For the third year in a row, RCDS students will spend the academic year designing and implementing projects that serve the needs of a nonprofit organization of their choice, and they will have the opportunity to earn AP with WE service recognition from the College Board for their meaningful work.
Students in AP Computer Science A courses with Katie O'Shaughnessey and Jason Leath began the year's AP with WE service work by attending an assembly featuring several speakers that helped them learn about their selected nonprofits. Janette Pereira, Deputy Director of Westcop in Port Chester, described the needs of the children in Westcop's Head Start program and invited RCDS students to consider projects that shared their passions with the children. RCDS Science Teacher Amanda Sackey and Director of Sustainability Kerry Linderoth explained the technology needs for monitoring and watering the many gardens at the School, as well as some projects that would help generate more food to share with local nonprofit partners. Finally, RCDS alumna Caroline Breinin '11 shared global service opportunities that support students in the Wema Children's Center in Kenya. Ms. Breinin, who is a Wema board member, also gave a presentation to the entire fifth grade, just as students began the annual read-a-thon to raise funds to support tuition for Wema students.
The service learning assembly, which was an interdisciplinary collaboration between the School's Public Purpose, Global Studies, Sustainability, and Educational Technology initiatives, served as an energetic kick-off to another year of purpose-driven citizenship for RCDS students in partnership with the AP with WE program, the alumni community, and local and global community organizations.
At the service learning assembly, AP Computer Science A students listened to Kerry Linderoth and Amanda Sackey discuss the many technology needs for the Sustainability program at the School, particularly the gardens.
Last spring, RCDS students fundraised and then delivered robots to students at Port Chester Head Start, pictured here. RCDS students taught the children how to use them as part of the AP with WE service projects in AP Computer Science A.
Caroline Breinin '11 presented at a fifth grade assembly, sharing global service opportunities that support students in the Wema Children's Center in Kenya.