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About The LEAGUE
The LEAGUE is a school and web-based system for service learning that builds character and empowers young people to “do good” in their community, the nation and the world.
The LEAGUE uses a team-based approach to engage young people in service. Every class in The LEAGUE is a team and every student is a player; and the team is supported by a teacher who is designated as the Coach.
How The LEAGUE Works
Learning To Give serves as the curriculum division of The LEAGUE; the K-12 curriculum consists of over 1,200 lessons on giving, service, and civic engagement coded to every state’s core curriculum standards. Students learn about giving, service, responsibility, character and leadership in the classroom and practice it in the community (Learning and Doing).
The LEAGUE creatively brings together the community, the curriculum content disciplines, philanthropy education and service and students—educating and inspiring them to become active, engaged citizens.
To celebrate and recognize the good
young people are doing to help others,
The LEAGUE has a pioneering point system
for assigning value to individual and team volunteer efforts.
One aspect of The LEAGUE is helping students develop critical thinking skills that allow them to identify issues in their community as well as solutions to address those issues. One way to do that is to have the students play games that foster skills essential to critical thinking, learning and socialization. The game of Bridge can help students learn and nurture those skills.
Teaching young people Bridge in the classroom also gives students a tool to connect with their community. A main
focus
of The LEAGUE is building communities. Playing Bridge gives students a common language to communicate and connect with other Bridge-playing adults and students in their community.
School BRIDGE LEAGUE is fun, helps to
sharpen young people’s math skills and promotes social networking.
School BRIDGE LEAGUE 53rd Card
A LEAGUE Bridge deck contains 53 cards (versus the standard 52). The 53rd card is a unique “Play It Forward” card that students can use to create “Bridges” in their communities. By using the School Bridge LEAGUE 53rd card as a “Wild Card” within The LEAGUE Event structure students are empowered to engage in service projects that are helping them to make a positive difference in their community.
School Bridge LEAGUE encourages students to participate in community service via The LEAGUE (www.theleague.org) program throughout the school year. School Bridge LEAGUE, through the game of bridge, teaches students how to apply the critical thinking skills used in playing bridge to address issues within their communities with positive resolution. Annually, the top School Bridge LEAGUE student pair that places highest in three out of the six tournaments PLUS performs community service is awarded a trip where they are recognized at the annual LEAGUE National Awards & Recognition event. This event generally held in June in NYC celebrates and recognizes the top performing students for their accomplishments and service efforts. |
What's Unique About The LEAGUE?
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Teaches children the broader concepts of “action for the common good” (philanthropy).
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Shows parents and communities that their schools, teachers and students are vital contributors to “the common good.”
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Uses sports metaphors and the concept of “team” to make The LEAGUE fun and easy.
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Measures and reports a “hard currency” value on young people’s contributions to society.
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Provides student recognition to reinforce young people’s sense of self-worth.
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Creates an Internet-based system for tracking student contributions of time, talent, and treasure.
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Engages businesses and corporations at all levels as supporters for LEAGUE activities and learning about philanthropy (a new way to support learning).
- Engages local, state, and national media in reporting positive youth stories.
How Bridge fits with The LEAGUE
School Bridge League is a division of The LEAGUE. School Bridge League is the product of a non-profit youth philanthropy organization working together with business leaders to create a system to introduce philanthropy through the game of Bridge to students.
35 James Street
Newark, New Jersey 07102
Phone: (973)643-6373
www.theleague.org
www.schoolbrigeleague.org |
SBL Advisory Board
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MILA ANTONOVA
Ms. Antonova has a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management from the Togliatti Academy of Management. A 26 year-old avid bridge player and entrepreneur, she founded BridgeUnion.com to promote bridge to youth around the world. She gives private bridge lessons to families in New York and has brought the game to at-risk youth in Harlem. Building on this experience, she is developing a program to help After School Programs provide bridge instruction to their students. This project was chosen to be a part of New York City’s Fast Track New Venture Group. She competes in regional and national bridge tournaments. She recently qualified for the 2010 North American Open Pairs at the National Tournament in Reno, NV, representing the New York district.
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ALICE BISHOP
...Hasn’t ever known life without a card in her hand. Grandparents met playing bridge. Father stationed in Arkansas during World War II, and kept in Arkansas by base commander….to play bridge. After years as a “social bridge” player, I began to take lessons in earnest and to play duplicate. I am TAP Certified.
Former High School Spanish teacher, and ESL teacher in New Jersey; and teacher of professional Real Estate courses held by Rockland Community College and by the Rockland County Board of Realtors, New York.
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JOHN GILLESPIE
John Gillespie is a diamond life master and along with my partner in crime, Carole Berry, ACBL accredited as a Bridge teacher and club Director we are thrilled to be a part of the School Bridge LEAGUE family.
Together, Carole and I have been active in youth Bridge since 2002 and have taught over 3,000 Elementary School students in Ottawa, Canada over that time.
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ROBERT WOLFF
Booby Wolff has been the past president of both the ACBL and the WBF. He’s won 11 World Bridge Championships and has been elected to both the ACBL Bridge "Hall of Fame" and the WBF "Committee of Honour" as well as having been the only player to win World Bridge Championships in at least five categories (Bermuda Bowl, World Team Olympiad, World Open Pairs, World Senior Team, and the World Mixed Team). |
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