Making a Difference

List of 4 items.

• Advocacy, Service & Social Entrepreneurship

  Goals of this program:
  • Promote engagement with social, political, and environmental concerns on the Cape, in the region and across the Globe.
  • Develop the habits of critical, compassionate, and responsible thinking so that students more readily “see” such issues and recognize that they should want to educate themselves and act in ways that are consistent with their priorities and values.
  • Teach students that they can use the skills of “Social Entrepreneurship” to do good while also delivering value and fun to their community.

  How Things Get Done in the Real World

  
  

  Resourcefulness. Being able to make a case. Aligning the interests of diverse stakeholders. Sustaining a commitment. Persevering in the face of challenges. Recognizing a need. Making disciplined choices. . . These are the skills and habits of people who make a difference in the world, people who get things done.

  
  

  When CCA or another school refers to its “service learning” curriculum or program, we indicate that we teach students not just the importance of volunteering, or even considering and serving the needs of others, but also reflecting on what is important to a person. We teach students to reflect on who one is in relationship to the world around them, and the strengths and opportunities each of them has. We also teach students to think critically about problems, what those problems stem from, and how different approaches might change the situation.

  
  

  We are committed to more actively developing advocacy and service as part of the habits and mindset of a CCA graduate.

  
  

  Among the activities under the umbrella of this initiative:

  • Our Community Service Organization, which dedicates over 500 hours per year to community needs
  • The Senior Service Learning Project--for over 20 years CCA seniors have channeled their talents and interests  into 80 hours of direct work with local not-for-profit organizations
  • Entrepreneurship seminars that teach skills that are equally applicable to social entrepreneurship as they are to building a business enterprise
  • Hosting the Human Rights Academy that gathers high-school age students from across the Cape twice a year for training, problem-solving, and sharing of ideas and projects

  CCA actively inspires students to consider others--to listen for their voices, to see their experiences--to respect others and the complexity of a world that resists simple solutions. We teach students that learning is edifying in itself but also prepares them to do and act, to lead and rally others, and find a better way. We are teaching them how to get things done...better.

• Senior Service Learning Project

  Senior Service Projects: May 1- June 10

  
  

  Cape Cod Academy seniors dedicate the last four weeks of the school year to their individual service learning projects. The planning process for the projects begins in late winter when each senior develops goals based on their talents and interests and what they hope to contribute. The students then research local organizations, identify those that might be a good fit, set up interviews, and work out details for their service. Each student ultimately chooses a single local non-profit and contributes at least 80 hours over the four weeks of the project.

  
  

  During the four weeks of service, seniors are asked to write reflective essays and attend weekly meetings on campus to share their experiences. Seniors also honor their commitments to school teams, ensembles, rehearsals for the spring musical, and Advanced Placement exam preparation. The projects culminate during the first week in June with presentations to underclassmen and faculty.

  
  The service learning project gives seniors the opportunity to extend their learning into a workplace environment. It requires them to take ownership and to be responsible. It drives home the goal we have for our graduates: their educations prepare them to not only learn but to DO. . . to make a difference in the world.

• Human Rights Academy

  In 2016, CCA became the new home of The Human Rights Academy, a county-wide force for educating and mobilizing student activists.  Nearly 100 students from member schools across the Cape meet twice each year to discuss the challenges of citizenship and how young people can make a positive impact on  their schools and communities.

  
  Each school team picks a project, executes it during the year, and then shares the results with all the member schools and local leaders in our spring meetings.  These projects have contributed to promoting anti-bullying legislation at the State House, funding safe water programs in the 3rd world , and supporting the local causes supported each year by CCA’s Shelter from the Storm benefit concerts--addressing opiod addiction, domestic violence, veteran homelessness, and food poverty.

• Service Clubs

  Pink Ribbon

  We raise awareness and educate the community about Breast Cancer in hopes to help the fight against cancer. The club plans events throughout the year to raise money (bake sales, cancer walk, dance marathon, carnations, etc.). Donations and funds collected by our group support local organizations and the Cape Cod Women’s Cancer Prevention and Early Detection Fund.  Approximately 400 hours of service and fundraising per year. Open to students in grades 6-12.

  
  

  Community Service Organization

  Our purpose is to stimulate a desire among students to participate in community service, support community service efforts initiated by students and envelope the school community in such efforts.  Membership is open to all CCA students enrolled in grades 9 through 12. Acceptance into CSO requires a written application (obtained from the organization’s advisors) and a letter of intent. Membership is a year long commitment.  Members fulfilling one year’s worth of participation will take part in a public ceremony of recognition, will receive a cord for each year of participation, and will receive a notation on their transcripts signifying such involvement. Approximately 400 hours of service and fundraising per year.

  
  Environmental Club
  Passionate about reducing waste, conserving energy, gardening, stopping climate change, clean water, and getting out into nature.  We are dedicated to having the “big kids” in the club mentor the “little kids” at CCA about nature. We try to think globally and act locally.