Service Learning

Download a Service Learning Brochure

Mission

Middle schools are charged with facilitating the transition from egocentric to social thought while providing students with the cognitive skills to become productive members of society. This is a difficult task, given that they are often isolated from all other age groups and often denied meaningful interaction with the greater community. Pine Point School embraces its role as a conduit to educational opportunities within and beyond the campus, and we encourage teachers and students to utilize community resources in academic pursuits and provide service to those in need.

The service learning program at Pine Point was designed to meet the specific social, emotional and cognitive needs of our students. We believe that service learning:

fosters cognitive growth through active learning and meaningful problem solving activities
reinforces curriculum goals and objectives
facilitates the transition from egocentric to social thought
provides positive role models to help students make difficult decisions for their own lives and the public good
builds self-esteem by recognizing student achievement
builds leadership skills
develops an awareness of social and civic issues, policies and values

Our service learning program includes kindergarten through ninth grade. Projects are designed by the classroom teachers to fit specific curricular goals and the needs of each service learning site.

Service Learning Projects 2008-2009

Grade	Project Title and Description	Site	Curriculum Link
1	Senior Partners Students provide companionship for senior citizens	Westerly Adult Day Service Center	Mathematics, reading and motor skills,social development
2	Gardening Students help plant a community garden	Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center	Mathematics, plant biology, plant care
3	Animal Enhancement Toys Students construct toys for snow leopards	Roger Williams Park Zoo	Animal habits and feeding behaviors, art skills, research skills, presentations skills
4	Recycling Pizza Boxes Students collect and recycle boxes on Pizza Day	Pine Point School	Mathematics, environmental science
4	Beach Cleanup Students collect, sort, and analyze sources of litter along local beaches	Local Beaches	Mathematics, environmental science
4	Beach Grass Planting Students plant beach grass to secure the dunes and provide cover for Beach Plovers - a type of bird that makes its nest in these grasses	Local Beaches	Mathematics, environmental science
5	Tutorials Fifth graders help kindergarteners and first graders with writing skills	Grades K-1 Pine Point School	Writing and spelling skills
5	Wind Over Wings Students develop an awareness of the need for bird rehabilitation and the effects of pollution on wildlife	Wind Over Wings Bird Rehabilitation Center	Reading, writing and environmental science
6	Soup Kitchen Students unpack supplies, organize inventory, clean, decorate, pick flowers and can grapes	Westerly WARM Shelter	Socioeconomic and emotional factors that impact homeless, clerical skills
6	Project Paleontology Students work together to sketch an archeological site on a grid - then locate, measure, and label finds	Mystic Aquarium	Mathematics, science, history, art, and English skills
7	Biographies for Veterans Students interview veterans about wartime experiences, organize their responses and write biographies	Groton Senior Center, Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center	Interview, research and writing skills
8	Performance-Based Assessment Project Student strengths and weaknesses in English are assessed through service learning projects	More than 27 sites	Reading, writing, research and presentation skills
9	Research Data from Local Estuaries Students sample chemical, physical and biological components in local estuaries and submit findings to state and local officials	Stonington Shellfish Commission, GSO, CRMC, Department of Environmental Protection	Proficiency with oceanographic testing equipment, data analysis applying classroom-based skills and concepts

Have a Project Idea?

If you have a service learning project in mind for Pine Point students, contact service learning chair Dave Smith '69.

Pine Point School, 89 Barnes Road, Stonington, CT 06378, Phone:1-860-535-0606, Fax:1-860-535-8033