Bosque School Community Service Learning

In the upper school, students take the reigns of their service learning experiences by engaging in causes that appeal to particular interests and inspire passion. Our Service Learning program provides a structured track for student leadership development allowing emergent leaders to plan, design, and implement learning content and services activities. This model encourages community involvement in a way that compliments individual interests, with the long-term hope that service remains an integral part of students’ lives well beyond graduation.

Grades 9-11

Our model for 9^th-11^th grade encourages students to join a group that addresses a community issue they care about. Throughout the year, they learn about that issue and take action through outreach experiences, special events, and awareness campaigns. Depending on the selected group, volunteering occurs during the school day, after-school, and/or during weekends. All students are supported by faculty sponsors and exposed to relevant current content through expert guests, articles, films, and other resources.

Senior Year Experience

In their last year at Bosque School, 12^th graders participate in the Senior Service Learning Symposium (SSLS), as two-day immersive culminating experience event prior to graduation; they are not required to choose a group during their senior year. The SSLS focuses on food insecurity, food justice, and environmental justice by combining engaged learning activities with local activists and volunteering at farms that are members of a subsidized Community Sustainable Agriculture (CSA) program. These farmers provide healthy fresh produce for at-risk families at affordable prices.

Upper School Service Learning Groups

List of 12 items.

Amnesty International

Affiliated with the global umbrella organization, this group raises awareness and participates in campaigns pertaining to human rights violations across the world. Our main focus this year is building friendships with refugee youth who have relocated to the Albuquerque area.
Animal Injustice Prevention Society (AIPS)

Informing our community about the mistreatment of animals and engaging in the solution, including advocacy training and participation in the 2019 legislative session. AIPS primary partners are Animal Protection of New Mexico, Animal Voters Protection, and other education and advocacy-based community organizations.
Best Buddies

Best buddies works to create opportunities for one-to-one friendships and leadership development for high school students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Our chapter is paired with John Baker Elementary School IDD classrooms.
Bosque Arts Therapy Society (BATS)

To provide art education to at-risk children in the community who don’t have regular access to art programs. Program partner sites are Reginald Chavez Elementary School and Zia Elementary classrooms supporting visually-impaired children.
Bosque Union for Safe Teens (BUST)

To develop awareness about social issues faced by teens and support healthy decision-making for positive outcomes. This year BUST is focusing on education and advocacy for gun safety and gun violence prevention, as well as continued on-campus awareness-raising about the importance of consent.
Conserving Resources and Stopping Hunger (CRASH)

To address issues around waste and food insecurity through awareness campaigns and volunteering at local food pantries. This year CRASH students are planning an on-campus waste reduction campaign focused on decreasing use of paper cups and disposable water bottles.
Harry Potter Alliance (HPA)

This group is affiliated with an international non-profit organization that encourages young people to be inspired by the books they read and the movies they watch to make the world a more “magical” place. Bosque’s HPA focuses on literacy issues in greater Albuquerque through special events, book drives, and other literacy projects.
Helping Hands, Helping Homes (HH)

To support children experiencing chronic illness and their families as they face emotional upheaval of serious diagnoses, partnering specifically with Casa Angelica and Casa Esperanza. Group members will create and engage in developmentally-appropriate experiences for residents of these partner programs.
Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)

To provide medical care for the Bosque School and greater New Mexico community by practicing trained skills as certified first responders, and as part of the state’s disaster preparedness response program. MRC students also design and deliver ‘Public Health 101’ activities through outreach experiences at local public schools and community events.
WOKE

Inspired by the national Student Diversity and Leadership Conference (SDLC), students are participating in the design of and hosting a conference about diversity, equity, and inclusivity issues for Albuquerque-area youth. On campus initiatives include development of a “Big Buddy” mentoring program between middle and upper school students, as well as on-going collaboration with other school-based DEI student groups.
Women’s Empowerment League (WEL)

WEL partners with various agencies that work to serve women who have been affected by domestic violence and assault. Activities also focus on raising awareness and improving issues women face within our school community. Primary partners are Barrett House and Southwest Women’s Law Center.
Youth Volunteers for Veterans Affairs (YVVA)

To help veterans in our community and raise awareness on-campus about challenges faced by veterans (e.g. PTSD, neglect, depression, disabilities, and homelessness). Primary partners include New Mexico Veterans Integration Center and other organizations supporting those who served our country.