St. Benedict the Moor is a Service Learning School. Funded by the Brown Foundation, each class works closely with affiliates in the New Orleans community. Students learn about their community through classroom presentations, guest speakers, and activities. They, in turn, take their knowledge by providing a service within the New Orleans Community.
Pre-Kindergarten Sunshine in a Pot
Pre-Kinders work with the St. Gabriel Trumpeteers, a local Senior Citizen's group to learn about differences in people and how to socially interact. The students learn about and experience what it takes to grow a plant. Once the plant has grown, they personally deliver them to the Trumpeteers and also display their knowledge of plants through song and fingerplay.
Kindergarten Caring for First Responders
Kindergarten students explore how police officers and firefighters serve our community. Through books, videos, and even visits to the classroom by the first responders, students receive first-hand knowledge of their committment to our community. Students work with first responders of District 3 by creating holiday cards and creating small care packages for them. They demonstrate their understanding through drawings of the hard work first reponders do for the New Orleans area.
First Grade Caring for God's Creatures
First graders work with the local LASPCA to learn how to take care of animals, specifically dogs and cats. They host a blanket and a towel drive to donate to the local shelter and even make homemade treats for the animals at the shelter.
Second Grade Environmental Stewardship
The second grade students focus on the environment and the role they play as stewards of the environment. Their emphasis is on the 4R's: Reduce, Reuse, Recyle, Rethink. Students are introduced to some of Earth's environment problems and issues and try to develop ways and ideas to help protect and beautify out planet.
Third Grade Nutrition and Homlessness AND Adopting a Grandfriend
Third grade students target health, nutrition, and homelessness in the community. The project brings awareness to the needs of the people who are affected by homelessness and poor nutrition. Students conduct a school-wide food drive to benefit Second Harvest Food Bank.
Third grade students work with the retired nuns of the Holy Family Sisters at St. Mary's. Students are paired with a "grandfriend" who helps them accomplish their goals for the school year through encouragement and planning.
Fourth Grade Restoration of the Wetlands AND Acceptance of Differences
Fourth grade students work with UNO Coastal Education Research Facility to learn about one of the biggest issues that Louisiana faces; erosion. Students work to grow and then plant marsh grasses to help restore the wetlands.
Students also learn about the different types of people in their community. They learn about what it means to have disabilities by interacting with students of St. Michael's Special School. They are paired with a buddy from the school and they get to interact several times to build a relationship with their partner.