Today marks an important day at North High School.  It is the first day of our new program, in partnership with the United Way of Sheboygan County Volunteer Center, called RUVP – Raiders United Volunteer Program. 

The overarching goal of all members of the North High School learning community is for graduates to transition from North as happy, successful, and productive members of the community.  No matter if our graduates join the military, enter the workforce, or continue the educational journey through a two or four year institution the importance of our alumni being prepared and ready to give back, serve others, and be a part of the decision making process within their community is paramount.  As a way to cultivate such a sense of community giving within all Golden Raiders, each student and staff member is now provided an opportunity to be immersed in service learning opportunities.  

The Raiders United Volunteer Program (RUVP) facilitates student academic learning through meaningful service experiences, which encourage and enable North’s staff and students to positively impact the community.  RUVP seeks to bring members of North High School and the community at large together in partnership to share resources, meet real community needs, and help to educate young adults to become the change agents of tomorrow.       

RUVP works to incorporate service learning experiences into courses, series of courses and co-curricular activities by way of projects that have both learning and community action goals. The program asks students to apply course and co-curricular content to community-based activities.  These experiential opportunities provide students learning through real world contexts and the development of skills related to community engagement while affording community partners a venue to address significant needs.

The benefits of service learning experiences are numerous and positively impact students, staff, the North High School and greater Sheboygan communities.  These positive outcomes include building and maintaining positive relationships, increased personal efficacy, and immersion within rigorous learning experiences while developing a deeper sense of community ownership and engagement.  

Although housed within the North High School campus, the positive impact of these planned community experiences shall be realized well beyond the walls of North. Beginning today, a member of the United Way Volunteer Center will have a dedicated class room two half days a month to facilitate experiential learning experiences with North. This dedicated time will be available for staff and students to dialogue about options and complete projects facilitated by the representative. These options can be individual or group related. Examples may include classroom, National Honor Society hours, staff or team building, counseling groups, student at risk programs, work related sites or co-curricular groups.

Unique and flexible learning experiences for all students, coupled with the willingness to always provide opportunities for each young adult to leave North a happy, successful and productive member of their community is what make the North High School learning community a special school and place.

-Jason Bull, Principal, North High School