Service Learning

Service Learning Theme: Awareness and understanding of those who are hungry, socially-isolated and are in need of nutrition and social advocacy.

Service Learning Partner: Friendship Trays

Curriculum Connection: In our Kindergarten classrooms, students learn about the growth cycle of vegetables from the planting of the seeds to the harvesting of crops. They weigh and deliver the harvest to Friendship Trays of Charlotte.

This partnership teaches our students early on that they may be small but they can make a big impact. Our kindergartners learn how to interact and develop great friendships with the older community they serve through delivering Friendship Trays.

Service Learning Theme: Awareness and understanding of those who are hungry in our city and in need of nutritious meals.

Service Learning Partner: Loaves & Fishes

Curriculum Connection: In our 1st grade classrooms, students continue their learning of reading & mathematics skills from kindergarten. At Loaves & Fishes, our first-graders help sort, stock and organize the food pantry, thus refining their reading, counting and organizational skills.

This partnership teaches our students about social advocacy at a young age by engaging a wonderful community partner that provides nutritious groceries to individuals and families in a short-term crisis.

Service Learning Theme: Awareness and understanding of and advocacy for adults with intellectual, developmental and other disabilities.

Service Learning Partner: InReach

Curriculum Connection: Our 2nd graders will build relationships with differently-abled adults involved in the self-advocacy class at the Baxter St. community center location and at Covenant Presbyterian Church.  

InReach customers will visit Trinity once a month to participate in activities such as gardening, art, music and self-advocacy. Through the relationships built with these neighbors, our students will learn how to advocate for themselves and for the rights of adults with disabilities.  

Service Learning Theme: Awareness and understanding of and advocacy for our homeless neighbors in our city.

Service Learning Partner: Roof Above

Curriculum Connection: As our third-graders dive into learning about the community around them, they begin to the study the rich history of Charlotte. They continue on their journey of the City and social advocacy by partnering with the Urban Ministry of Charlotte.

Each month, they walk a mile to the Urban Ministry Center where they work with our homeless neighbors in Charlotte. From art projects to soccer to singing with the Urban Ministry Choir to holding clothing drives, our students work to get to know Charlotte’s homeless community and learn to advocate for those in need.
 

Service Learning Theme: Awareness and understanding of children with physical, cognitive, and social differences.

Service Learning Partner: The Epiphany School of Charlotte

Curriculum Connection:  Our 4th graders will build relationships over the course of the year with students at The Epiphany School of Charlotte.  

They will do this primarily by working in elementary and middle school settings at Epiphany. The relationships are intended to be reciprocal and affirming for both Trinity students and the students of Epiphany.  

To build a foundation for the relationships, Trinity teachers reinforce learning about the human body and development, cognitive and social function, difference and empathy. 

Service Learning Partner: The Bulb

The Bulb is a donation-based and nonprofit mobile farmers market providing fresh produce grown by local farmers, as well as produce rescued from area grocery stores, to food insecure communities in and around Charlotte. Its “take what you need, give what you can” motto aims to create a barrier-free environment that promotes accessibility for all people.

Service Learning Theme: Feeding Our Neighbors

Service Learning Partner: 8th Street Friendship Garden, Charlotte Community ToolBank, and Innovation Barn

Curriculum Connection: Our students are able to directly connect their service learning experiences to their curriculum. Students also learn about crop rotations, the growth cycle of different plants, and food scarcity in local communities.

Service Learning Theme: Understanding Our Neighbors

Service Learning Partner: Crisis Assistance Ministry, Hope Haven, First Ward Child Development Center

Students investigate and experience social justice issues surrounding houselessness, addiction, poverty, and human trafficking, and reflect on what it means to take action to effect change.

Service Learning Theme: Advocacy and Social Action

Curriculum Connection: Students engage in community mapping and critical conversations to identify and address imminent needs in the city of Charlotte as they begin year-long advocacy journeys. They will use the skills and experience acquired to shape their Seminar social action research projects, culminating in a capstone advocacy trip to Washington, DC.