Rowland High School's Social Studies Academy Student Activities 

The team has recognized the need to address the problem of the lack of representation of Hispanic and African American students in Rowland High School's social studies honors classes. Rowland High School's honors program is enriched thanks to the possibility of various perspectives being represented in its honors/AP program. One of the main objectives of Rowland High School's Social Studies Academy was to expose students to the possibility of a University education. Our Social Studies Academy students participated in two group field trips to two different university campuses. The goal of these field trips was to allow students to envision what life is like as a college student.

Chapman University Student Field Trip

In the fall of 2011, our SSA students visited Chapman University in the city of Orange. Students had the opportunity to experience student life in a small private university setting. Students began their day at Chapman listening in and participating in a college lecture with a college professor. They then were allowed some independence as they explored the campus in small groups on a scavenger hunt. During lunch, students enjoyed their meals as they shared the dorm cafeteria with other Chapman students; one Chapman student gave the group a tour of their dorm. The group debriefed their experience in a lecture as part of a journal reflection activity. 

University of California, Irvine Student Field Trip

In the Spring of 2012, our SSA students visited the University of California in Irvine. UCI provided a different experience than the Chapman field trip in the fall, students were exposed to a public and much larger campus. Our SSA class were greeted by a group of students from one of UCI's theme homes, Casa Cezar Chavez, a home dedicated to the legacy of civil rights activist Cesar Chavez. The objective of Casa Cezar Chavez is to assist the Chicano Latino student community at the University. At "Casa," students listened in to a panel of resident students who shared their personal home and university experiences. Our SSA class also had the opportunity to tour the campus and enjoy lunch at the UCI student center.

Chapman Holocaust Art and Writing Contest 2012

In April of 2012, three of our students from Rowland High School, two of which were part of our SSA class entered Chapman University's Holocaust Art and Writing Contest. Chapman University partners with the "1939" Club, an organization of Holocaust survivors to host an annual art and writing contest in which students listen to a survivor's personal story from a library of survivor testimonies and create original pieces of art, poetry or prose. Various schools from around the world entered this contest. Each student entered had the opportunity to attend the awards ceremony and received a special recognition for submitting an entry. In addition to the special recognition, they received a chronicle of Holocaust survivor testimonies which they had several survivors autograph. This was a unique and memorable experience in which our students interacted with the World History curriculum on a personal level.