Service Learning Students to Be Honored July 1

June 30, 2010

A group of Green Acres Middle School students will be honored Thursday for completing the Middle School Cadet Corps program.

The Middle School Cadet Corps is a program designed and implemented by five Charter Alternatives Academy students participating in the Charter Cadet Opportunity Program (CCOP). The Middle School Cadet Corps provided academic tutoring/mentoring to 10 Green Acres Middle School students, as well as gang and drug prevention education and career awareness. In addition, the Green Acres students were trained in drill and deportment exercises by the Tulare County Sheriff's Department.

At 11 a.m. on Thursday at the Murphy Center on the Green Acres Middle School campus, a graduation ceremony will be held for the Middle School Cadet Corps students, who will also demonstrate drill and deportment exercises.

This is just one project funded by a Step Up Service Learning Grant, a Tulare County Board of Supervisors-funded program that aims to support service-learning projects that address gang activity and youth at-risk of joining a gang. The grant program provides participating schools $5,000 for project materials and stipends for advisors and youth.

"I commend the Middle School Cadet Corps participants for their hard work this summer," Supervisor Allen Ishida said. "Hopefully the lessons learned will last a lifetime."

In addition to the Middle School Cadet Corps program, the following high schools are completing Step Up Service Learning Grant programs:

Farmersville High School, Farmersville - Farmersville High students will complete upgrades at the Farmersville Senior Center.

Visalia Charter Independent Study, Visalia - Students will learn about marine biology through a field trip.  Students will then discuss gang and violence issues with 3rd grade students through biology analogies.

Orosi High School, Orosi - Orosi students will mentor incoming freshmen by providing information about school activities and clubs.

La Sierra High School, Porterville - Citrus High students will use video to record the history of local community heroes and make multiple documentaries.
 
Citrus High School, Porterville - Students will design and establish two community gardens at Porterville elementary schools.

Granite Hills High School, Porterville - Granite Hills students will design and participate in a camp to teach middle school and elementary students how to produce an online newspaper.