The purpose of the initiative is to infuse service learning projects into the curriculum. This allows students the opportunity to learn while doing, to be active members of their communities, to have the high school invest in it’s own future by mentoring to future students. By soliciting the help of businesses and community agencies schools enhance the responsibility of their corporate neighbors.
The major player in this initiative is Lakeland High School Leadership Cadre. The cadre was established to allow students the opportunity to learn valuable leadership skills while serving the needs of the school and community at large. Students may participate in cadre as a member of an after school club or by enrolling in a credit bearing Executive Leadership class.
The main partners with Lakeland High School include Southwest Elementary, Lime Street Elementary, Junior Achievement, Central Florida Leukemia/Lymphoma Society, Polk Economic Council, City of Lakeland, Polk County Schools, Watkins Motor Lines, Publix Supermarkets, Rodda Construction, WONN radio, Explorations V children’s museum.
Main beneficiaries of participating in Cadre are City of Lakeland, elementary students, and the Lakeland High School community.
The essential elements of participating in cadre are community fundraising/awareness activity, (such as Light the Night), “Economics through Explorations” activity (simulating a day in a city, where each student assumes an essential role in the “business” of the city at the local children’s museum), students teaching students, (such as the “what is leukemia?”curriculum) etc.
How do you determine success? Some of the factors that indicate success include: over $30,000 raised for Central Florida Leukemia/Lymphoma Society, curriculum for “What is Leukemia?’ accepted by National organization, coloring book support material written, published, and presented. elementary program at children’s museum expanded, Disney Teacheriffic award presented to teachers, Disney Community Service monetary award received by Cadre.
High School students are pre & post tested to determine increase of knowledge base of participants. Cadre is in its fifth year of existence at Lakeland High School. The number of participants has significantly grown each year. The last two years there has been a need for two sections each semester of the Executive Leadership class. Participation in cadre sponsored projects differs, but school wide projects have been extremely successful at involving a large number of students of all socio-economic status, and grade levels. Involvement of students has grown from after school club of 20 students to two class sections of 40+ with waiting list, plus growth in club membership.
The impact is reflected in the increase of participation, the large number of community-based projects being started and the number of elementary students served.
Several of the projects have the potential for replication. – Teams of students will network to spread to other groups, especially the “What is leukemia?” curriculum. Plans to utilize school website are also being formalized.
Name and contact information for an underwriter who validates the application:
Margaret Anne Wheeler
Community Involvement Office
Polk County Schools
P. O. Box 391
Bartow, Florida 33831
863-534-0500
Authors:
Mark Thomas
P.O. Box 391
Bartow, Florida 33831
Tel: 863-534-0697
E-mail: Mark.Thomas@polk-fl.net
Bridget Fetter
1711 N. Meridian Rd #2
Tallahassee, Florida 32303
Tel: 863-409-2241
sE-mail: deanlhs@aol.com
Return to Index