Experiential Learning

SERVICE LEARNING

Service Learning is an instructional method that fosters student learning and service to one’s community. Students apply knowledge and skills developed in the classroom to service opportunities in the community. In turn, the service experiences help create conditions for students to succeed in the classroom and in life.

Service should be a journey with our brothers and sisters in need. As one enters into this journey with people whose life experiences are different from our own, both participants and society are transformed. Service is internalized and becomes a mission. Villa Maria wants our students to joyfully take this journey and, in doing so, to reach the following objectives:

• to provide further opportunity for students to discover and use their God-given gifts and to share these gifts with others,

• to connect the academic curriculum with an educated, meaningful response to the needs of the community so that students use their academic and social abilities to improve the community,

• to educate students on and encourage reflection on issues of social justice and their responses to them in accordance with Catholic social teachings

• to provide further opportunity for students to develop as leaders, problem solvers, and women of God, and as such to remember the words of St. Alphonsus Liguori: “He who trusts himself is lost. He who trusts in God can do all things.”

For our incoming Class of 2029, fulfillment of service hours may begin with the start of the 2025-2026 academic year at Villa Maria.

905-908 Service Learning 9, 10, 11, 12

Grade 9-12

Pass/Incomplete/Fail

Service Hour Requirements

SENIOR CAPSTONE

Senior Capstone is a culminating learning experience that encourages critical thinking and research, promotes conversation and problem solving, and results in real-life application of prior and acquired knowledge. Students will concentrate on areas of personal interest. Using an inquiry-based method, they will connect their acquired knowledge to life experiences, thus deepening their awareness of what they have learned. The Senior Capstone Experience involves critical thinking, investigative research, problem solving, written reflection and application of prior and acquired knowledge under the guidance of a mentor and through documented field experiences and/or service. The goal of this learning activity is not only to sharpen and expand the students’ method of research but to develop interpersonal and communication skills and to encourage personal growth. Ultimately, the students will learn how to learn, and hopefully will enjoy the process. All seniors are required to submit written summaries which connect their Capstone experiences to their curricular work. The project culminates in a two-week-long mentorship experience in the professional world.

Another required element of the VMA senior Capstone Experience is their Senior Summit, a day preparing for and simulating the demands of the working environment. Workshops on resume building, interview skills, and business dress and decorum are included with this required event.

873 Capstone Experience

Grade 12

Credit 1.0

An inquiry-based experience, driven by student interest, the Senior Capstone Experience is required for graduation. It involves critical thinking, investigative research, problem solving, written summary and application of prior and acquired knowledge through documented field experiences and/or service. Fulfillment of graded assignments, a culminating assessment, and participation in the Senior Summit and mentor experience are required for graduation. This course must be fulfilled to meet all graduation requirements.

EXPERIENTIAL COURSEWORK

Villa Maria Academy offers some courses within our disciplines that enable a student to gain valuable skills for their lives beyond our high school. These experiential courses are "pass/fail".

Writing Mentoring: Theory & Practice (264) * NEW !!! *

Grade 10, 11, 12

Credit 0.25

This course will prepare students to collaborate effectively with peers, to communicate both verbally and in writing, and to provide verbal and written feedback to mentor other writers. Students will study various examples of writing theory and writing center pedagogy and will engage with writing from across the curriculum, from essays and lab reports to professional emails and presentations. Students in this course must be willing to engage in critical thinking and to take a mentoring role with peers through active listening and conversation. After taking this course, students will be equipped with the confidence, knowledge and skills to advance their own independent growth as writers. They will be expected to work as Writing Mentors in the Villa Maria Writing Center, and in doing so, they will have the opportunity to earn service hours. Students who have no spring RFT will be put on the list of Mentors who will mentor before or after school on an on-demand basis. A signed acknowledgement of the Writing Center commitment will be required. Enrollment in this class will be limited.

Science Lab Assistant Program (645) * NEW !!! *

Grade 12

Credit 0.5

Prerequisite: Successful completion of Biology, Chemistry, and Physics. Interested students must complete an application including an interview with members of the Science Department. Enrollment is limited to no more than 4 students.

This course is open to students who have an interest in science, specifically laboratory skills. Duties include helping set up laboratory activities along with proper maintenance and inventory of lab supplies. This includes, but is not limited to, maintaining lab drawers with proper equipment, preparing solutions using Molarity and dilution calculations, and gathering materials from storage. It will also include cleaning and restocking glassware and returning materials and equipment to proper storage locations. Students will strengthen skills from previous science classes while maintaining strict adherence to safety. This course will not be scheduled as our other courses are but rather will be scheduled during the student's free-time.

The application for this course will open on Friday, February 14, 2025, and will be available at Science Lab Assistant application. Applications are due by Friday, March 7. All applications will be reviewed by the Science department and they will be in contact with students to schedule interviews. Students will be notified by Friday, March 14 as to their admission status for the course.

Page updated

Report abuse