Service Learning
Ubuntu: I am because we are; humanity towards others
Service Learning at Mirman is a collaborative form of experiential education for students and the Mirman community at large to promote civic engagement and social responsibility. We bridge meaningful community outreach with curriculum and instruction to foster a school community that is both prepared and committed to creating a more inclusive and equitable society.
Read more about our Service Learning initiatives on the blog below!
US1 and Second Grade buddies — think mentor/mentees, but student-led — recently put their heads together for a great cause.
The Room 4 students and the Lower School Student Advisory Council put together 150 care kits to donate to women in homeless shelters throughout LA.
The energy was palpable as 90+ students from Mirman's Room 5 and Sylvan Park Elementary gathered together for a fun day of STEAM learning.
Click here to access archived Service Learning stories in our Newsroom.
Service Learning Themes
Food Justice, Environmental Justice, and Sustainability: Students take on both roles of mentor and mentee as they support in developing their environmental identity on and off campus, all while supporting the campus in transitioning to a more environmentally aware community. They will work on tackling specific questions such as: "How do we think about our planet and our impacts as collective change agents?" "How do we think about access to healthy food and environments in the Los Angeles landscape?" Specific projects will be geared towards educating our campus on reducing food waste, developing a composting program, sustaining our Giving Garden. Students in Kindergarten, First Grade, Third Grade, and US3 engage in this domain.
A Sense of Place and Connection: Students build relationships with partner schools to exchange knowledge, resources, and friendships through STEM and literacy initiatives. Students will examine how neighboring communities are similar and different, and how distinct communities can work together toward a common goal. Students will also look inward at Mirman’s campus to assess the complexities of ability/disability and identify ways of improving access and inclusion through STEM and design-thinking. Additionally, through art and action, students will make visible the diversity of Mirman’s community in the context of Los Angeles’ origin stories through an ongoing art mural on campus. Students in Second Grade, Fourth Grade, and US1 engage in this domain.
Unity and Allyship, Locally and Globally: Students develop and lead various campaigns to stand up against bullying and injustice across a diverse range of themes and communities. Central to each campaign is the goal of bringing Mirman’s community closer together, while also placing Mirman in the context of a larger socio-political and cultural world. The large capstone campaigns include: Unity Day, Mirman Helping Hands, and Peace and Social Justice Day. Students in US2, US3, and US4 engage in this domain.
Additional school-wide service learning initiatives include a back-to-school drive for Mirman’s partner school; a Thanksgiving food drive for the Westside Food Bank; and Treats for Troops.