Through service learning activities, students learn how to meet actual community needs. Some students participate in short term projects involving a week or more. Examples are computer training for older adults or food drives. This year, the students at another school have completed more than one million hours of student participation in service projects which have been enjoyed by many thousands of young and old citizens. Every school in District 214 provides its students with opportunities to participate in service learning activities, but that's not the end.
Many students respond to world, state, and local needs.
At one school, students take time from their summer plans and travel to another state to participate in Habitat for Humanity. At yet another school, large numbers of students help feed the homeless and also prepare one of the area's largest benefits to collect money for cancer research. At each of our schools, students have shown time and time again that their hearts are large and that they are willing to contribute time and resources in order to be good citizens of their community and nation as evidenced by holiday food basket collections which go on at all of our high schools. Helping students participate in such activities builds character, expands their interests, brings about harmony, and gives them an important role and sense of independence. Students tell us that they believe in improving their community, and that caring for people who are less fortunate is a way for them to communicate that youth should be taken seriously because they care and because they have much to give.