Sage Hill School

Sage Hill is an independent school located in Newport Coast, California serving students grades 9-12. Committed to service learning and developing partnerships in their community, Sage Hill has worked closely with three schools in their neighborhood: El Sol Science and Arts Academy, the Edward B. Cole Academy, and Wilson Elementary. All three of these schools are elementary schools driven to educate and support students coming from under-privileged backgrounds and often they are English language learners. 

Sage Hill Students participate in structured programs for their first two years, and then develop individually designed service learning projects.

9th Grade Science Learning

With a primary focus on science education, the 9th graders at Sage Hill facilitate a multi-dimensional, cross-curricular approach to teaching the 3rd graders from El Sol and EB Cole about healthy lifestyles.  Using Sage Hill’s Teaching and Learning Garden, students focus on key concepts such as organic farming, sustainability, renewable resources, soil chemistry and composition, animals and farming, physical education, and food awareness.  Not only do the 9th grade students participate in the year-long service learning project, but what they share with the 3rd graders directly ties into their science curriculum at school.

10th grade Literacy Learning

The 10th graders at Sage Hill work closely throughout the year with 4th graders from El Sol Science and Arts Academy, Edward B. Cole Academy and Wilson Elementary.  The primary focus for this partnership is literacy, with Sage students helping to teach fundamental, state-standard based concepts using story-telling, poetry and short story writing as teaching tools.  As with the 9th graders, not only are the 10th graders helping the elementary students with fundamental academic needs, but the content of what they teach ties directly into their own 10th grade English curriculum.

With a dedication to serve these three schools and develop extensive partnerships with each, Sage Hill commits not only to instructional time in the classroom, but also has a traditional End of Year dinner with families from all four schools. It is this culmination that exemplifies the true benefits of the partnerships, with friendships formed, families intermingling, and pride exuding from all.  You can read more about the celebration here.