Full-Circle Learning: FCL Updates: Southern California Schools Hold Mastery Ceremonies

Four year-round school projects in Southern California held mastery ceremonies in June 2011. At Piru Preschool, Tarzana Elementary, the Full-Circle Learning Academy-LA (elementary) and the Full-Circle Learning Academy (middle school) parents and community members came to hear about the impact of students’ learning and authentic service on the broader community. They heard teachers deliver individual awards for habits-of-heart to each student, and parents were each honored for their own good habits, through speeches and certificates delivered by their children.

Parents are asked each year whether the program enhanced their children’s development in 19 areas of academic or social skills development, in areas ranging from motivation to learn, ethical leadership, compassion, and global awareness to the development of specific capacities and communication skills, understanding unique perspectives, self-restraint and self- mastery and other features. In the spring of 2011, in programs operated by Full-Circle Learning:

80% of parents surveyed in general programs marked every indicator of growth.

20% marked 10-16 of the 19 indicators.

The schools are now preparing for another year of applied academic learning and humanitarian service to local communities and to multiple global partner schools. (See the photo gallery for scenes from each school.)