PS 63 Old South School

PS 63 Old South School, in Ozone Park, Queens is off to a great start working with local seniors. Mary Kate Meyer, joined by her highly motivated group of 3rd grade activists, began this journey by utilizing one of the activities she learned in a Service in Schools professional learning session known as World of Service, discussing what it means to be a part of a community. The students then used community mapping and investigated who elders are by reading a variety of texts. This opportunity gave many of the students the chance to share stories about their grandparents and great-grandparents. This share out brought students to the realization that people, no matter if they are young or old, love to share stories. This realization birthed their project’s slogan, “Young and old, stories should be told.” 

The class decided to dive deeper by interviewing grandparents and great-grandparents, so they created a set of questions to share with all the third grade classes in the school. After reaching out to several senior centers in the area, students connected with the Howard Beach Senior Center. The class plans to visit the senior center in April and use a selection of their interview questions to record the elders’ stories. Students also made postcards to bring to the center and are planning on creating a video to raise awareness of the importance of bridging the gap between young and old through stories. This project will not only have a positive impact on the elders, but it will also teach the younger generation about history and their role as active citizens in their community. Thank you Mary-Kate and your third grade class for your hard work and service to your community.

STEM MATTERS NYC SUMMER PROGRAMS

STEM Matters NYC is offering FREE summer enrichment programs at DOE experiential learning centers and cultural institutions throughout the five boroughs. Students entering kindergarten through grade 9 in September 2023 can apply for weeklong camps and will be selected via lottery. Students entering grades 10-12 in September 2023 can apply for multi-week programs and will be selected by a review committee. All programs are application-based and high school programs require a teacher reference form. The deadline to apply is Wednesday, April 26, 2023. Learn more and apply to have fun, new STEM adventures this summer! Don’t miss out, spots are limited.

LUV MICHAEL

Luv Michael supports meaningful work for autistic adults and has a nationally recognized volunteer program where your students can learn about autism, support autism acceptance, and make a difference in their community.  The volunteer program is 100% digital and service hours can be earned from anywhere. Learn more and consider volunteering by contacting dchudley@luvmichael.com.

DOROT

Rising high school sophomores, juniors, and seniors can intern with a diverse group of socially conscious peers to bring vital social connections to older adults. Through one of DOROT’s four summer teen internship programs, students can develop leadership skills and engage in meaningful programs with older adults. Through a variety of intergenerational activities, including discussion groups, home visits, creative arts, and tech assistance, young adults can give back to the community this summer while earning over 112 community service hours. Learn more about the program and apply to build meaningful connections with elders and your peers. 

GLOBAL YOUTH SERVICE DAY

Global Youth Service Day is the largest youth service and civic action event in the world. It is also the only event that celebrates and builds the capacity of all youth ages 5-25 to help our communities and democracy thrive by working together for the common good. YSA (Youth Service America), is a global nonprofit that activates young people to find their voice, take action, and acquire powerful civic and 21st Century skills as they solve problems facing their communities. This year, YSA is celebrating Global Youth Service Day from April 28-30, providing a host of volunteer options for youth. Check out Youth Service America’s website, where you can find a host of volunteer options and more information on Global Youth Service Day.

LEARNING TO GIVE

Learning to Give has tools for educators and families to equip and empower today’s youth for a better world. Teach the journey of service from understanding self and community, learning the skills and knowledge of philanthropy and civic engagement, and taking action to make a better world. Sign up for the Learning to Give newsletter to receive activities and resources in your inbox.

CLEAN GREEN SCHOOL AWARDS

Announcing the 2023 Clean and Green Schools Awards! The NYC Department of Sanitation is excited to announce the return of the annual Clean and Green Schools Awards (formerly known as the Zero Waste Schools Awards). Your public school’s sustainability project could be an award winner. Win cash prizes of up to $1,500, giveaways, and recognition for your school. Schools can enter any of the following three contests.

• GrowNYC ZWS’s Super Recyclers which is awarded to excellent school recycling programs in accordance with DSNY regulations.
• MFTA’s Reduce and Reuse Challenge which acknowledges creative reuse projects.
• Team Up to Clean Up which rewards schools that conceive, design, and implement effective cleanup and beautification projects, including school gardens.



Deadline to enter is Wednesday, May 10 at 5:00pm. Log on to nyc.gov/zws to enter today! Email schools@dsny.nyc.gov with any questions.

WeAreTeachers

WeAreTeachers is a community of 3 million educators who share ideas, resources, and stories of the amazing things happening in classrooms around the country. Access free printable and downloadable resources for your classroom, including worksheets, rubrics, posters, crafts, and more.

Does your school have a great service project to share? If so, the Service in Schools team wants to know!

Invite the Service in Schools team to visit your service project. We want to see your students and school community in action. Email the Service in Schools team at ServiceinSchools@schools.nyc.gov with two weeks’ notice, and we will schedule a visit to your school to learn about your project and see the impact you are making on the community. 

Visit our website. Follow @ServiceinSchools on Twitter and @ServiceinSchools on Instagram to receive program updates, upcoming service opportunities, resources, and more. We encourage students who use Twitter and are interested in service opportunities to follow us.

Mission: Service in Schools strives to expand the number of NYC students engaged in transformative community service and service-learning experiences that enable them to use their voice, skills, and critical thinking to strengthen communities.