Public Purpose Program

The Public Purpose Program provides a framework for students to meaningfully engage with their communities over the course of four years at LWHS.

Four-Year Public Purpose Program Curriculum

9th Grade

In their first year at LWHS, frosh participate in a yearlong workshop series that explores privilege, the roots of inequality, volunteerism, and community. This curriculum culminates in days of service during the year where the entire frosh class begins to enact the mindsets and attitudes cultivated in the workshop conversations.

Service Projects

10th Grade

Sophomores spend the year completing 40 hours of service. With the support of the Public Purpose Program, students can partner with local organizations, participate in Center for Civic Engagement sponsored projects, or find their own opportunities.

Volunteer Opportunities

10th Grade PPP Requirement

11th Grade + PPP Courses

Juniors complete their Public Purpose Program requirement by enrolling in an academic class with a service learning component, designing a relevant independent study, working as an intern with a local nonprofit organization, or developing curriculum for the 9th grade workshop series.

PPP Course Examples

Click on class titles for more info

Private Skills for Public Purpose

Private Skills for Public Purpose

Private Skills for Public Purpose (PSPP) aims, through design and research, to allow our students to examine their own privileges and biases and more importantly the role we all play in the greater education system. Students mix reading and research with tangible hands-on shop skills to build relationships and foster empathy for people beyond the walls of the school.

Shops skills are primarily in the area of wood and metal fabrication but the course is not constrained by specific tools or mediums.

Students are given an opportunity to work closely with a public school or nonprofit organizations to provide design and build skills while filling needs within the local organizations.

The semester begins with in-depth inquiry into systematic social inequities, and challenges students to think about their own position of privilege. The rest of the semester is spent on designing and building projects to meet the needs of the organization and its stakeholders. This is an ideal opportunity for students to learn about the client/builder relationship through site visits, interviews, and observations about the organization's needs. The class culminates in the delivery of the finished projects.

Community Computing

Community Computing

Community Computing is a project-based PPP class that cultivates teamwork and service in the context of software development. Students can take this course as advanced engineers or as designers/product managers with no prior programming experience.

In the first of two projects, the class creates software for use at Lick-Wilmerding. Students solicit feedback from peers, faculty, and staff and work in teams to build applications that fill an existing need. Within their groups, students may specialize in engineering, product management, or graphic design. No previous programming experience is required for product management and graphic design specializations. Students with less coding experience will learn basic computer science concepts from structured class exercises and interacting with experienced peers. Advanced students will work in JavaScript & Node, building on the skills learned in Graphics & Game Design.

In the second project, students serve as role models for elementary and middle school students through introductory computing workshops.

Throughout the semester, we examine computing's culture and the importance of cultivating a diverse new generation of computer scientists.

Science: Marine Ecology

Science: Marine Ecology

The world's oceans cover over 70% of the earth's surface and are integrally tied to the health of the planet. A deep understanding of marine ecology is critical for the appreciation, preservation, and protection of marine habitats. Marine Ecology is a year-long advanced interdisciplinary science course that uses the Bay Area as a classroom. In 2023–24 the course will include required field trips during non-school hours. Students will be expected to meet at various locations in the bay area for our fieldwork and field trips (rain or shine) - planning and organization are going to be important skills. Students should expect to attend 1-2 field trips per month.

Over the course of the year, students will grow to understand the physical and chemical characteristics of marine ecological zones and investigate the anatomy, behavior, and evolutionary adaptations of a variety of life. Students will investigate a broad range of current conservation concerns with an emphasis on global fishing practices and climate change. Laboratory activities include dissection, live organism exploration, data collection, guest lectures, and microscope work.

See all PPP Course Offerings

12th Grade + Independent Projects

Seniors may choose to deepen the inquiry they began during their junior year by interning with the same organization, continuing to design curriculum, or pursuing similar service-based academics through PPP designated courses. Alternatively, they may decide to design an independent study based on a different theme, take a course with an alternative focus, or apply for a new internship.

Examples of Independent PPP Projects

Philosophy

As a private school with a public purpose, service and community engagement are at the core of an LWHS education. The Public Purpose Program is a way for students to truly live the LWHS mission and meaningfully engage with local, national, and global communities. The four year program is scaffolded to support students in recognizing how to apply their education and unique talents, to ultimately affecting positive change and social justice.

Volunteer Opportunities

PPP Course Offerings

Leadership in Action

Questions? Contact:

Ravi Lau

Class of 1992

Director of Public Purpose Program

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