STUDENT LEADERS  

…take on powerful roles in and out of school  

 

Despite its small size, Common Ground offers its students a wide array of opportunities for learning and leadership.  In addition, we actively connect our students with many programs outside of school – resulting in an impressive list of student accomplishments and experiences.  View a list of on- and off-campus opportunities.

 

Our students give back through required community service.  Each student must complete 15 hours of service before moving to the next grade level – though many go far beyond this minimum.  We help students find community organizations that match their interests, and organize many service opportunities on site.  For instance:  

• a school-wide community service day alone nets over 400 hours of service.
• participants in monthly Black and White Night activities serve restaurant-style meals to residents at the West Rock Health Center.   
• Student groups organize service opportunities ranging from contests to help stop global warming to fundraising drives to combat measles in Africa. 

They take on additional challenge through academic enrichment, homework center, and other course-related after-school programs.  With funding from a 21^st Century Learning Community grant, Common Ground is able to offer a huge range of after-school academic enrichment and recreational activities.   

 

Students find their own voice through African Dance, the Sound Lab, Art Club, debate and student government.  We encourage students to speak up, both during and after school. They win city-wide debate tournaments, art contests, poetry slams, and science fairs.  They represent our school well, and we are proud of them. 

 

They accept adult responsibilities through internships, senior projects, and class projects with real audiences.  Every student must complete a significant senior project, combining research, hands-on experience, and a major presentation, before graduation.  Beyond the senior project experience, many students take on significant projects within their academic courses. Common Ground students have shadowed professionals at nationally-known recording studios, created a Web site about New Haven’s neighborhoods, spoken to legislators in Hartford, taught elementary students how to read, monitored airborn particulates, and developed a Web site about New Haven history.   

 

Peers help their fellow students to solve their own problems through peer mediation and peer mentor programs.   

 

Common Ground students participate in numerous city-wide youth leadership organizations.  They lead environmental education activities at Solar Youth, create documentaries through Youth Rights Media, give grants through a Youth Philanthropy Board, organize city-wide youth summits, and participate in sports teams at other high schools.