ACADEMY CONNECTIONS

COMMUNITY CONNECTION PROJECT,METHODS 2009

THE STUDENTS

 

* 1056 Students (536 boys, 520 girls) *From 54 zip codes within a 50-mile radius, representing 32 different school districts * 22.5% students-of-color representation * $1.5 million in need-based financial aid for 153 students (15% of the student body

* Class of 2008; 90 graduates, 100% attending 58 different four-year colleges  

 

BREAKDOWNOF STUDENT

BODY

14%

8%1%

77%

MINORITY ENROLLMENTAsian

Caucasian African-American

Hispanic

THE FACULTY

* 65% of teachers hold advanced degrees (Masters and/or Doctoral) * Average years of teaching experience: 17 * 123 Full time faculty; 18 Part-time faculty * Student-teacher ratio = 8:1

THE CAMPUS* 231 acres

* Distinct building areas for Lower, Middle and Upper Schools

THE CONTEXT

*Situated in Gahanna in residential neighborhood.

*School is perceived as for affluent families

*153 students receive aid (14.5%)

*Average assistance is approximately $10,000

*22% of students are minorities

*Disparity in location of families

Challenge—to provide chances for families to interact

Challenge—to provide opportunities for kids and families to serve community-at-large

STUDENT DISTRIBUTION BY LOCATION

21%

15%

13%10%

7%

4%

4%4%

3%

2%

1%1

%

0%

9%6% NEW ALBANY

GAHANNAWESTERVILLEBLACKLICKBEXLEYPOWELLDUBLINWORTHINGTONUPPER ARLINGTONPATASKALABROADVIEWREYNOLDSBURGGERMAN VILLAGEOTHERCOLUMBUS

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONSHow can we engage

families and students in a common goal

beyond the school?

How can students contribute to the well-

being of Columbus children and families in

need?

What difference can middle school students

make in the lives of others?

THE KIDS-FOR-KIDS

DRIVECLOTHING DRIVE

TEN-CAN WEEK

MAKING BLANKETS

SHOPPING AT MEIJER

WRAPPING AND PACKING

DELIVERING DONATIONS

THE FAMILIES

Childhood League Center—12 families

Siebert Elementary—32 families

Both located near Children’s Hospital

Both have connections to

Academy families via siblings or

parents

THE DETAILS

Two weeks worth of food for 34 families

200 people and 140 children

Clothing, toys, and books based on family requests

Each advisory could adopt a family for the project

OUR FAMILYThe Oliver-Harrison familyOne mom and four children, ages 2-9Needed uniform clothes, toys for each child, and food

WHAT WE DIDDiscussed why some families are in more need than others

Discussed what might be good and desired food to donate and why

Decided as a group who could donate items and how we could help

Brought in items, divided them by child

Wrapped, sorted, and packed gifts and non-perishables

Made blankets—bought materials, worked in teams to lay out, cut, and tie each one

INTANGIBLE RESULTS

Parents and students worked together within the advisory to plan, donate, sort, and sometimes buy items

Volunteers throughout the school—parents and children from different families—interacted

The school has participated in this project for over 30 years; it is an ongoing effort to help those outside of the school.

My advisees had to collaborate to help each other and others.

ConnectionsStudent to student

Parent to parent

School to community

Advisory to advisory

Parent to school

Family to family