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"Growing Together" Network 
(Central Ohio)

The  “Growing Together” Network is an education initiative with a strong community impact component. The program’s goals are to support significant school improvement and reform, enhance student success, increase the number of civically engaged youth, and address critical local and global issues and needs through the expansion of school-based service-learning. We are committed to building and strengthening a “community of service-learning/PBL practitioners and advocates.

Annual “Growing Together” Planning Session and Program Launch Held for School and Community Partners

The annual “Growing Together” Planning Session and Program Launch was held on Wednesday, August  7, at Upper Arlington High School. "Growing Together" member schools were represented by more than 40 teachers. Additionally, school administrators and a number of community agency representatives joined us for the "Program Launch" in the afternoon. The day was a great opportunity to meet and collaborate with colleagues from different schools and agencies while preparing for the coming school year. 

A couple of the day's highlights included the announcement of a collaborative effort between Mid-Ohio Foodbank and the "Growing Together" Service-Learning Network. Heather Buchmann, Special Projects Associate of Mid-Ohio Foodbank, shared early details of "Hunger Action Month: Art Action." More specific information with service-learning ideas for teachers who choose to get involved in the project will be provided soon.

Another highlight of the day was a short presentation by Dale Heydlauff, Vice President for Corporate Communications for AEP and President of the AEP Foundation. Dale shared his and AEP's strong support for the important work of the Network, and emphasized how important it is to educate students "to care about their community" as our future philanthropists, volunteers, and leaders.

To download materials from the August 7 Planning session click on the following links:
• Program Planning Session handout
• Program Launch handout
• Why Districts, Schools, and Classrooms Should Practice Service-Learning
• With Common Core State Standards, Why Service Learning Matters Even More
• Common Core and Service Learning
• Service-Learning and Academic Achievement Research Summary
• Member School/Agency Contact Information Form

Former Fellow Joins Peace Corps

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Hello AmeriCorps Friends!

I hope everyone is doing well. I just wanted to inform you that I have been accepted into the Peace Corps!! I am leaving for Madagascar this July to teach English in a local high school or middle school there. I also wanted to thank all of you for allowing me to join your wonderful program, which no doubt helped me get into the Peace Corps. I loved working with all of you and I wish everyone the best! 

Sincerely, 
Katya Howard 
AmeriCorps Service-Learning Fellow 2011-2012

"Growing Together" Network Member Schools and Community Partners

We are continuing to add member schools and community agency partners all the time. Currently we have the following members:

School/Districts
ACPA
Arts & College Prep Academy
BEXLEY CITY SCHOOL
Cassingham Elementary
Montrose Elementary
Bexley Middle School
COLUMBUS CATHOLIC DIOCESE
St. Cecilia School
St. James The Less School
St. Patrick School
Bishop Watterson High School
COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS
Buckeye Middle School
Additional Columbus City Schools (Pending)
DUBLIN CITY SCHOOLS
West Bridge Academy
Additional Dublin City Schools (Pending)
GRAHAM FAMILY OF SCHOOLS
The Graham School
The Charles School
INDEPENDENT
Columbus School For Girls
KIDSCONNECT PROGRAM, FRANKLIN COUNTY EDUCATIONAL COUNCIL 
After-school programs and middle schools in Whitehall, Groveport, Hamilton, and Canal Winchester 
RIDGEMONT LOCAL SCHOOLS
Ridgemont Elementary 
Ridgemont High School
UPPER ARLINGTON CITY SCHOOLS
Barrington Elementary
Greensview Elementary
Tremont Elementary
Wickliffe Elementary
Windermere Elementary
Hastings Middle School
Jones Middle School
Upper Arlington High School
WESTERVILLE CITY SCHOOLS
Emerson Magnet School
Hanby Magnet School
Additional Westerville Schools (Pending)
WORTHINGTON SCHOOLS
Colonial Hills Elementary

Community Agency Partners 
Children’s Hunger Alliance
COHHIO Youth Empowerment Program
Columbus Diocese Office for Social Concerns Community Shelter Board 
Dowd Education Center, Homeless Families Foundation
Furniture Bank of Central Ohio 
Goodwill Columbus 
Habitat for Humanity MidOhio 
HandsOn Central Ohio 
Heart to Heart Food Pantry
LifeCare Alliance
Mid-Ohio Foodbank 
Ohio Campus Compact
Westerville Area Resource Ministry (WARM)
YMCA of Central Ohio
YWCA Family Center 





Important Links

Forms/Resources
• Project Report Form 2015-2016
• Student Survey, Version 1
• Student Survey, Version 1A
• Student Survey, Version 2
• Community Partner Survey

What Our Clients Are Saying

"Thoroughly enjoyable. Passion of presenters drove the 3R’s (Rigor, Relevance, Relationships) through activities that help synthesize my learning of PBL and SLP [project-based learning and service-learning projects]. The time spent developing our understanding and creating an action plan for implementation was most helpful." -- Course participant

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