Consistent with our mission and strategic plan, The American School in London values associations and partnerships with outside organizations in London.
Through such interactions, our students gain leadership skills, broad knowledge of the world as a whole and the issues confronting it, and empathy for the perspectives and conditions of people from all walks of life.
ASL engages both with local partners as well as with partners throughout the world. We are frequently approached by worthy outside organizations for involvement by our students, teachers and parents.
The fundamental questions that we ask ourselves when approached are:
● Would a partnership align with our school mission and values?
● Would partnership provide opportunities for our students to meaningfully engage with the organization’s mission, services or the clients it serves.
In answering these questions, we look closely for alignment with our curriculum and our existing associations and partnerships for coherence and applicability.
Any interaction with an outside organization must align with ASL's program and mission. There must also be an ASL administrator, teacher or staff member who will oversee the school's engagement.
Our program, first and foremost, revolves around our students. Our participation with an organization, either locally or internationally, centers around developing awareness for an organization or an issue, and then creating meaningful engagement between our students and that organization or issue in a cooperative, mutually beneficial arrangement.
The program uses a service learning model which includes, inventory and investigation, preparation and planning, action, reflection, and demonstration. Fundraising should only be considered if it is deemed that the students have created awareness and been meaningfully involved with an outside organization or issue, and the case for support is both compelling and persuasive.
ASL has point-people at each divisional level for all inquiries (the Lower School, Middle School & High School Community Action leads). Such inquiries are brought to the Direction of Community Action who in conjunction with the Head of School and the Director of Advancement, will determine when, if and how the school, across divisions, will respond to disasters on a grand scale such as natural disasters.
Partnership Decision Making Protocol
Whom do we partner with and why?
Essential Questions we ask of community members in order to make a decision:
What is the specific problem or need?
What is the plan of action?
How will the plan connect ASL with this problem or need?
How is this need/organization/effort aligned with our mission and vision?
Essential Questions we ask ourselves after being approached by community members (student, parent, teacher):
How is this need/organization/effort aligned with our mission and vision?
What is our capacity to work with the need/organization/effort in a meaningful way?
Does the action plan provide enough detail to implement the project in a timely and meaningful
Is this a whole school or partial school effort (only one level)?
Essential Questions we ask ourselves after we agree to partner:
In what ways is this project meeting the K-12 service learning standards?
How are students fulfilling the service-learning model by reflecting and demonstrating their work to the larger ASL community?
What lessons can be drawn from this project to better inform future service learning work at ASL?
