"Through the Eyes of a Child" is an annual event sponsored by Circle K International in which 100 Cleveland children visit JCU's campus for several hours of holiday fun and activities. This year's event will be held on Saturday, December 5, from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm and activities will include cookie decorating, story time, a visit with Santa, arts and crafts, time in the gym, and lunch in the cafeteria. This year, the children will come from St. Thomas and St. Francis Elementary schools in Cleveland.  Each child will be paired with a JCU student. JCU students are asked to spend up to $20 to purchase a gift for their "little buddy" (Santa will give the child the gift, of course!) This is a great event for anyone who is looking for a fun and rewarding service project for the holiday season.

Service participants in this activity will assist with registrations for Circle K's annual "Through the Eyes of a Child" holiday event.

NOTE: This activity takes place in the atrium of the Lombardo Student Center. Registered participants should go directly to the atrium at 11:05am and report to Courtney Maistros, who will take attendance and give you instructions as to how to proceed.

ALSO: Participants who have laptops are strongly encouraged to bring them!! 

NOTE: This activity is restricted to students in Dr. Linda Seiter's Intro to Software Development course ONLY.

CHAMPS is a grant-funded enriched program designed to serve the needs of at-risk youth in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools. The program meets daily after school and provides instruction in reading and math, homework assistance, social skills training, and recreation. CHAMPS serves to work with the whole child and to provide support in a variety of ways.

This service activity involves assisting CHAMPS students in 6th grade. Service participants will provide insturciton on using a 3D programming environment to create an animation for telling a story, playing an interactive game, or crafting a video to share on the web.

NOTE: This service opportunity is within walking distance of JCU; most students are able to walk to this site in about 15 minutes (view a map here).  Should you choose to register for this service activity, you will still receive an automated email confirmation which will instruct you to "Meet your driver on Administration Drive." Please ignore that instruction and report directly to Wiley Middle School. 

IMPORTANT: Participants MUST sign in and out on the Participant Service Hour Tracking form at Wiley EVERY time they participate in service. Failure to do so may result in not getting credit for service time or in removal from the activity.  Please see the CHAMPS site coordinator, Brandi Hawkins to sign in/out.

NOTE: This activity is restricted and is NOT open for registration. If you are interested in this activity, please contact the Center for Service and Social Action at 216.397.4698.

Activity description pending.

ACTIVITY RESTRICTED: This activity is only open for registration to students in the Hope of Tomorrow Program.

Educational Talent Search is a federally-funded program serving students in grades 6-12. The program is designed to assist low income, potential first generation college students gain access to post-secondary education. Students learn about their post-secondary options through in-school workshops, college visits and cultural field trips. The mission of the Cleveland Scholarship Programs, the program’s sponsoring agency, is to increase college enrollment and success, primarily for students from Cuyahoga County, through leadership, collaboration and the provision of advisory services and need-based financial assistance.

The mission of the Hope of Tomorrow is to foster relationships between high school students and John Carroll students that serve as support for one another. Both mentors and mentees will grow and learn through a variety of experiences that emphasize the importance of continuing education. Through example and leadership, these high school students will gain direction and develop focused goals for post-secondary education. At the same time, mentors will grow in awareness of others in the Cleveland community and use their talents and skills to benefit others. Activities will take place both at John Carroll and John Marshall high school.

NOTE: This is a restricted activity and not open to general registration.

Gearity Professional Development School focuses on providing a comprehensive and integrated education to children in grades K-6. As a foundation for life-long learning, Gearity strives to foster thinking skills and problem-solving activities, promote a positive attitude towards education, and create positive self-perceptions for students. The three R’s of Gearity include: Respect for oneself, respect for others, and respect for the environment.
Service participants at Gearity Aftercare assist with children in grades K-2 in various educational and recreational activities, with an emphasis on reading and literacy. 

NOTE: This service opportunity is within walking distance of JCU; most students are able to walk to this site in about 15 minutes (view a map here).  Should you choose to register for this service activity, you will still receive an automated email confirmation, which will instruct you to "Meet your driver on Administration Drive." You should, of course, just ignore this email and simply report directly to Gearity Professional Development School on your first day of service. 

IMPORTANT: Participants should remember to sign in and out on the Participant Service Hour Tracking form at Gearity EVERY time they participate in service. Failure to do so may result in not getting credit for service time or in removal from the activity. 

Service participants in this activity will assist with reading literacy activities for kindergarten students at St. Thomas Aquinas school.

The Thea Bowman Center (TBC) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to be an ongoing beacon of hope to the Mt Pleasant Community. TBC demonstrates its commitment to the people of the community by:

• Helping people by encouraging and enhancing healthy relationships.
• Organizing programs of assistance and mentoring.
• Promoting empowerment of the community.
• Educating people through social, health and wellness, cultural, and spiritual activities.

Service Participants in this activity will assist with tutoring area residents who are preparing to take their GED exam. Participants do NOT need a teacher certification to be a competent GED tutor, but they should have a good grasp of basic algebra. Participants should also be patient, be able to explain effective study skills, and have a good command of written English.

NOTE: This is a new service activity and in the early stages of development. As such, participants should expect some inconsistencies in terms of residents' ability to attend GED tutoring. It is possible that on some weeks, participants in this activity will NOT engage in direct service, but rather assist with support activities for the program. Participants who are uncomfortable with this are encouraged to select a different service activity. 

ALSO: Participants in this activity MUST attend the GED Tutor training session held on the JCU campus on Saturday, September 12th from 10:00am-3:00pm in room AD48.  Lunch is provided, and 5 hours service credit will also be given for this training.

Chambers Elementary School serves children in grades K-6 in the East Cleveland City School system, whose mission is to "provide the children of East Cleveland with the academic and life skills needed for each and every one to be a success in the 21st Century." Once a thriving community (and still home to 18 of Cleveland's "Millionaires' Row" estates), East Cleveland has struggled with economic and political challenges for many years, and census data indicates that over 45% of the city's children live below the poverty line.

Service participants at Chambers Elementary are assigned individually to classrooms, where they work directly with students under the guidance of the classroom teacher. Service participants may request to be placed with students in a specific grade. Typically, service activities at Chambers Elementary involve working one-on-one with students or in small groups, providing assistance with math skills, reading literacy, or other needs as identified by the teacher.

The Thea Bowman Center (TBC) is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to be an ongoing beacon of hope to the Mt Pleasant Community. TBC demonstrates its commitment to the people of the community by:

• Helping people by encouraging and enhancing healthy relationships.
• Organizing programs of assistance and mentoring.
• Promoting empowerment of the community.
• Educating people through social, health and wellness, cultural, and spiritual activities.

Service participants assisting with aftercare programming provide homework assistance and tutoring to children in all grade levels.

An affiliate of Catholic Charities through Catholic Community Connection, Brendan Manor is a non-profit group home that provides housing, recreational and support services, and friendship to up to 16 low-income adults. Residents may be challenged by chronic health issues and/or mental health diagnoses; Brendan Manor serves as a "safe harbor" for those who may never have known a clean, safe or secure living space or a loving and nurturing environment.

Service participants at Brendan Manor interact one-on-one with residents in a variety of recreational activities, depending on the interests of both residents and volunteers. Activities might include gardening, playing games, reading clubs, crocheting, discussion groups, arts and crafts, computer or language lessons, or anything else that would provide support and encouragement to the residents.

NOTE: Service participants in this activity should be comfortable with interacting with and providing encouragement to developmentally challenged adults.

CHAMPS is a grant-funded enriched program designed to serve the needs of at-risk youth in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools. The program meets daily after school and provides instruction in reading and math, homework assistance, social skills training, and recreation. CHAMPS serves to work with the whole child and to provide support in a variety of ways.

This service activity involves assisting CHAMPS students in 6-8th grade. Service participants provide academic assistance and serve as role models to the students, and will have an opportunity to work with the children in both individual and group settings. Service participants may also be engaged in various recreational and social-skills building activities. All CHAMPS activities are planned and organized by on-site teachers.

NOTE: This service opportunity is within walking distance of JCU; most students are able to walk to this site in about 15 minutes (view a map here).  Should you choose to register for this service activity, you will still receive an automated email confirmation which will instruct you to "Meet your driver on Administration Drive." Please ignore that instruction and report directly to Wiley Middle School. 

IMPORTANT: Participants MUST sign in and out on the Participant Service Hour Tracking form at Wiley EVERY time they participate in service. Failure to do so may result in not getting credit for service time or in removal from the activity. 

CHAMPS is a grant-funded enriched program designed to serve the needs of at-risk youth in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools. The program meets daily after school and provides instruction in reading and math, homework assistance, social skills training, and recreation. CHAMPS serves to work with the whole child and to provide support in a variety of ways.

This service activity involves assisting CHAMPS students in 6th grade. Service participants provide academic assistance and serve as role models to the students, and will have an opportunity to work with the children in both individual and group settings. Service participants may also be engaged in various recreational and social-skills building activities. All CHAMPS activities are planned and organized by on-site teachers.

CHAMPS is a grant-funded program offered to at-risk youth in elementary and middle school students in the Cleveland Heights-University Heights schools. The focus is on academics, social skills, and recreation.

Service participants will divide between Roxboro Elementary and Roxboro Middle schools, and may express a preference as to the age group with whom they would like to work. NOTE: Service participants who need to work with a specific age group (such as "children in K-5") to fulfill a service requirement for a course will have priority in selecting their site. 

All participants will provide academic assistance, participate in recreational and social skill-building activities, and serve as role models for the students. Activities are planned and organized by on-site CHAMPS teachers, and participants have the opportunity to build relationships with students.

The Detention Services division of the Cuyahoga County Juvenile Court System manages the care of all juveniles in the secure detention continuum, including the Detention Center, Shelter Care and Home Detention. Ohio Law permits juvenile courts to commit juveniles to a detention facility for up to 90 days. The goal of the Juvenile Detention Center is to help these residents become more productive citizens when released to the community. Trained staff, volunteers and student interns facilitate a variety of programming available to residents, which addresses such issues as youth violence, chemical dependency, job readiness and life skills. In addition, educational instruction is provided to the residents through the Cleveland Public School System via on-site classrooms and teachers.

Service participants will assist in mentoring residents ages 12-17 and in tutoring them in basic literacy skill development. Participants will be trained and follow the reading plan as organized by the Jewish Community Federation Public Education Initiative, the 100 Book Challenge. After the reading activity, service participants will socialize with the JDC residents, playing board games, cards, or engaging in other organized activities.

NOTE: Service participants for this activity must complete and email the following to tpatterson@jcu.edu  by Monday, September 14th in order to participate in this activity:

1. An application and agreement to submit to background checks and fingerprinting (there will be NO CHARGE for this to participants).
2. Two (2) reference forms. 

Failure to complete these requirements will result in removal from the activity. In addition, participants are encouraged to read these Volunteer Guidelines prior to their start of service. 

Participants who are uncomfortable with these requirements for service are encouraged to select a different service activity.

IMPORTANT: This is a loosely-structured environment.  Service participants who prefer a more structured aftercare setting are encouraged to select another activity.

NOTE: Participation in this service activity requires:

1. Completion of a 1-step TB test at JCU's Health Services (216.397.4349) office. There is NO CHARGE for this test. Participants MUST contact Health Services to set up an appointment by Friday, September 18th.
2. Completion of an application and 2 reference forms which must be emailed to tpatterson@jcu.edu by Monday, October 1. 
3. Attendance on the first day of service, during which participants will need to provide information for and agree to a background check.

Failure to complete these requirements will result in removal from the activity. 

Gearity Professional Development School focuses on providing a comprehensive and integrated education to children in grades K-6. As a foundation for life-long learning, Gearity strives to foster thinking skills and problem-solving activities, promote a positive attitude towards education, and create positive self-perceptions for students. The three R’s of Gearity include: Respect for oneself, respect for others, and respect for the environment.

Service participants at Gearity assist in the Sensory Room, where children diagnosed with ADHD spectrum disorders are able to engage in activities on sensory equipment to help them refocus and stay on task.

NOTE: This service opportunity is within walking distance of JCU; most students are able to walk to this site in about 15 minutes (view a map here).  Should you choose to register for this service activity, you will still receive an automated email confirmation which will instruct you to "Meet your driver on Administration Drive." Please ignore that instruction and report directly to Gearity School. 

IMPORTANT: Participants MUST attend the first day of service, as they will receive training on the sensory equipment with the school counselor on that day.  In addition, participants should remember to sign in and out on the Participant Service Hour Tracking form at Gearity EVERY time they participate in service. Failure to do so may result in not getting credit for service time or in removal from the activity.  

The Jewish Community Federation is the central address of the Jewish community in Cleveland. Its Public Education Initiative (PEI), as part of the Federation’s Jewish Volunteer Network, recruits volunteers from all faiths to work as tutors at six partner school sites within the Cleveland Metropolitan School District. The activities of the Public Education Initiative further the Federation’s mission, of “tikkun olam”, or healing the world, and are created to provide a tangible way for members of the community to become directly involved in the life of the city of Cleveland and to positively impact public school climate.

Service participants in this activity will be trained in a structured reading plan as organized by the JCF "Public Education Initiative," the 100 Book Challenge. Participants will work one-on-one or in small groups with children in grades K-6.

NOTE: Participation in this service activity requires completion of a background check through JCU's Campus Safety (216.397.4600) office. There is NO CHARGE for this check.  Participants MUST contact the Campus Safety office to set up an appointment by Friday, September 18th. Failure to complete this requirement will result in removal from the activity. 

The Many Villages Program takes a systematic approach to recruiting, training, managing, and engaging volunteers to advance the academic success of students in the Cleveland Heights/University Heights school district. Many Villages helps the school form a teacher/parent team to shape and implement a volunteer tutoring program that meets the unique needs of their school. Program components include volunteer recruiting, teacher orientation, tutor orientation, scheduling, communication and problem solving, and evaluation and renewal. While each program design is unique, all increase the level of volunteer assistance available to teachers and students, and share a commitment to these three program expectations: 

·          To assist the school in achieving academic progress for its students. 

·          To help teachers and not be a burden to them. 

·          To be motivating and satisfying to tutors. 

Many Villages school programs are supported with a set of standards-based tutoring materials selected by Many Villages guiding team members and funded by the school district. The materials are easy-to-use tutoring activities that address specific standards-based skills. Service participants are trained in and use these materials in working one-on-one or with small groups of students in grades K-6.

The Many Villages Program takes a systematic approach to recruiting, training, managing, and engaging volunteers to advance the academic success of students in the Cleveland Heights/University Heights school district. Many Villages helps the school form a teacher/parent team to shape and implement a volunteer tutoring program that meets the unique needs of their school. Program components include volunteer recruiting, teacher orientation, tutor orientation, scheduling, communication and problem solving, and evaluation and renewal. While each program design is unique, all increase the level of volunteer assistance available to teachers and students, and share a commitment to these three program expectations: 

·          To assist the school in achieving academic progress for its students. 

·          To help teachers and not be a burden to them. 

·          To be motivating and satisfying to tutors. 

Many Villages school programs are supported with a set of standards-based tutoring materials selected by Many Villages guiding team members and funded by the school district. The materials are easy-to-use tutoring activities that address specific standards-based skills. Service participants are trained in and use these materials in working one-on-one or with small groups of students in grades K-6.