Healthy Character Through Service Learning

Service learning at Alexander Dawson focuses on meaningful experiences which encourage and enable all members of the campus to positively impact the community. The service learning initiatives seek to bring campus and community together in partnership to share resources, meet real community needs, and help to educate our students to become the change agents of tomorrow. The purpose of service learning is to help students understand their civic and social responsibility in the world. 
The service learning opportunities designed at Dawson allow students to practice social responsibility in concrete ways. The program includes a three-layer approach for implementation: direct service, indirect service, and advocacy. Through these three approaches, our goals are to help students become aware of the richness of diversity by teaching and modeling respect for others.

List of 3 items.

  • Advocacy

    Advocacy requires students to use their voices and skills to help eliminate the causes of identified problems. Not only do students work to correct problems, they also make the public aware of problems. Students learn to present their concerns clearly and concisely and to propose feasible solutions. Examples include campaigning for water conservation, selecting a proposal to fund through the KIVA organization, or teaching classmates about environmental responsibility.
  • Direct Service

    Direct service activities require contact with the people being served. These service activities teach students to take responsibility for their actions and provide immediate feedback in the process of service. Students learn that they can make a difference through giving their time, creativity and commitment.  Examples include reading to small children, volunteering at a food bank organization, working with senior citizens, or coordinating a school-wide drive like “Snacks for Soldiers.”
  • Indirect Service 

    Indirect service involves students working behind the scene to recognize social and global issues. Students channel resources to the problem without working directly with a service recipient. Generally, indirect service projects are done through group conversations and classroom projects that promote teamwork and organization skills. Examples include community share meetings, morning meetings, and curricular themes.

The Alexander Dawson School

The Alexander Dawson School at Rainbow Mountain, an independent school located on 33-acres in the community of Summerlin, is Nevada’s first Stanford University Challenge Success partner school for students in early childhood through grade eight. Utilizing the unique Challenge Success framework, Dawson uses research-based strategies and programs that emphasize student academics, wellbeing, and a healthy school-life balance to create more engaged, motivated, and resilient learners and leaders. At Dawson, students achieve their individual potential while savoring life and meeting the challenges of the world.