The Y.E.S. Team, which began in 1993, adopts monthly themes, with different projects for each grade level. During Friendship and Appreciation Month, for example, some students created appreciation packets for new teachers. Project planning meetings are held monthly. Adults and students generate project ideas, which are decided on by the group. In order to facilitate integration of the service-learning projects with the curriculum, Ms. Howard, Lead Advisor for the project and the school's guidance counselor, includes an item in the weekly school newsletter informing teachers not involved with the Y.E.S. Team about service activities to be done the following week.
Reflection is done in several ways.
Sometimes students write together, and sometimes on their own, to encourage independent reflection. According to Ms. Howard, the project has helped students develop a sense of compassion for others by allowing them to meet people who are less fortunate than they. Students have learned about the aging process and the problems associated with growing old. They have also learned to speak with confidence in front of groups, and some have become more confident in other aspects of their lives. She would also like to establish minimum GPA criteria for membership, and to provide some school credit.