Graland Country Day School, Denver, CO | Service Learning

List of 10 items.

Preschool/PreK: Caring for Animals in Need

Working with the Dumb Friends League, students learn about advocacy and awareness of shelter animals. Students also practice how to interact with dogs safely with visits from the Dumb Friends League “Ambassadogs.”
Kindergarten: Stewards of Sustainability

Kindergarten focuses on the importance of reusing, recycling and composting. They learn how to sort their waste into items that can be returned to the earth (composting), items that can be reused (recycling) and items that go to the landfill. They read about how other communities are repurposing plastic bags, and use plastic bags to stuff their rodeo horses!
Grade 1: Birds Enthusiasts

First graders study all about birds during a comprehensive unit that includes science, Spanish, math, literacy and service. They visit the Bird Conservatory at Barr Lake to experience and participate in bird conservation efforts and work to make the Graland campus more bird-friendly.
Grade 2: Partners in Bike Project

Supporting Wish for Wheels, second graders write persuasive letters for grant money to provide a new bicycle and helmet to every second grader in Denver Public Schools. They become penpals and share fun experiences with their peers at Rocky Mountain Prep School before meeting to build the bikes that their new friends will take home.
Grade 3: Understanding the Importance of U.S. Citizenship

Once our third graders become experts on Colorado, they play an important role in an official Naturalization Ceremony to welcome new American citizens. This is a meaningful way to connect our Colorado history lessons to our service-learning project.
Grade 4: Building Relationships with Children with Disabilities

Students spend the year building friendships with buddies from our Unified Neighborhood partners in special education programs. In the spring, fourth graders host the Sam Loewi Unified Neighborhood Games on campus when perseverance, effort and respect for others are celebrated in a ceremony and during Special Olympics-style field games.
Grade 5: Canal Conservationists

Fifth graders partner with the Highline Canal Conservancy to collect data on trail usage and wildlife while participating in cleanup days throughout the year.
Grade 6: Understanding the Plight of Poverty

Sixth graders join volunteers at the Capitol Hill Community Services Soup Kitchen each week to serve meals to underprivileged Denver residents. Throughout the year, they study issues of homelessness and poverty to gain perspective on these experiences.
Grade 7: Impacting Alzheimer's Disease Research

Seventh graders learn about aging while building relationships and offering companionship to residents at a local senior residence. Each month, students engage with their senior buddies in a game of croquet -- a fun activity for both age groups. Listen to a story about it on Colorado Public Radio. Through an interdisciplinary project, they learn about Alzheimer’s disease and share their learning at a student-led awareness night for parents and other guests.
Grade 8: Global Citizens

Eighth graders choose a service-learning theme that relates to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and work with local organizations that serve a variety of needs: Environment, Education, Peace, Justice, Equity, Poverty, Hunger.

Other Service Learning Opportunities

In addition to opportunities at each grade level, students can enjoy more service activities throughout the year:

The Spark Change program (Grades 3/4) is a coin drive and grant program that provides needed funds to area nonprofits.
Middle School service councils become advocates for various causes such as environmental stewardship.
The Graland Parent Association coordinates volunteer teams that help at the Food Bank of the Rockies and Service Saturdays with the group A Little Help.