, will be an eloquent lesson to the world. Madeleine Sophie Barat Goals and Criteria of Sacred Heart Education Schools of the Sacred Heart commit themselves to educate to 1. a personal and active faith in God 2. a deep respect for intellectual values 3. a social awareness which impels to action 4. the building of community as a Christian value 5. personal growth in an atmosphere of wise freedom
THE SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAM Social Action at Stone Ridge a comprehensive service-learning program that is central to the Upper School experience Through preparation, action, and reflection cultivates critical consciousness of issues of justice inculcates a life-long commitment to service develops students potential for leadership in building and maintaining just partnerships
THE SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAM Calendar: 12 days a year (every other Wednesday) Schedule: 8:00am Preparation Attention to one aspect of a yearlong theme; past themes: Catholic Social Teaching, Women of Faith & Hope, The Faces of Social Action, The Global Sacred Heart Community 9:30am Action Direct service and advocacy at 40+ partner sites 2:30pm Reflection Small group, student-led reflection activities
THE SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAM Program: Grade 9: Orientation to Social Action Grade 10: Introduction to Partnerships Grade 11: Partnerships I Grade 12: Partnerships II Leadership SALs SASAB Reflection Leaders
LEADERSHIP: SALS SALs (Social Action Leaders) Seniors who create and implement a two-day curriculum that includes: A foundation for understanding the topic A chance to engage in dialogue and critical reflection An opportunity for direct service 6 Major Areas of Social Action Care & Concern for the Elderly Understanding Disabilities Stewardship of the Environment Human Rights Childcare & Education Poverty & Homelessness
LEADERSHIP: SALS Role of the SAL in the life of the School Application & Selection June & August Training Group formation! Connectedness Self-directed preparation! Competence Practice & Skill development! Confidence
LEADERSHIP: SASAB Social Action Student Advisory Board Mission Statement Our purpose is to provide student leadership, and support the continual growth of the Stone Ridge Social Action Program through preparation, evaluation, modification, and participation. We aim to model student engagement in the Social Action program, channel our student passion, and inspire a life-long commitment to service. Functions: create annual theme, advise and assist faculty with morning presentations place students at Social Action sites, provide logistical preparation design reflection activities evaluate the program and act as the voice of the student body
LEADERSHIP: REFLECTION LEADERS reflection is a complex, rigorous, intellectual, and emotional enterprise that takes time to do well 1. Reflection is a meaning-making process that moves a learner from one experience into the next with deeper understanding of its relationships with and connections to other experiences and ideas. It is the thread that makes continuity of learning possible, and ensures the progress of the individual and, ultimately, society. It is a means to essentially moral ends. 2. Reflection is a systematic, rigorous, disciplined way of thinking with its roots in scientific inquiry. 3. Reflection needs to happen in community, in interaction with others. 4. Reflection requires attitudes that value the personal and intellectual growth of oneself and of others Reflection that is guided by wholeheartedness, directness, open-mindedness, and responsibility, though more difficult, stands a much better chance of broadening one s field of knowledge and awareness. Carole Rodgers, Defining Reflection: Another Look at John Dewey and Reflective Thinking. Teachers College Record, Volume 104, Number 4 (June 2002)
THE SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAM Social Action at Stone Ridge is a comprehensive service-learning program that is central to the Upper School experience. Through preparation, action, and reflection, Social Action cultivates critical consciousness of issues of justice, inculcates a life-long commitment to service, and develops students potential for leadership in building and maintaining just partnerships. Calendar: 12 days a year (every other Wednesday) Schedule: 8:00am Preparation 9:30am Action 2:30pm Reflection
REFLECTION & DISCUSSION Think, Pair & Share What is striking you as compelling for your program? How do you want to bring this back? How might you integrate these ideas into your own program? How do you want your students to grow through programs and opportunities like this?
CONCLUSION Social Action! is rooted in our mission! provides opportunities for leadership! is designed to enable transformation What is leadership?
CONCLUSION ADD VIDEO
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