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Service Learning & Community EngagementEcho Horizon School is focused on enriching our students' lives through community outreach and service learning opportunities. These efforts instill an ethic of generosity and provide an avenue to practice service. Each year, our faculty and Parent Association develop a range of activities from helping those less fortunate in our community to sustainability and eco-awareness events that engage Echo Horizon School students and enhance their educational experience. Parent involvement as volunteers adds another dimension and strengthens the impact of involvement in community outreach far beyond our families. We incorporate service learning into the curriculum, thereby empowering students to develop and instigate their own outreach efforts. Our annual community service activities highlights include Ballona Creak Clean-up, Thanksgiving project, book drives, Holiday Project Celebration, Big Sunday, and more—and these hands-on experiences present invaluable learning tools for our students.
2014 - 2015 Community Service EventsALL SCHOOL ASSEMBLY
"THAT'S SO CHOCOLATE BAR!"
Parents, RSVP here: https://echohorizonassembly.eventbrite.com
Echo Horizon Helps Fill a Library in the Democratic Republic of CongoEcho Horizon School’s community service project this month reflects the School’s commitment to fostering global awareness and individual empowerment. Award winning documentarian Paul Freedman, who is the parent of two Echo Horizon graduates, approached us with a rare opportunity to help bring the first public library to the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is currently working on a new film about the Forgotten War in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Echo
Horizon is very excited to be involved in this library building effort, and the
school community has already collected over 650 books in the first two weeks! As
part of the School’s focus on global awareness, 6th graders had a
special presentation from our Head of School about education around the world,
and specifically in Africa. 5th graders have been leaders in
creating momentum in other grades about this project while all students have the
opportunity to donate a copy of their favorite book with a note inside indicating
why the book is special to them. The new library will be constructed in the city of Goma with shipping containers donated by the United Nations Peacekeepers—filled with books and good wishes from the Echo Horizon School community.
NOVEMBER-TURKEY IN A TOTE
History and purpose
For nearly 15 years, our school has participated in a Thanksgiving tradition to support less fortunate families throughout Los Angeles. At a time when most of America is celebrating this very special holiday in the year, many families are going without food. The basis of the project is to provide a Thanksgiving meal to those in need and the objective at Echo Horizon is to supply meals for 100 families. This year we are working in collaboration with Children Helping Poor and Homeless People (CHPHP) and Ocean Park Community Center (OPCC) to make this goal a reality.
Collection of Items The collection of items will begin the week of November 10 and will continue until Friday, November 21. Items for collection are: cranberry sauce, canned vegetables, canned yams, hearty canned soups, cornbread mix, gravy packets, packaged cookies, rolls of tin foil, and tins to cook turkeys.This year we will not be baking, but would still like to include packaged dessert items. We also include $15 grocery store gift cards in each dinner for a turkey, ham, or other items the recipient may want. If you prefer to donate this way and help cover costs, please provide a check made payable to Echo Horizon School. Monetary contributions are converted into gift cards or additional coverage items that were not provided through collection.Pick up a Turkey in a Tote shopping list at the front desk or click here to download the list.
School participation
This is a school-wide service project
that runs the length of November and culminates in a
participatory assembly on Monday, November 24. Full grade level
participation ensures that student involvement and awareness of
community needs are at the core.Pre-K – Counts produce and makes Thanksgiving cards
Kindergarten - Makes Thanksgiving cards and stuffs bags
1st Grade – Collects cans from the classrooms
2nd Grade – Charts the items collected in bar graphs on the bulletin board in the foyer
3rd Grade – Counts and sorts the food collection items and makes Thanksgiving cards
4th Grade – Creates posters that are displayed around the school
5th Grade – Food counting and charting
6th Grade – Packs all items into the totes and prepares for send off.
On the Monday, November 24, John Maceri, the Executive Director of OPCC, will join us at Echo Horizon to discuss their programs, explain how the Turkey in a Tote project supports their community, and field questions from the children.
Thanksgiving Tree
This year we are inviting our students to write down something they are thankful for and place their leaf on a tree inside the auditorium. We hope to see a bounty of things our children are thankful for and that we can be proud of. The outcome should be a full tree blossomed in fall colors.
Info about the organizations we are helping
CHPHP Founded in 1987 by one of our past Echo Horizon parents, Children Helping Poor and Homeless People (CHPHP) is an educational outreach program conducted by children and teens with adult advisors.
OPCC Founded in 1963, OPCC has grown to become the largest provider of housing and homeless social services on the Westside of Los Angeles County. OPCC clients include at risk youth; people dealing with physical illness, disabilities or severe mental illness; women and children experiencing domestic violence; and Veterans --- all aimed at improving the self-sufficiency of the individuals and families served. Their goal is to end – not simply manage – human suffering by providing food, shelter, and clothing to homeless persons and their families.
We Thank Our Partner Donors
CYMA Bag
s/Duratch group is the company that provides Echo 200 tote bags year after year and are doing so again for 2014!
SUGARFOODS company also is donating 100 boxes of stuffing for the 3rd year in a row!
We Thank our Community
This is a wonderful opportunity to walk in to school with your child(ren) and take the goods to the collection boxes. Your kids will feel proud! As you do so, you will know that this is one of the community service activities at Echo Horizon School that will have an immediate and welcomed impact on a family in need. We thank our community for all that you do to help provide our kids nurturing and enriching life experiences.
If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to committee members Michelle Armoni and Jeanette Yoffe and Community Service Director Tami Rubin.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++SEPTEMBER COMMUNITY SERVICE INVOLVEMENT
ECHO HORIZON GIVES BACK WEEKENDEcho Horizon students were ambassadors of peace to commemorate International Day of Peace. Inspired by the Pinwheels for Peace project, students made pinwheels over the past few weeks with which they created a temporary art installation on the front lawn of the School on Friday, September 19.
On Saturday, September 20 the art installation travelled to the Culver City Affair of the Arts as part of the Peace Project. At the same time, students, parents, faculty, and staff converged to participate in the longstanding tradition of Ballona Creek Cleanup as part of International Coastal Cleanup Day. The Hawks were a mighty force in cleaning up the creek area with over 125 volunteers who collected an estimated 500 pounds of waste!
The weekend dedicated to “giving back” concluded at the Culver City Affair of the Arts with Echo Horizon volunteers continuing to host a “make a pinwheel” booth and adding to the living art installation. 100% of our proceeds were donated to the Peace Project—and the School was able to provide support towards the cost of rebuilding homes in the Philippines in the aftermath of Typhoon Haiyan. This initiative reflects Echo Horizon’s educational goals of creating community connection and supporting global humanitarian efforts. At noon on Sunday, our students sang La Bamba on stage after a moment of silence for the United Nations Day of Peace.
