#1: The School

The school that I intend to complete my service learning for this course is Bluffdale Elementary, in Bluffdale, Utah. It is just down the street from where I currently live, and my a few of my siblings have been attending Bluffdale for two years. Bluffdale Elementary was built in 1995, and served 914 students in the 2015-2016 school year. In this post, I'll include a picture of the boundaries as well as the school itself. The surrounding neighborhoods include families of all economic backgrounds- upper-class, middle-class, and families living in poverty. Parent involvement includes the same 5-10 parents per class taking care of each event (parties, PTA, assisting teachers, etc).

Some enrollment statistics include: 17.2 percent of students being in an ethnic minority. Of the 914 students enrolled in the last school year, 757 were Caucasian; 4 were Asian; 6 were Black; 93 were Hispanic; 41 were Multi Race; 12 were Pacific Islanders; and 1 student was American Indian. 2.5% of students were learning English as a second language, and 22.9% were economically disadvantaged. Bluffdale Elementary also offers a Portuguese Immersion program for students beginning in first grade in order to offer them a bilingual experience.  13.2% of students required special education (which Bluffdale has a Resource program for). Additionally, students with difficulties reading or learning math can attend Resource for extra help. The program also offers speech therapy as needed. By gender, there were 409 female students and 505 male students as of last year's records.

My understanding of the purpose of the service learning placement is that my discipline-based knowledge will be exercised and therefore enhanced, and that I will acquire a full understanding of the content that I learn throughout the course. I will be immersed in the subject and its application in the classroom as I observe teacher-student interactions. I will have the opportunity to strengthen the community, especially with the diversity at Bluffdale Elementary. I will gain a sense of responsibility to and engagement in the community of the school.

I look forward to the opportunity to appreciate the occupation of elementary school teacher, and to be able to decide if it is a job that I actually want to pursue. And so begins my adventure in education!

Front of Bluffdale Elementary