Service Learning Council Partners with MADD

April 2013

Students, parents and pets Walk Like MADD to end drinking and driving

Service learning students, parents, Mrs. Doromal and some of our siblings and pets participated in the 5K "mother of all walks", Walk Like MADD in Baldwin Park to raise money to eradicate drinking and driving.

Throughout the year we have been working to teach the dangers of drinking and driving by sponsoring the drunk driving simulation at Red Ribbon Day and through messages on school bulletin boards.

Students wore "drunk" simulation googles and learned how difficult it
was to drive a remote control car through the cardboard city.

Student bulletin board

In January MADD's Melissa Crowley came to speak to our Service Learning Council to let us know how we can work to fight drinking and driving.

Melissa Crowley from MADD

The week of prom, the TCHS SAFE Program sponsored a Mock DUI. This educational program is produced, conducted and supported entirely by volunteers from Orange County Fire/Rescue, OCSO, OPD, WPPD, Baldwin Fairchild Funeral Home, Priority 1 Towing and Recovery, Air Care Team, Florida Highway Patrol, make-up artist Justin Townes and narrator Barry Luke.

Service Learning Council students made the banner, helped to decorate, made thank you cards for the community participants and helped to serve the food at the Mock DUI.

We hope next year to increase our involvement with MADD, our new service learning partner!

Guest speakers and Mayor Jacobs at the MADD walk

Jessica and Connor

Matt and Martha register

Super heroes at the MADD walk

Visit to Two Partner Agencies

March 2013



Service learning students loaded thousands of books, food, and hygiene products into a bus to bring to our partners, The Coalition for the Homeless in Orlando and the Hope CommUnity Center in Apopka.

At the Hope CommUnity Center we were greeted by Sister Ann who gave us a tour of the beautiful building. The HCC serves migrant farm workers and their families. The center offers English language lessons for adults, after school tutoring for children of the migrant farm workers, information on immigration, and citizenship classes, as well as providing food and clothing.

Sister Ann speaks to the students

Sister Ann showed us a photograph created by a student

Sister Ann and Ms. Sanchez

The mural in the reception room depictsCesar Chavez and other great advocates

The Coalition for the Homeless in downtown Orlando offers a large array of service for our area's homeless men, women and children.

Volunteer Coordinator Ms. Marty Vevera taught us about the services offered. We learned that the Coalition is in need of flip flops (for showers, deodorant and other hygiene products. We are conducting a drive for those items until the end of school.

Coalition for the Homeless

Students being briefed on services and needs.

Ms. Vevera 

Nancy Martinez from the H.O.P.E. Team of the  Health Care Center for the Homeless came to TCHS to pick up boxes of food for the homeless who live in the woods and on the streets. Ms. Martinez said that they are in great need of Powerade, Gatorade, Ensure and Boost for homeless cancer patients. We are currently collecting donations to be delivered in June. You can donate too by contacting the H.,O.P.E Team here.

Yes We Can End Hunger!

February 2013

In February we studied hunger and poverty issues in Central Florida. The problem of hunger is growing in Orlando, with children being especially vulnerable. All the service learning students participated in the Hunger 101 simulation by the Second Harvest Food Bank.

We leaned that the migrant farm workers who put the food on our tables often go hungry. Special guest speakers from the Coalition of  Immokalee Farm Workers, YAYA, and Student Alliance for Farm Workers spent the day at TCHS, to teach over 180 service learning students about the need for laws regulating child labor in the agricultural industry, and the economic, social and political plight of the state’s migrant farm workers.

Some of us participated in the Fair Food and March for Justice rallies in Orlando and in Lakeland, Florida to support fair wages for farm workers.

Students collected over 2,000 cans of food for the TCHS Pantry and the Health Care Center for the Homeless in the 2nd Annual CANtastic Food Drive sponsored by the service learning students.

Teams competed in the sculpture contest held in the courtyard. BETA, The National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, American Sign Language, the Key Club and others created messages from the cans that they collected.

Saturday, January 19th: Join the National Day of Service

January 2013

Join Americans across the nation by volunteering on the National Day of Service!

Literacy Week

January 2013

Service Learning Council students pose with the books that they collected.

Service Learning Council students sponsored a Book Drive for Literacy Week, the week of January 14th to January 18th. The books will be donated to local charities that minister migrant farm worker families and the homeless.

Service learning students donated over 1,580 books!  Mrs. Mullins donated 5 boxes of books so that the total collected topped over 2,000 books.  Emily M. has been sorting books and getting them ready to pack up so they can be delivered next week.

"We can't wait to deliver the books to the agencies and get them into the hands of the kids who have no book of their own in their home," said Sarah R.

Some of the books service learning students collected
for the Literacy Week Book Drive.

In December we made books to teach elementary school students not to bully. We will be bringing these books and some environmental books that we wrote to the elementary school to read to the students for NEA's Read Across America Day in March.

Some of the books that teach not to bully.

5th Annual Green Holiday

December 2012

Upcycling took center stage at our 5th Annual Green Holiday!  Service learning students spent a month learning about the impact of trash on the environment, The Story of Stuff, and determining our ecological footprints. We learned about recycling, pre-cycling, e-cycling, and upcycling. Then we made upcycled holiday decorations from throw aways materials.

At Green Holiday we presented displays about determining your ecological footprint, making wise consumer choices, LED versus incandescent lighting, upcycling plastic, paper, and aluminum. We also had a display about upcycled wrapping paper and gift tags  made from maps, newspaper, old greeting cards, and scarves.

Magnets and ornaments from rolled magazines.

We learned to make holiday gift bows from magazine pages; bracelets and necklaces from rolled magazine beads; vases and pencil containers from rolled magazines; ornaments and magnets from rolled magazine pages; owl decorations from cardboard; ornaments and wreaths from paper towel rolls, plastic bags and coffee filters; papier mache stars and hearts; aluminum can ornaments; doves made from book pages; Capri Sun purses, wallets, key chains and sun glass cases; bracelets from soda can tabs; and other products. We made displays to sell our products to raise money for the Service Learning Council.

Making aluminum can ornaments

Students made a large court-size board game to teach tips on how to have a Green Holiday, including recycling Xmas trees, energy efficient tips, and suggestions on how to recycle and upcycle during the holiday season. Players who landed on spaces with positive environmental actions advanced; players who landed on spaces with negative environmental actions were sent back a space or two.

Trying out the Green Holiday environmental game.

Service Learning Academy's American Sign Language students showed off their skills by signing to holiday songs. Mr. Doromal played the guitar and sang.

American Sign Language students signed songs.

Green Holiday featured a school-wide contest for students to compete to create the best upcycled holiday decoration or ornament. Over 150 students competed. Students came up with creative and attractive ornaments and decorations! There was everything from snow globes made from jars, to intricate bells fashioned from tin cans.  We want to thank our judges: George Fuller, Executive Director of COMPACT, Veronica McKay from the Educational Leadership Center and our school secretary, Michelle Torres Vidal.

President Jessica V. said, "This year's Green Holiday was the best ever. We taught students the concept of upcycling and making responsible consumer choices."

"All of the hard work and time spent during class and after school to prepare and get everything ready, really paid off. I heard positive comments from students and teachers," remarked council secretary Connor A.

Justin and Josh upcycle with Mrs. D.

Aluminum cans can easily be recycled. We upcycled ours to create holiday ornaments.

Mr. A. George Fuller, Executive Director of COMPACT and
Mrs. Vernoica McKay were judges for our holiday ornament contest.

Taking a break from setting up displays.

Damien gets in the holiday spirit!

Service Learning Council students pose for a photo!

Gabby and Talon promoting upcycled holiday gifts.

Ornaments upcycled from plastic bottles were hung in the trees.

Students at their booth promoting upcycled doves made from
the pages of old novels.

Watching the entertainers.

Signing holiday songs

Selling upcycled products

Upcycled CapriSun products

Owls from cardboard

Bracelets from magazine beads.

Wreath made from coffee filters.

Service Learning Academy Recognition

October 2012

Mrs. Bonds awarded Alex his prizes for
winning first prize in the County Red Ribbon Day Contest
in Mrs. Doromal's classroom.

Orange County Red Ribbon Day Winners

Three Service Learning Academy students won district prizes in the county's Red Ribbon Day contest.  Erica D. won first prize for the poster contest, Alex W. won first prize for the essay contest, and Connor A. won first prize for his poem. Students received theme park tickets, movie tickets and other prizes, as well as certificates from Mayor Teresa Jacobs.

Connor shows his certificate from the Orange County Sheriff.

Democracy Essay Winners

All service learning students wrote an essay for the school-wide democracy essay contest. The service learning students swept the competition winning the top three prizes. Their essays cited service as a civic responsibility in a democratic society. Winners were: first prize ($100) Courtney W., SLA Vice-President; second prize ($50) Connor A. SLA Secretary; and third prize ($25) service learning student Cory M.

Prudential Spirit Awards

Jessica V. and Kelsee M, SLA Presidents were both recognized for their entries into the Prudential Spirit Awards. Both Jessica and Kelsee have volunteered at the Arnold Palmer Hospital. 

Jessica was selected to represent TCHS at the state competition level. Jessica has over 1,500 service learning hours. She has been in service learning classes for 4 years. 

Florida Green School Teacher Winner

Congratulations to our teacher, Mrs. Doromal who won the Florida Green School Teacher Award at a ceremony in West Palm Beach! This is the second year our teacher has been a finalist in this state competition.

The award recognized Mrs. Doromal for leading service learning students in environmental service learning projects, including Earth Day with the Trashion-Fashion Show, life size environmental board game, and environmental partners; the Green Holiday up-cycling and energy conservation awareness event, writing environmental children's books; making environmental bulletin boards and public service announcements; and partnering with the Global Peace Film Festival to connect students with environmental filmmakers at TCHS and the Enzian Theater.

The Green School Awards are presented by The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Environmental Education in partnership with the Department of Education, Department of Health, Florida’s Foundation, and the Sustainable Florida Program. 

Red Ribbon Month: The Best Me is Drug Free

October 2012

For the month of October the service learning students worked to bring the drug-free message to TCHS!

Timmon and Taylor made a board to promote Family Day for 

Open House with photos of service learning students eating 

dinner with their families 

We led a September 28th "Family Day - a Day to Eat Dinner With Your Children ™" event to promote eating dinner as a family.

Why eat dinner as a family? Family Day is a national effort launched in 2001 to promote family togetherness at mealtime as a way to prevent substance abuse in children. On the fourth Monday of September every year parents are encouraged to have dinner as a family. The Family Day website states:

Studies show the more often a child eats with the family, the less likely that child is to someday smoke, drink, or use illegal drugs. According to CASA, teens that have regular family meals are less likely to get into fights, get suspended from school, have sex, or have suicidal thoughts. Instead, children who have frequent family meals are more likely to do better in school, develop positive eating habits, and adopt healthy behavior. Family meals promote bonding and family interaction. They can help children improve their self-esteem and develop social skills that can last a lifetime. Family mealtime can be used as an opportunity for parents and children to discover and carry out important aspects of a healthy lifestyle.

SL students posted flyers around the school and put an announcement on WOLF TV. We also brought a flyer home to invite parents to eat dinner with their children for Family Day, document the meal with a photo and enter the Family-Connection contest.

Several TCHS service learning students won prizes in the contest, with three receiving $25 gift certificates from Publix and one winning the top prize of a $50 Publix certificate. Congratulations!

Did You Know Scavenger Hunt?
We promoted an Informed Families Red Ribbon Month Scavenger Hunt at TCHS! Students had to look for Did You Know? posters and scan the QR code to get clues to a drug-free contest.

Guest Speaker

Captain Dinger, Red Ribbon Month guest speaker

Also, we hosted Army National Guard, Captain Nate Dinger, who spoke to seven service learning classes on the dangers of gateway drugs. The interactive drug-free lesson was in preparation for Red Ribbon Week. Students applied their knowledge from this and other unit lessons to create the service learning Red Ribbon Day event. Captain Dinger was a great speaker!

Bulletin Boards
SL students made 24 bulletin boards for TCHS hallways to teach the drug free message. Here are a some SL students with their bulletin boards:

Red Ribbon Day featured an event in the TCHS courtyard. SL students provided a table with pamphlets, handouts, and educational displays. Over 200 students signed the Drug Free Pledge.

Students explain displays, handout pamphlets and take pledges.

The SL students who manned the booth and displays all day.

Pranjl signs a pledge to stay drug free.

The Grim Reaper went into classrooms to take 38 students to represent victims of drug abuse. Each student was painted white and wore a sign that stated how they were "killed".  One student "died" from getting into a car with a driver who was drunk, another succumbed to peer pressure and took experimented with drugs at a party, and another overdosed on his father's prescription. The activity brought attention to the dangers of drug abuse.

Principal Berrio poses with a victim of drug abuse and the Grim Reaper.

Paige couldn't talk for a day!

Kelsee and Emily paint the Grim Reaper's victims.

A Celebrity Cemetery featured tombstones of celebrities who died from drug-related causes. The banner read: "Doing drugs will haunt you for life."

The Grim Reaper and his assistants were serious. 

The highlight of the event was the drunk driving simulation. Students and faculty drove remote control cars through a mock city that was lined with buildings that the service learning students made to scale for the simulation. The drivers then put on drunk driving simulation goggles and tried to drive through the city again. This time they learned how difficult it was to drive under the influence of alcohol. "Drunk drivers" ran over pedestrians like Lilo, Barbie and other characters from McDonald's Happy Meals. They also drove into buildings.

Cory assisting a  driver with the drunk simulation goggles.

Gabby and Talon oversaw the driving simulation.

The driving course

The annual Red Ribbon Door Decorating Contest was the best ever. Ms. Cestero's art classes made a door for the record books and won first prize. WAY TO GO!