social good | [ m a l l o c ]

Sources of Strength

AMS has been nominated by her teacher to participate in this new program at Paly. See the excerpt of the email sent out to her parent.

“Dear Paly parent,

Congratulations! Your child has been nominated by the school’s teachers and administrators because theyve been identified as a leader on campus and someone whose voice is heard by other students. They will be receiving an invitation letter this week (SEE ATTACHED) to participate in a new school-wide program at Paly called Sources of Strength.

What is Sources of Strength?

Sources of Strength ( sourcesofstrength.org) is a training program that brings peer leaders together in partnership with caring adults. Sources is a widely used national best practice program. More than 10,000 youth leaders have participated from across the U.S. and Canada. The program uses a fun-filled style of active learning to encourage open discussion about the very real problems that youth face and the sources of strength that help in navigating those problems. It trains peer leaders on how to connect their friends – and themselves – to the help and support they need when they’re struggling, aiming in particular to significantly reduce those in severe distress who may consider ending their lives by suicide. The program will be led by a certified trainer and adult leaders from Paly. Ultimately, Sources is an “upstream” wellness program designed to leverage student voice to help change the culture of our school for the better – one that helps youth identify, discuss openly, and strengthen protective factors in their lives.”

AMS has been accepted into the Social Justice Pathway at Paly starting in 10th grade.

From the Social Justice Pathway Blog (http://palysocialjustice.blogspot.com/:

“The Social Justice Pathway is a three-year program featuring self-direction and project-based learning in an interdisciplinary model rooted in community action and collaboration. This program is for students interested in empowerment, conviction and the passion to build a better world. It’s an opportunity for authentic education and experiential learning beyond the high school walls.”

Mission Statement:

The Social Justice Pathway is a three-year program featuring self-direction and project-based learning in an interdisciplinary model rooted in community action and collaboration. This program is for students interested in empowerment, conviction and the passion to build a better world. It’s an opportunity for authentic education and experiential learning beyond the high school walls.

While our vision gives us a “North Star” and provides direction, our mission statement simply defines our purpose and it is a biggie: build a better world. It helps us to answer three questions about why Paly Social Justice Pathway exists:

WHAT—a three-year high school program that blends subject curriculum with community action to empower students to make positive change to “their world”

WHO—students and teachers who want more control over and value from their education

HOW—give students and teachers to the responsibility and opportunity to connect individual convictions to real world change. To, Access, Adapt, and Act to make our community and world a better place

–Eric Bloom

Sources of Strength

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