Service Partnerships

The Lawrence Math and Science Partnership

Introduction

Middle school students in Lawrence, Mass. are building their skills in science and math and receiving homework help from Merrimack College students through a Learn and Service program funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNS).

A $295,000, three-year grant to Merrimack College and five community partners has created the Lawrence Math and Science Partnership for Lawrence middle school students, grades 5 through 8, who are challenged both in the classroom and by the MCAS exam.

The program helps to connect middle schools to future life choices, such as college and career options. Participants, both male and female, learn that science and math are important and engaging. The program fosters pride in their accomplishments and provides positive role models for middle schoolers as they work closely with college students.

Community Partners

Joining Merrimack College in this program are six community partners: Blessed Stephen Bellesini Academy, Asian Center of the Merrimack Valley, ¡Adelante!, Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, Lawrence Family Development Charter School, and the Spar and Spindle Girl Scouts Council at Esperanza Academy.

The Lawrence Math and Science Partnership:

Merrimack students and faculty visit five after-school sites in Lawrence and serve as learning mentors for 20 weeks once a week during the school year. They engage the youngsters in hands-on enrichment activities based in the areas of physical and biological science and math. Led by Merrimack through the Stevens Service Learning Center, the after-school program operates throughout the academic year, and includes a one-week summer camp experience.

Participants

Merrimack student mentors receive mandatory two-day training that includes instruction and participation in science workshops as well as exploration of cultural and diversity issues and middle school mindset. Such training help foster a better understanding of the challenges and experiences of middle school students, especially those of students who often speak English as a second language. Merrimack students and faculty of all majors and disciplines participate, including those from the college’s Summer Undergraduate Research Program in Biology and Chemistry, Elementary Education minors and non math/science majors.

At the Heart of Merrimack's Mission

The program speaks to the heart of Merrimack College’s mission. Service to the community is significant part of the college’s Augustinian tradition. The Stevens Center for Service Learning at Merrimack integrates volunteer opportunities with various academic courses, placing students in many non-profit and service organizations. Service learning brings students into the life and needs of the communities that surround Merrimack College and also brings those community needs into the life of the college curriculum.

Sharing Knowledge

In sharing their knowledge and time, Merrimack students learn and benefit as well, gaining invaluable experience not possible in the traditional classroom. Merrimack College service learning students - science and non-science majors alike - enhance their problem-solving, scientific literacy and technical skills. Participation in the program also enhances the civic and social responsibility for Merrimack students. They develop skills in experimental design, data analysis, critical thinking, teamwork and communication. Merrimack students also gain an understanding of the cultural and socio-economic diversity that exists just four miles away from campus.

Special Projects

Merrimack education minors in senior year courses conduct field research, interviews, and surveys that assess the program. Other education students are researching and developing curricula for the program. Merrimack data management students as seniors are recruited to design data bases and collected human resources and school district ?? Merrimack service learning students join the youth in presenting at the year-end poster session. Open to the public, the well-attended event features activity posters and guest speakers. Faculty in attendance from all divisions of the college become more aware of including service learning in their courses and mentoring student researchers.

Future Goals

With continued support from the Learn and Serve federal program as well as additional support from corporations and foundations, the Lawrence Math and Science Partnership will continue to foster positive learning relationships and experiences for middle school students. The program will creatively work to build on the current program and engage more individuals as well as continue to tutor, mentor and guide students from middle school to high school to college and beyond.

About the Corporation for National and Community Service

The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNS) provides opportunities for Americans of all ages and backgrounds to service their communities through three programs: Senior Corp, Americorps, and Learn and Service America. Learn and Serve America provides grants to schools, colleges, and nonprofit groups to support efforts to engage students in community service linked to academic achievement and the development of civic skills.

“I think that perhaps the most valuable thing we taught the kids goes far beyond science. We are living proof that college is within their future and it isn’t just for the rich, but anyone who has a love of learning.” Stephen Jensen ‘07

“I didn’t really like science before, but after doing fun experiments, I really like it now, and I like designing the lab reports afterwards.” – Van Cao, youth participant, Asian Center of the Merrimack Valley

“We at the Asian Center of the Merrimack Valley are grateful to Merrimack College who brought the “Learn and Serve Program” to the children at our center. The children really enjoyed doing different experiments and learning about science. The college students motivated children to think about hypotheses that helped them to be creative in their learning.” Le Hang Thi Le staff

Contact Information

For more information, contact

Professor Mary McHugh, Director
Stevens Service Learning Center
Merrimack College
978-837-5123

 

Kids To College Program

Kids to College is a program which was created to bring a group of Lawrence High School freshman and sophomores to Merrimack College once a week to spend an hour with a group of Merrimack College mentors. In conjunction with Family Services of Lawrence, the Stevens Service Learning Center gives these mentors a chance to spend their spring semester building relationships with the high school students while giving them an insight into both the academic and the social sides of college life. Each high school student gets a chance to see what dorm life is like, eat cafeteria food, play sports in the gym, meet with an admissions representative, and explore the campus.

Mary Immaculate Program

The Mary Immaculate visitation program was created to help students in the first year seminar class, Higher Education and Human Development, gain a better understanding of a different generation and culture through experience outside of the classroom. Mary Immaculate is a residential home for the elderly in Lawrence, Massachusetts that helps to build community and faith among its residents. Each week, the students from Merrimack’s three Higher Education and Human Development courses visit a different resident of the facility to get to know one another and talk about life. Throughout the course of the semester the students and residents discover the similarities and differences between their generations and, in many cases, establish a meaningful friendship. By simply giving an hour of their time each week, the students are able to brighten the day of their resident and learn that, despite their difference in age, they really are not all that different from one another.

Merrimack Academic Partnership (MAP)

The Merrimack Academic Partnership is a program sponsored by the Stevens Service Learning Center. MAP is a mentoring/tutoring program which focuses on middle school children in Lawrence who need assistance in a variety of academic skills (English, Reading and Mathematics). The tutoring program takes place on various afternoons from October to May.

Volunteers help out at the following schools:

Wednesdays 3-5 PM

*Blessed Stephen Bellesini, OSA Academy

The Bellesini Academy is a private, independent Catholic middle school dedicated to providing a quality, scholarship education to boys from limited financial means living in Lawrence.

Tuesdays & Thursdays 2:45-3:45 PM

*Alexander B. Bruce School

The Bruce School is located on Butler Street in the Tower Hill section of Lawrence. Its 795 students live mostly in multi-family homes in the neighborhoods surrounding the school.

*Gerard A. Guilmette School

The Guilmette School is one of the newest schools in the City of Lawrence. This state of the art school houses approximately 1,140 students in grades K-8.

*St. Mary Immaculate Conception School

St. Mary's School is a Catholic School whose mission is to provide an environment which supports faith development and academic learning to students of many cultures.

Elderly

• Academy Manor, Andover
• Andover Senior Center
• Ashland Farms, North Andover
• East Village Nusing Center, Lexington
• Elder Services of the Merrimack Valley, Lawrence
• Heritage House, Newburyport
• Lawrence Senior Center
• Marland Place, Andover
• Mary Immaculate, Lawrence
• Meadows Health Care Center, North Andover
• North Andover Senior Center
• Penacook Place, Haverhill
• Rogers Hall, Lowell
• Wingate Nursing Home, Andover 

Youth/Education

• Asian Center of Merrimack Valley, Lawrence
• Bellesini Academy, Lawrence
• Community Day Care Center, Lawrence
• Department of Youth Services, Lawrence
• Franklin Elementary School, North Andover
• Free Christian Church, Andover
• Fuller Meadow School, Middleton
• Haverhill Public Schools
• Head Start, Lawrence
• Horizons for Youth, Andover
• Joey Fournier Services, Lawrence
• Lawrence Boys and Girls Club
• Lawrence Public Library
• Lawrence School Department
• Marsh Grammar School, Methuen
• Merrimack Academic Partnership Program
• Merrimack Lawrence Math & Science Partnership Program
• MerrimAction, Lawrence
• Movement City, Lawrence
• Notre Dame Education Center, Lawrence
• Notre Dame High School, Lawrence
• Our Lady of Good Counsel School, Lawrence
• Presentation of Mary Academy, Methuen
• Salem, NH Boys and Girls Club
• Solomon Schecter Day School of the Merrimack Valley, Haverhill
• St. Mary's School, Lawrence
• St. Patrick School and Educational Center, Lowell 

Government/Legal

• Consumer Protection Agency, Attorney General Office, Lawrence
• Essex County Juvenile Court
• Essex County DA's Office
• Lawrence Police Department
• Neighborhood Legal Services, Lawrence

Homelessness

• Andover Housing Authority
• North Andover Housing Authority
• Day Break Shelter, Lawrence
• Emmaus House, Haverhill
• Haven from Hunger, Peabody
• The Inn Between, Peabody
• Lazarus House, Lawrence
• Mission of Deeds, Reading
• My Brothers Table, Lynn

Disability

• American Training, Lawrence
• Best Buddies, Andover
• CLASS, Lawrence
• Fidelity House Human Services, Lawrence
• Hunters Haven, Groveland
• Ironstone Farm, Andover
• Northeast Independent Living, Lawrence
• Seven Hills Foundation, North Andover
• Tewksbury Hospital
• Vision House, Tewksbury  

Other

• American Red Cross, Haverhill
• Big Brother/Big Sister of Greater Lawrence
• Hallmark Health Hospice, Malden
• Home Health Foundation, Lawrence
• Immigrant City Archives, Lawrence
• Jericho Road, Lawrence
• Lawrence YWCA
• Lawrence General Hospital

Northeast Center for Healthy Communities, Lawrence