How can high school students gain work place experience, earn high school elective credit and give back to their community. At Vechij Himdag Alternative School students are doing just that by being part of the school’s Service Learner program. Students at Vechij Himdag who enroll in the Service Learning program volunteer after school and on weekends to help community organizations. For every 70 hours of service students earn a half of an elective credit that counts towards their graduation.

“I have learned that we can help our community by helping one another and that we can do better for our families – My future is in my hands,” said Miguel Ramirez, District 4.

Students who enroll in Service Learning must be work place ready. Students must have good attendance, be working steadily in their classes, have a good work ethic and commit to being alcohol and drug free. Service Learning students agree to random drug testing.

Early Childhood Special Services along with Gila Crossing Community School and Blackwater Community School held their annual Kid Fest for children birth to five years old. The annual goal of the Kid Fest is to identify children who may have health or developmental issues as early as possible. Various Community agencies such as: Genesis, Fatherhood is Sacred, Head Start, Early Childcare Center, Building Blocks for Healthy Children, Public Health Education, Tribal Social Services and many more participated to share information with the families.

The 2 ½ to 3 hour event features developmental, hearing, and vision screenings for children. The screenings are conducted with assistance from school site staff, FACE staff, Public Health Nursing and Gila River Healthcare Optometry Department. This year Kidfest also received volunteers from VHM Service Learners and Tribal Education Department staff. Developmental gifts are given to families and a special thank you to Wal-Mart Santan Village, Teresa Walker who helped to pick out the wonderful developmental gifts and Lori Richardson whose generous donation assisted with the purchases.