IRVINGTON — Last school year, Irvington Preparatory Academy (IPA) introduced its Service Learning Program to the Class of 2014. This is in keeping with the concluding promise made in the Irvington Community Schools’ mission statement: “Prepare all students for successful post-secondary experiences as responsible citizens by being involved in service learning opportunities for the betterment of their local and global communities.”
Even though service learning is not mandated at Irvington Prep, it is catching on. Among IPA’s 2014 graduating class, more than two-thirds of the students achieved the minimum of 10 service hours. This year, seniors will need to attain 20 hours, minimally, to receive this distinction. For the Class of 2017, graduates will need 40 hours to meet the standard, having four years to involve themselves in a variety of community-based volunteer work experiences.
On September 24, 2014, seniors contributed their services to partners including Habitat for Humanity, Indy Urban Acres, Gleaners Food Bank, and the Ransburg YMCA. Some seniors stayed on campus to pitch in with landscaping tasks. Others spent the day at Irvington Community Middle School and Irvington Community Elementary School, tidying up the middle school garden and assisting elementary school teachers with classroom activities. Seventy-six IPA seniors participated.
