Playing soccer with special needs children. Planting gardens. Learning to cook. Teaching mathematics to Oakland youth. Registration for the AISCE (Academy of Integrated Studies and Community Engagement) summer program is open.

The AISCE program provides high school students the opportunity to serve their community while also engaging in collaborative seminars, where they will receive conflict resolution training.

“AISCE is a summer program intended to bring the community service element into the classroom and make it more meaningful by understanding why we are doing that service,” social studies teacher Ken Brown said.

Freshman Ryan Kong enrolled in Farm to Table Journey last year, and said that he enjoyed the course.

“I thought the class was very entertaining because we were constantly visiting small farms and learning skills in the kitchen,” Kong said.

Sophomore Grace Sanford took the Inclusive Communities class, a class focused on coaching soccer to children with developmental challenges.

“We spent time in the classroom learning about and discussing different developmental challenges children face,” Sanford said.

AISCE offers six courses ranging from developing Spanish speaking skills to learning directing techniques for theater productions.

“We are very excited about being able to offer some new courses,” AISCE Director Ashley English said.

Acting teacher Kim Taylor will be teaching Directing for the Theater while English teacher Mercedes Foster will be teaching Be the Change, said English.

According to the AISCE brochure, courses range from one to three weeks, and vary in meeting days and times. Students can receive up to 45 hours of community service, which includes preparing for the service.

Mathematics teacher Diana Miller will be teaching Math for All, a one week immersion course geared towards helping Oakland youth using kinesthetic learning.

“The purpose of the class is for kids to help Oakland youngsters with math, whether it is counting for kindergarteners or basic operations for older kids, or even fractions for advanced kids,” Miller said. “We don’t use books or anything, we home make worksheets.”

AISCE differs from other summer community service programs in that it adds the service learning component, which integrates the community’s needs with seminars that emphasize discussion, exploration, and reflection.

“The vision is to help kids who haven’t received as much exposure as they should have before they enter kindergarten. By working with them for five to nine days, it really makes a difference because the kids love learning and meeting the PHS kids,” Miller said.