Date: September 23, 2004
Contact: Irene Cromer
703-791-8720

NEW DOMINION TEACHER, SERVICE LEARNING LEADER,
WILL PRESENT AT STATE CONFERENCE

Julia Cremo-Muse, a teacher at New Dominion Alternative School and a leader in Virginia’s Service Learning programs, has been invited to present a workshop on service learning at the Virginia Department of Education’s Virginia Learn and Serve Institute on September 30 in Richmond.

New Dominion began its service-learning project during the fall of 1997. Since that time, over 400 students have given the Prince William County community thousands of hours of service. The school-based projects provide students with opportunities to enhance and reinforce academic skills through service and foster civic responsibility.

According to Cremo-Muse the “Learn and Serve” philosophy is a unique and challenging approach to address the state and county curriculum. “It offers our at-risk youth population an opportunity for hands-on learning while improving their sense of self-worth and self-respect.”
In 2001, New Dominion Alternative School was selected as Virginia’s National Service-Learning Leader School and received the Governor’s Community Service and Volunteerism Award.

For the past eight years, students have participated in a variety of projects including
sewing quilts for those in need, assisting with recreational programs at Birmingham Greene Living Facility, peer tutoring with a local emotionally and mentally retarded (EMR) class, and local community beautification.

Since its inception in 1997, New Dominion students have demonstrated a steady increase in attendance, improvement in academic testing, and a heightened awareness of personal and social responsibilities. The number of student expulsions has decreased as well, said Principal Ed Doyle.

Learn and Serve America has distributed more than $429 million in grants to 143 schools, colleges, and universities nationwide since the program began ten years ago in 1994. An estimated 1.8 million students have participated in projects supported by Learn and Serve America.

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