If you’re an 8th grader or senior here at Rancho, you’ve probably heard of or have a Service Learning period. Service Learning is a course alternative which allows students to help out in the STEAM (Yellow), Magnet (Red) or Main Office or the option to become a teacher’s assistant.
“We’ve always used students to help out in the office. [Student workers] are needed because there is always something extra to do. They help us manage our time and do tasks,” said our STEAM Academy Counselor, Ms. Caceres.
She continued, “Whether it’s the counseling office or main office, [the staff] just can’t do everything without help.”
Ms. Storey, Rancho’s Magnet and Middle School Academic Counselor, also shared some more information on what student service workers do and how to become one.
“The students help run summons, help out when we have letters and flyers and stuff like that. We just need some assistance in getting all those things ready,” said Ms. Storey.
Both Ms. Caceres and Ms. Storey explained the requirements to become a student service worker: 8th graders (middle school service workers) and 12th graders must be with no D’s or fails and on-track to culmination or to getting their diploma. Students who qualify may be given the opportunity to assist a teacher or in the office.
Nayeli Maldonado, 12th grader, begins her school day working in the STEAM Academy. She is among the students who switched a class period to become a service worker.
“I switched [my first period] because I didn’t want to be in my music class anymore and I didn’t want to do work,” she said.
Due to her service learning period being first thing in the morning, Maldonado usually doesn’t have much to do.
“Honestly, I just sit there and ‘big chill’,” she laughed.
Maldonado continued, “There’s usually nothing for me to do. I don’t have any summons to go out—there’s probably like, one summons every other week.”
While it may be a little boring and lonely during the slow morning hour, Maldonado still feels glad to take it easy before the hecticness of actual school work begins for her.
“Before I leave, I like when they tell me ‘Bye Nayeli!’ It’s like, the one time they acknowledge me,” Maldonado joked.
Mayte Frausto, 12th grader, helps run the operations of the main office during her second period.
“We usually file, answer phone calls, run summons and stuff,” said Frausto.
Frausto assumed that working in the office would be fun, and that turned out to be true in her opinion.
“My favorite part [of working in the office] is probably when something goes down. We’re usually the first to know,” she said.
The Magnet Academy is where Christobal Alanis, 12th grader, opted to spend his second period.
“I saw the good I could do for this school, you know? I love this school—had to make it better,” said Alanis.
He told us what he usually does within his hour in the Red Academy.
“I usually just sit down and watch YouTube,” he laughed.
Alanis continued, “I do a little bit of reading, but yeah that’s about it. I give out summons sometimes.”
His favorite part, similar to Maldonado, is to just chill and be able to do whatever he wants (within the bounds of school rules, of course).
Alanis brought up a nice memory from the Magnet Office: “One time we got donuts! It felt very rewarding.”
Also part of the Magnet Academy, Alex Ramos, 12th grader, works as a teacher’s assistant for Ms. Moulton during his third period.
“I chose to work with Ms. Moulton since I originally planned to be Mr. Dempster’s TA as I’m really into history and he seemed like a really fun history teacher to work with. But since he left, I decided to go to Moulton since she’s been my teacher since my sophomore year and I wanted to help her out and thought it’d be pretty nice to have her in my senior year,” explained Ramos.
As a teacher’s assistant, Ramos does his best to help out Ms. Moulton in the classroom.
He said, “I grade any assignments that she gives me to work on. I also help her in the backroom if she needs any organizing.”
When Ramos isn’t busy, he usually sits by Moulton’s desk and has chats with her.
“My favorite part is how laid-back Moulton is. She’s also just a really fun person to talk to,” said Ramos.
Back in the STEAM Academy, Ricky Espinosa, 12th grader, explained what his third period as a student service worker looks like.
“I opted for a service period because I have a really great connection with my counselors and my peers in the Yellow Academy. I felt like I could give back to them by helping out,” he said.
Espinosa explained what tasks he is often put up to in the Yellow Academy.
“I’m either sweeping, folding envelopes and putting stickers on them, running summons, just whatever Ms. Thompson, Ms. Caceres, and Mr. Gomez need,” he said.
Espinosa continued, “I tell kids to go to class. You know, making sure they’re not in Yellow ditching, and etcetera.”
He also explained how much he enjoys working in the STEAM Academy, particularly with fellow service workers and the counselors.
“I enjoy [my service period]. One of my accomplices—actually one of my closest friends—her name is Melina Montelongo, we always work hard to make sure we’re the best service period that Yellow has,” said Espinosa.
He added his favorite aspect of being part of the Yellow Academy: “The best part is representing Yellow! I have to be one of the best students that the Yellow Academy has ever seen, me and my partner Melina Montelongo. We do the best and try to be the best for Ms. Caceres, Ms. Thompson, and Mr, Gomez.”
During sixth period, Solash Villa Martinez, 8th grader, works in the Green Academy.
“I chose this period because I wanted to actually do things. In my other electives, it was just boring. But in the office I can actually do something,” she said.
Villa’s service period provides her more of an opportunity to be active in helping out the school.
“During [my service period], if there’s nothing to do I’m just sitting there, walking around, or on my computer doing work,” she said.
She views her service period as fun and enjoys the lack of people in the office.
Villa said, “I like that everything we have to do isn’t actual work, like it’s not like homework or anything. It’s just tasks we have to do.”
We appreciate and applaud all of our student service workers for their efforts in helping out Rancho and the staff!