Please join us…
Massachusetts Annual Statewide
Service-Learning Conference
“Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities”
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
8:00-3:30
Hogan Center, College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA
“Service-learning is a teaching and learning approach that integrates community service with academic
study to enrich learning, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities.”
--From the National Commission on Service-Learning 2001
Students, teachers, educators, and community partners are invited to a day of sharing strategies
to implement, improve and institutionalize service-learning practice in Massachusetts’ schools.
This year’s conference theme is “Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities”. Workshops, the plenary,
the showcase and our service project will highlight, among other things, service-learning as a
strategy for engaging young people in anti-bullying efforts and environmental sustainability.
AGENDA
8:00-8:30 Registration, Breakfast, Showcase and Service Project Set Up
8:30-9:00 Welcome and Service-Learning Leader Award Presentations
9:00-10:00 Student Presentations
Waste Watchers!—South Shore Charter School
Anti-Bullying—North Adams Public Schools
10:00-10:15 Showcase Viewing Time
10:15-11:30 Breakout Session A
11:30-11:45 Showcase Viewing Time (snacks will be available)
11:45-1:00 Breakout Session B
1:00-1:45 Lunch
1:45-2:00 Showcase Viewing Time
2:00-3:15 Breakout Session C
3:15-3:30 Complete Evaluations and Showcase Breakdown
Click here to register!
(Please register by: April 28, 2011)
The costs associated with the Massachusetts Statewide Service-Learning Conference are generously
supported by the Massachusetts Service Alliance through funding from the Corporation for National and
Community Service.
In the spirit of service…
Letters to a Bullied Student
Students from Whitman-Hanson Regional High School's CSL Internship Program would like you to join
them in an anti-bullying effort at this year's CSL Statewide Conference. Through the "Letters to a
Bullied Student" writing project, developed in the style of the book, Letters to a Bullied Girl: Messages of
Healing and Hope, by Gardner, Buder, and Buder, we invite you to share messages of hope and
inspiration to those who experience bullying. To participate, you can bring letters and/or messages
previously written from a class at your school or write letters and/or messages at the conference. These
submissions will be compiled by the CSL students at Whitman-Hanson in a book that will be distributed
to all participating conference attendees. Help us show bullied students that they are not alone,
and to show bullies that they can change their actions and treat others with compassion!
More details about this project can be obtained at the "Letters to a Bullied Student" Anti-Bullying
Writing Project table at the conference.
North Middlesex Regional High School Community Garden
Students at North Middlesex Regional High School are in their third year of a community garden
program in their courtyard. The program has been enhanced through Senior Project work and is tended
through the spring, summer and fall by students in order to raise and harvest fresh produce for local
shelters and food pantries. Students in the fall built raised beds in order to be more effective in
production and are working with the ideas of hydro- and aquaponics in order to work on creating
sustainability.
This program is designed to educate people on food insecurity and provide fresh produce for those who are
the least able to obtain it. Join the “Fresh” movement in helping our program to be even more successful!
Please consider bringing soil, gardening tools, work gloves, seeds (vegetables), rose bushes (they are
creating a program to attract bees to their garden), plant seedlings, or anything else that you can think of
for our program. You may also want to consider donating financially (whether in money or Lowe’s/Home
Depot Gift Cards) in any amount to help them sustain this program. Please consider bringing your
donation to this cause as your conference registration fee and help us create a more just and
sustainable access to local, fresh food!
More details about this project can be obtained at the “Community Garden” Service Project table at the
conference. Join them on Facebook- NM Community Garden.
Many thanks to the students and teachers from Whitman-Hanson and North Middlesex for
helping to organize our conference service projects.
Service-Learning Showcase
All attendees are invited to display service-learning success stories! Project displays will be scattered
around the conference center for viewing throughout the day. Displays should reflect elements of high-
quality service-learning including: academic connections, service that meets real community needs, youth
voice and reflection. We will have specially designated areas for displaying projects that relate to our
conference themes, “Green” and Anti-bullying, but all project displays are welcome. To sign up to
display a showcase at the conference, please do so when you register online. Thanks!
Massachusetts Annual Statewide
Service-Learning Conference
“Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities”
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
8:00-3:30
Hogan Center, College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA
Service-Learning Leader Award Recipients 2011
Teacher Leader Awards
Jennifer Costa, Whitman Middle School, Whitman-Hanson
Gina Joyce, Sterling Middle School, Quincy
Ray Kane, North Middlesex Regional High School, North Middlesex
LeeAnn Nash, Burke-Memorial Schools, Medway
Sarah Roberts, South Shore Charter Public School
Tara Turner, South Shore Charter Public School
Superintendent Leader Awards
Dr. Maureen Marshall, North Middlesex Regional School District
Dr. Deborah Brady, assistant superintendent, North Middlesex Regional School District
Community Partner Leader Award
Jennifer Munoz, REACH for Community Health, North Adams Regional Hospital
Kim McMann, Target: Hunger North Berkshire, The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts
Valerie Schwarz, The Berkshire Food Project
Robert Hogan, Whitman Food Pantry, Whitman-Hanson
Massachusetts Annual Statewide
Service-Learning Conference
“Healthy Schools, Healthy Communities”
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
8:00-3:30
Hogan Center, College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA
Breakout Sessions
(Descriptions of each session are found on the following pages.)
Session A: 10:15-11:30 Session B: 11:45-1:00 Session C: 2:00-3:15
A1. Student Service-Learning B1. Students Lead the Way—A C1. Service-Learning
Action Councils—Calling Youth Student Leadership Model of Coordinators—Surviving and
Leaders! Introducing Service-Learning to Thriving
Classrooms in Your School
A2. Project Citizen B2. Generation Citizen: C2. The Service-Learning
Implementing, Supporting, and Advisory Board: Offering Support
Assessing an Action-based Civic and Structure to SL Programs
Education Program
A3. Keys to Successful Service B3. District-wide Service- C3.-C5. Peer Exchange Sessions*
Learning: Team Building, Learning: Start-Up Ideas o C3. Sustaining Service-
Evaluation and Reflection Learning
A4. Roosevelt Goes Green B4. Reid Environmental Debate o C4. Service-Learning
Club and The Reid Recycling Standards for Quality
Initiative Practice
A5. Creating Community B5. Building A Community By o C5. Service-Learning and the
Partnerships For Scientific Giving Back to One Common Core Standards
Research & Service Learning
A6. Leading to Learn: Students B6. Service-Learning and Special *Note: Each Peer Exchange
with Special Needs Lead through Needs: Empowering ALL Session will be a facilitated
Teaching, Mentoring, and Students discussion about the listed topic.
Community Awareness These are meant to be an
opportunity to network and share
A7. Utilizing Student Leaders to B7. Service-Learning and successes and challenges in these
Promote Anti-Bullying Initiatives Bullying Prevention: Sharing our areas.
Bullying Prevention Parent’s
Night Success
Breakout Session Descriptions
Breakout Session A: 10:15-11:30
A1. Student Service-Learning Action Councils—Calling Youth Leaders!
Presenter(s): Students: Susan Bloom, Alex Boulger, Cody Bryce, Emily Ferriter, Kelsey Ryan, Mike Schmidt
School/Organization: Drury High School, North Adams
Are you involved with a Student Service-Learning Action Council or interested in starting one? Come to share your
ideas, goals and activities and to network with student leaders from across the state. Drury SLAC members will
lead a discussion and will share their classroom lesson called “Getting Started with Service-Learning”.
Who Should Attend: Students, Advisors of Student Service-Learning Councils
A2. Project Citizen
Presenter(s): Ellen Barber-Morse, Massachusetts State Coordinator
School/Organization: Boston University Projects in Civic Engagement
This is an interactive presentation to introduce Project Citizen, a service-learning curriculum. The curriculum
blends data collecting, researching, cooperation, critical thinking and public speaking. Students research a problem,
evaluate solutions, develop a solution and create a political action plan. The program includes 21st skills and
provides free books and training.
Who Should Attend: Teachers (ES, MS, HS), Curriculum Directors, SL Coordinators
A3. Keys to Successful Service Learning: Team Building, Evaluation and Reflection
Presenter(s): Ray Kane, Service-Learning Coordinator; Students: Gwen Morgan, Casey Libonate
School/Organization: North Middlesex Regional High School
This workshop is designed to explore the three foundations of effective service-learning implementation; reflection,
evaluation and team building. Participants will interact in order to learn new skills in team building so as to be
able to use them within their respective programs. In addition, evaluation and reflection are discussed with various
alternatives offered to traditional measures.
Who Should Attend: Administrators, Teachers (ES, MS, HS), Students, Curriculum Directors, SL Coordinators,
Community Partners
A4. Roosevelt Goes Green
Presenter(s): Deb Dixon, Teacher; Sharon Pinho, Librarian; Students: Seanna Brum, Kalista Donaghy, Andrea
Flora, Alize Furtado, Jonathan Furtado, Madalena Gomes, Philip Lavra, Isaac Manso, Kelsey
Medina, Michael Oliveira, Natalia Sanchez, Chelsea Santos, Brendon Sequeira, Nader Younes,
Alland Timas
School/Organization: Roosevelt Middle School, New Bedford
Roosevelt Goes Green is an after school program at Roosevelt Middle School in New Bedford. Students and teachers
will share their program of “going green” at their school and in their neighboring community by carrying out our
goals of recycling and beautification and partnering with area organizations.
Who Should Attend: Administrators, Teachers (ES, MS, HS), Students, Curriculum Directors, SL Coordinators,
Community Partners
Breakout Session A: 10:15-11:30 (continued)
A5. Creating Community Partnerships For Scientific Research & Service Learning
Presenter(s): Tara Turner, Science Teacher; Students: Robert Eloi, Jonathan Jackson, Matt McAteer, Jackie
Perry, Breighanna Weed
School/Organization: South Shore Charter Public Schools
We will discuss how science classes/workshops/clubs can create community partnerships near and far to allow
students to complete impacting science research and projects. We will highlight the creation and use of our “veggie
van”, proposal for a school shuttle, Nutrition Study, and Spay & Neuter Study.
Who Should Attend: Teachers (MS, HS), Students, SL Coordinators, Community Partners
A6. Leading to Learn: Students with Special Needs Lead through Teaching, Mentoring, and
Community Awareness
Presenter(s): Maria Nemerowicz, Ed.D, Special Education Teacher; Meaghan Kelly, Special Education Teacher
School/Organization: Hudson Public Schools
Although the last few decades of legislation has led to more and more students being educated in the Least
Restrictive Environment (LRE), the quality and type of inclusion that students experience is something that we
continually examine in Hudson. The activities in this presentation exemplify cutting-edge inclusive practices by
integrating service-learning activities into leadership opportunities and learning experiences of students with
special needs. This presentation includes three of several service-learning activities that are led and carried out by
students with disabilities in the Hudson Public Schools. These include an elementary to middle school mentoring
and transition program, a community awareness photography/written language program, and a learn-through-
teaching student led lesson planning activity. These activities are rooted in research-based strategies and they
integrate student choice and a threaded curriculum approach toward learning.
Who Should Attend: Administrators, Teachers (ES, MS, HS), Students, Curriculum Directors, SL Coordinators
A7. Utilizing Student Leaders to Promote Anti-Bullying Initiatives
Presenter(s): Mark Folta, Assistant Principal; Students: Shelby Benoit, Cameron Cote, Angela Essa, Samuel
Hanson, Stephanie Otis
School/Organization: Hampshire Regional High School
In this workshop, five student members of the Hampshire Regional High School Anti-Bullying Committee will
describe how they planned, organized, and implemented a successful school-wide assembly for their peers. The
workshop will focus on the importance of student leadership in anti-bullying efforts. Participants will be encouraged
to share their own anti-bullying initiatives and experiences.
Who Should Attend: Administrators, Teachers (HS), Students
Breakout Session B: 11:45-1:00
B1. Students Lead the Way—A Student Leadership Model of Introducing CSL to Classrooms in Your
School
Presenter(s): Heather Batchelor, Teacher; Students: Rachel Arial, Gabe Coira, Joe D’Ovidio, Brittany Rawson,
Dakotah Rogers, Julie Thompson, Mike Whiteman, Brittany Yolish
School/Organization: Turners Falls High School
This workshop will focus on an innovative program at Turners Falls High School where students serve as the
outreach and design team for CSL projects district-wide. Students work with teachers K-12 to implement and
organize CSL projects, apply for grants, involve community partners, and generate publicity for events.
Who Should Attend: Administrators, Teachers (MS, HS), Students, Curriculum Directors, SL Coordinators
B2. Generation Citizen: Implementing, Supporting, and Assessing an Action-based Civic Education
Program
Presenter(s): Kristine Park, Chief Operating Officer; Dana Marie Brown, Teacher; Leslie Trombley, Teacher
School/Organization: Generation Citizen and Malden Public Schools
On the heels of an expanded partnership between Generation Citizen and Malden Public Schools this year, this
session will outline best practices of implementing an engaging civic education program. Malden teachers will walk
through the process of working with students as they utilized community resources in a student-selected project.
Who Should Attend: Administrators, Teachers (MS, HS), Students, Curriculum Directors, SL Coordinators,
Community Partners
B3. District-Wide CSL: Start Up Ideas
Presenter(s): Karen Martin, Instructional Services Director; Loxi Jo Calmes, Superintendent; Susan
Diamantopoulos, Third Grade Teacher; Kay Hillman, Global Issues Teacher; Amy Raboin, CSL
Advisor; Students grades 3-12.
School/Organization: Lunenberg Public Schools
Come learn how the Lunenburg Public Schools provided professional development and support to assist teachers in
developing Community Service-Learning Projects with their students. LPS used a variety of strategies to embed
service-learning with limited resources, grant monies and personnel. Model projects K-12 will be presented.
Who Should Attend: Administrators, Teachers (ES, MS, HS), Students, Curriculum Directors, SL Coordinators
B4. The Reid Environmental Debate Club and Recycling Initiative
Presenter(s): Julia Berkowitz; David Penna-Ward; Lynn Helde; Amanda Soar; Students
School/Organization: Pittsfield Public Schools
In this workshop, Reid teachers and students will share highlights from two successful “green” initiatives: the Reid
Environmental Debate Club and the Reid Recycling Initiative. Through these initiatives, students are raising
awareness about and taking action to address local ecological issues. Both the Environmental Debate Club and the
Recycling Initiative are student-led. This presentation will share strategies for creating and sustaining these kinds
of groups in your school.
Who Should Attend: Administrators, Teachers (ES, MS, HS), Students, Curriculum Directors, SL Coordinators
Breakout Session B: 11:45-1:00 (continued)
B5. Building A Community By Giving Back To One
Presenter(s): Molly Meczywor, Teacher; Students: David Baumbach, Connor Johnson, Yohmarie Melendez, Ashley
Mirante, Alliey Pevay, Chase Preite, Ashleigh Rennell, Cass Reynolds, Mike Tatro, Cody Wemette
School/Organization: Drury High School, North Adams
This workshop will help schools develop a Senior Class-wide service-learning project. Participants will learn how to
organize a grade-wide project as well as make curricular and career connections. Students involved in the project
will be on hand to discuss the myriad of experiences as well as suggestions for implementing this kind of program in
other schools. Participants will engage in a number of activities and a video of all experiences will be presented.
Topics covered will be: hunger, education, nature/environment, relationships and home/family.
Who Should Attend: Teachers (HS), Students, SL Coordinators
B6. Service-Learning and Special Needs: Empowering ALL Students
Presenter(s): Ray Kane, Service-Learning Coordinator; Meryl Morgan-Higgins, Special Needs Educator
School/Organization: North Middlesex Regional High School
This workshop is designed to demonstrate the power of using service-learning initiatives with students with special
needs. The presenters will discuss the program created using KIDS Consortium’s principles integrated with a
variety of other approaches. Participants will be able to observe evidence of the positive impacts of service-learning
upon students who learn differently and are often marginalized.
Who Should Attend: Administrators, Teachers (ES, MS, HS), Students, Curriculum Directors, SL Coordinators
B7. Service-Learning and Bullying Prevention: Sharing our Bullying Prevention Parent’s Night
Success
Presenter(s): Erica Manville, Art Teacher; Linda Neville, ELA Teacher; Nancy Gallagher, Counselor
School/Organization: North Adams Public Schools
Learn how students serving as activists with their peers against bullying can also draw large attendance to your
parent education night. Teachers (K-7) will share lesson plans; examples of PSA’s and posters connected to ELA,
technology and art; and an overview of district projects spanning multiple grades and content areas.
Who Should Attend: Administrators, Teachers (ES, MS, HS), Students, Curriculum Directors, SL Coordinators,
Community Partners
Breakout Session C: 2:00-3:15
C1. Service-Learning Coordinators—Surviving and Thriving
Presenter(s): Anne French, Service-Learning Coordinator
School/Organization: North Adams Public Schools
Serving as S-L Coordinator is a true balancing act that requires creativity, passion, leadership skills and flexibility.
This is an opportunity to connect with others to share successful strategies, to trouble-shoot challenges, and to
create a network within the state. Handouts will be provided that support program structure and development.
Who Should Attend: SL Coordinators
C2. The CSL Advisory Board: Offering Support and Structure to CSL Programs
Presenter(s): Lisa Shea, Service-Learning Coordinator ; Teachers: Christine Ahearn, Jennifer Costa,
Jennifer DiRenzo, Lori Hanlon, Lydia Nelson, Renee Noonan; Students: Michael Brett,
Alexander Celia, Abigail Collins, Elsa Putur, Ryan Kelly; Community Partners: Sharon
Kennedy, Hanson Food Pantry, Robert Hogan, Whitman Food Pantry
School/Organization: Whitman-Hanson Regional School District
Members of the Whitman-Hanson CSL Advisory Board, including teachers, students, and community partners, will
discuss the benefits of having a CSL Advisory Board, including: utilizing teachable moments, building collaboration
among stakeholders, and building class-based, school-wide and district-wide CSL project support. Anti-bullying and
other project examples and anecdotes will be shared.
Who Should Attend: Administrators, Teachers (ES, MS, HS), Students, Curriculum Directors, SL Coordinators,
Community Partners
C3.-C5.Peer Exchange Sessions
The purpose of these peer exchange sessions is to:
1. Share strategies and methods that have worked. Let your colleagues know about any valuable materials,
tools or resources that have helped you.
2. Brainstorm new approaches or possible solutions to common challenges.
3. Feel empowered to leverage the commitments, resources and other support you need in order to take action
“back home.”
4. Strengthen your relationships with colleagues. Create a “peer network” to continue work if appropriate.
5. Ask questions and share recommendations with ESE.
The sessions will be facilitated by an ESE or MSA staff person or a member of the CSL Advisory Council. These are
not presentations—the content of the session will come from the participants.
Choose from the following topics:
o C3. Service-Learning and the Common Core Standards
o C4. K-12 Standards for Quality Service-Learning Practice
o C5. Sustaining Service-Learning
Who Should Attend: Administrators, Teachers (ES, MS, HS), Students, Curriculum Directors, SL Coordinators,
Community Partners