February 14, 2006
Contact: Rick Andreano
For Immediate Release
732-0585
WARWICK – The city’s Volunteens program announced today that it has formed a unique partnership with students in Toll Gate High School’s Urban Sociology Class, the Rhode Island Service Alliance, and the Volunteer Center of Rhode Island to offer students a meaningful applied-learning experience through service as well as the opportunity to receive a $1,000 federal education award to apply toward college expenses.
Tim Hayes, a social studies teacher at Toll Gate High School, has been working with students in his Urban Sociology Class for the past three years to develop a strong service component in their studies. Each year, as part of the class, students are assigned to serve with a local community organization. The students not only perform hands-on service with an organization of their choice, but they learn about the organization, addressing social issues, and the role these organizations play in society. The 12-week project culminates with student portfolio presentations about their organization and project. Students learn first-hand the challenges and rewards of volunteer service and working with community organizations.
In past years, Hayes has partnered with the Volunteens Program to create meaningful and educational projects for his classes. Due to a large increase in student interest in this class, Hayes now teaches two Urban Sociology periods this year. With the increase in student interest and class size, Hayes worked to increase the applied-learning experience by incorporating new factors into his classes.
This year, Hayes has partnered with Rick Andreano of the Volunteens Program and Tawanna Watts, Coordinator of VCRI’s Americorps program. Students this year will be working in projects at: nursing homes, the historical cemeteries commission, community centers, and other organizations as part-time Americorps members. Americorps is a decade-old national service program engaging Americans in service similar to a “domestic Peace Corps”.
As a first in the State of Rhode Island, Mr. Hayes’s students will each commit to 300 hours of service-learning in a year’s time, starting in the classroom and working beyond in the community. Upon completion of their 300 hours of service, each student will receive a $1,000 federal education award towards college. This innovative collaboration will allow students to serve the community, learn about important social issues, develop workforce skills, and earn scholarships, Andreano said.