Service Learning
Chris Berry, Director of Service Learning
email | 425-868-6191 x809
visit: service learning website
In keeping with overlake's mission to "Create a compassionate community", the goal of the Overlake Service Learning Program is to get all students involved in direct service to others. Service at Overlake is hands-on. We believe that community service is an opportunity for active learning about responsibility, leadership, teamwork, and ethics.
Service Learning at Overlake is experiential education that takes vital questions beyond the classroom into the wider community. Students learn about needs of their community and how they can act to meet those needs. The program offers students an opportunity to use various skills, both academic and interpersonal, in challenging situations to solve complicated problems.
Global Service Program
- The Overlake School in Pailin, Cambodia
- Overlake's Sister School in Bella Unión, Uruguay
The Global Service Program was initiated in 2006 as part of Overlake’s Project Week program. The first program was set up in Pailin, Cambodia, followed by the Uruguay program in 2009. Students who participate in the Global Service program commit to a year-long orientation program during which time they learn about the history and culture of the country. They also develop lesson plans they will teach when they spend the week at the elementary school in Pailin, Cambodia, and Bella Unión, Uruguay. The Overlake School also supports these two partner elementary schools by providing resources such as books and computers. The Cambodia and Uruguay programs are offered in alternate years.
mission statement:
To provide Overlake students with real-world experiences in a developing country, by means of a collaborative service project at a partner educational institution, whereby Overlake students have the opportunity for meaningful interaction with host country students.
program goals:
To establish a long-term, sustainable relationship with a partner educational institution; to educate Overlake students about the challenges facing developing countries; to learn about the host country's history, language and culture; to provide meaningful value to the host country students by sharing our language and culture through educational activities; to reinforce our responsibility to others; and to foster a commitment to positive global change.