Regular Projects

Academy Manor Nursing Home

In an effort to enhance the quality of life of residents, volunteers visit with particular residents or assist with group activities and share their hobbies, interests, and ideas with the residents, providing them with a lively change of pace from their routine life. Academy Manor urges volunteers to use their initiative to devise entertainment for their resident friends, though students are also needed for daily tasks such as reading the mail and distributing the newspapers.

Adopt a Platoon

PA students write letters and send care packages to soldiers overseas in order to offer support and learn about life as a soldier. Volunteers are matched with soldier pen pals through the Adopt a Platoon an Organization which works to enhance the deployed quality of life, lift morale, and assist military families. The Adopt a platoon national organization creates projects that meet the needs of military requests, establishes special projects for holidays, and assigns individual morale-lifting mail support to service members of all branches of the U.S. military serving their nation around the world.

Andover Chinese Cultural Outreach

This program is designed for Chinese language students to reach out to families who have adopted Chinese children (ages 3–6) to teach them about their children’s cultural heritage. The teaching format includes selecting a monthly theme, presenting a visual (book, puppet show, etc.) that explores the theme, and then introducing vocabulary and phrases with proper pronunciation and encouraging the families (children and adults) to participate in a dialogue.

Andover Filmmakers' Club

The Phillips Academy Filmmakers’ Club is a program offered to middle school– aged students who wish to learn about the filmmaking process. PA volunteers help teach the students how to write and direct a short movie or music video, how to use digital camcorders to film the movie, and how to edit the film using Windows Movie Maker. The students each take turns directing their own film and work in small groups supervised by a volunteer. At the end of the term, all projects are presented to parents, friends, and anyone else who might wish to attend a screening in Kemper Auditorium.

Andover-Lawrence String Program

The Andover-Lawrence String Program allows Phillips Academy musicians to share their love and knowledge of music with children from the Lawrence Family Development and Education Fund Charter School and the Leonard School. One evening per week, younger students come to the Phillips Academy campus for class and individual instruction.

ARC

ARC is one of the longest-running programs at Phillips Academy. Since 1984, ARC buddies and PA students have been sharing and learning from one another.ARC is not an acronym. It is so named in order to represent the bridge that is formed between two people as they get to know each other. The ARC program matches two Phillips Academy students with one of 60 special needs children and young adults who range in age from 9 years to adult. PA and ARC “buddies” enjoy an hour and a half of organized games and activities, such as basketball, volleyball, duck-duck goose, and sharks and minnows each Tuesday evening. Others may choose to spend the time drawing a mural or just talking. Above all, PA and ARC buddies form lasting and meaningful friendships.

Bancroft Elementary School

At Bancroft, each PA volunteer works as a teacher’s aide with one class ranging from kindergarten to sixth grade. Volunteers may work with small groups of students on special projects, tutor students one-on-one, or work with the teacher and class as a whole. Bancroft Elementary School a 10 minute walk, is located on Bancroft Road, just beyond the “Siberia” athletic fields.

Bread and Roses

On the second Wednesday of every month, members of the Phillips Academy community prepare and serve dinner to more than 200 people at Bread and Roses in Lawrence. On the fourth Wednesday of every month, the PA volunteers serve the meal with others from the Lawrence community. The experience of working with the homeless is supplemented with readings, visual materials, and discussion. PA volunteers have been working at Bread and Roses since the community kitchen was first started in 1980.

Bread Loaf Pen Pal Program

The Bread Loaf Pen Pal Program pairs each PA student participant with a third-grader with whom he or she corresponds approximately every other week. The third graders then respond on alternating weeks. Themes for each letter are provided, and at the end of the term participants get a chance to meet their pen pals at a celebration party.

Bread Loaf Writing Workshop

Teams of PA students work with small groups of third graders on specified writing assignments. Each classroom produces a book or magazine at the culmination of each term that includes writing and artwork from all participants. This program is a great opportunity for students considering teaching or those interested in creative writing. This program is also affiliated with English 541: Writing Through the Universe of Discourse.

Center for Global Justice

The Center for Global Justice endeavors to support the mission of the Community Service Program by striving to “motivate students to consider and act upon issues of social justice and civic responsibility and thus foster a commitment to a lifetime of effective participation in public life.” Through the development of a pertinent collection of resources (housed in the basement of the library) and by hosting public events on campus, the Center for Global Justice aims to: 1) promote and encourage an understanding of the complexities of the injustices in our world; 2) inspire an informed citizenry of students, faculty, and staff to confront injustice and enact positive social change; and 3) create opportunities for dialogue and the open exchange of ideas.

Childrens Place

The Children’s Place is a child-care center that serves many Phillips Academy faculty and staff families, as well as other families from the larger community. Students working with children ranging in age from 3 months to 6 years, volunteering to help the supervising teachers with activities, free play, and outdoor time.

Commons ESL

PA students serve as teachers of English as a Second Language (ESL) for members of the Commons staff who wish to improve their English skills. Lessons are conducted in English, so knowledge of Spanish is not required. Recently Spanish as a Second Language (SSL) was recently added pairing Spanish language students with Commons administrators for lessons that allow them to better communicate with the staff.

Community Day Care Preschool

The Community Day Care Preschool serves children between 3 and 5 years of age with learning activities to prepare them for school, to help them with socialization skills, and to encourage their talents. Students work in classroom settings assisting teachers, as well as supervising playground games.

EMARC Swimming

Volunteers work one-on-one with special needs swimmers, ages 5–12, to help them develop confidence in the water, learn water safety skills, and build muscle tone. The program culminates in a swim meet and celebration for all participants. Volunteers also learn water safety skills and goal-setting techniques.

Korean Outreach at Andover

This community service project is designed for families of adopted Korean children (up to middle school age) and for families of our Essex County Community who are interested in learning about Korean culture and language. Together with the children and parents, Phillips Academy students facilitate the exploration
of Korean culture and language by using games, songs, and stories.

Lawrence Boys’ and Girls’ Club

Most PA volunteers help in the homework room. However, opportunities are also available to coach and lead other activities, all of which afford a PA volunteer close contact and fun with intelligent, energetic boys and girls from Lawrence. Since the club has so many activities happening at once, students who are especially self directed and outgoing, and can design their own program, get the most out of their experience.

Lawrence Community Works

Phillips Academy students who volunteer with this community development corporation are involved in assisting the organization with a host of projects, depending upon the needs of LCW and the community at large. A frequent site for a Praxis team, Lawrence Community Works provides Phillips Academy volunteers with the opportunity to work behind-the-scenes for a fast growing nonprofit organization already gaining national recognition for its innovative “network” approach to community development.

Lazarus House Serving

On the first Wednesday of every month, PA volunteers deliver and serve dinner to about 30 people at Lazarus House in Lawrence. The house serves as a temporary shelter for individuals and families in crisis. The material assistance given at Lazarus House is important, but the emotional support the guests find there from staff and from our volunteers is essential as well.

M.S.P.C.A.

PA volunteers are needed to care for healthy animals, especially dogs, cats, guinea pigs, and other small mammals, by feeding them, playing with them, and taking them for short walks. Animals that can quickly adjust to life at the shelter are more likely to be chosen by new owners; therefore, the special attention students give is very important.

Music Enrichment Program

Students involved with the Music Enrichment Program lead an introductory music program for elementary and middle school students at the Community Day Charter School in Lawrence. Wednesday afternoons are spent at the school giving instrumental lessons and planning and participating in various musical activities. Twice per term PA students meet on Friday afternoon to talk about their progress and plan for the future. Each term ends with a recital and celebration.

Music for Life

Music for Life participants travel to nursing homes and hospitals to play musical selections and spend time with residents/patients. Students prepare a wide variety of music, ranging from solo works to group performances. Music is rehearsed on campus and then played for the residents at the nursing home in a fun, relaxing atmosphere.

PALS

PALS is a partnership among Phillips Academy, Andover High School, the Parthum School, and the Leonard School in Lawrence. PALS is a 12- month program with school-year teaching and enrichment activities as well as an intensive one-month summer component.

Oxfam

In the fall, Oxfam members help organize various activities during World Hunger Awareness Month. Activities include giving dorm talks to educate fellow students about global social justice issues. The club organizes and sponsors a series of fund-raisers, including a school wide fast, the Sadie Hawkins dance, and an auction. In the spring, the club meets to continue its peer education program, as well as launching efforts for local educational outreach about hunger worldwide through activities such as the hunger banquet

Project V.O.I.C.E. - Citizenship

The goal of Project V.O.I.C.E. (Vote On Inner City Empowerment) is to empower the politically disconnected communities within Lawrence, with a focus on citizenship education. Project V.O.I.C.E. strives to make the political process accessible and to encourage active civic participation. As a part of the Citizenship Program, in association with the Lawrence Family Development and Education Fund Family Center, students tutor recent immigrants who are studying for the naturalization examination to become American citizens. The adult immigrants are mostly from the Dominican Republic.

Science Club for Girls

In an effort to engage young girls in scientific exploration and discovery, Science Club for Girls brings together high school and elementary school girls for hands-on activities in several different branches of science, ranging from electric lemons to making ice cream to baking soda explosions. The volunteers from Phillips Academy are mentors and role models for the younger girls as they lead them in science projects, laugh with them during games, and get to know them on an academic and personal level. The student coordinators design the curriculum used each year.

Service Saturdays

Service Saturdays offer students an opportunity to participate in one-day community service events. Working most consistently at two local organizations, students develop teamwork and leadership skills as they doing environmental cleanups with AVIS and/or plant and harvest with The Food Project. Service Saturdays also take place on a one-time basis with a variety of other community partners including Neighbors in Need, Cor Unum Meal Kitchen and Sabre Foundation.

Sí, Se Puede

Sí, Se Puede (“Yes, you can!”) is an after-school and vacation program at the Merrimack Courts Housing
Project in Lawrence. Groups of about 12 children in grades 2–8 come one afternoon per week. PA students along with Lawrence High students work with individual children and with small groups, helping with homework, playing games, and doing crafts.

SIS

SIS is a project that aims to empower young women through discussions, leadership- and teambuilding
exercises, and self-reflection. Female PA students and young girls from Lawrence work together to explore issues about self-esteem and the challenges and benefits of being a young woman in today’s society. Topics range from women in sports to female heroes, from gender roles to body image.

Theatre Troupe!

Phillips Academy students create a theatre workshop for 20 elementary or middle school students. With the guidance of a student coordinator, PA students develop and lead a curriculum to introduce the youngsters to theatre, movement and an exploration into the creative process. This is accomplished through improvisation as well as script-based performances. Special events, such as a field trip to the Phillips Academy theatre and a performance, may also be included in each workshop.

Windrush Farm Therapeutic Equitation

PA volunteers assist with horseback riding classes for children and adolescents with special emotional or physical needs. Volunteers help to build consciousness of safety issues and build self-confidence in students in a variety of ways, such as assisting new riders by helping them balance in the saddle, leading their horse through the ring, and other necessary tasks. PA volunteers are instrumental in providing assistance to students who may need to be kept safe because they are unaware or because they need reassurance. They form a relationship with students to keep them safe and boost their confidence.

World Games

In this project, PA students travel to Lawrence to teach strategyoriented games from all over the world to children ages 8–14 in an after-school program. Chess, Othello and Mancala are two of the most popular games that are introduced. Volunteers may organize a tournament in one of the games at the end of the term. Participants in World Games also will spend some portion of their time at the Lawrence Family Development Charter School assisting children with their homework.

Youth Explorations in Science

Youth Explorations in Science is a regional program sponsored by the Hewlett-Packard Corporation that pairs local corporations or high schools with elementary schools. Working with fourth-graders in Lawrence, the Phillips Academy chapter of Youth Explorations in Science strives to provide an after-school program that creates opportunities for children to explore, through a series of hands-on activities, the world of science around them.