Seniors Begin 2024-2025 Fieldwork

October 8, 2024

Nearly every Thursday during the school year, Cretin-Derham Hall seniors engage in fieldwork as an integral component of their senior religious course. Seniors leave campus midday, using their class period and lunch/flex to work in the community. 

This year, CDH students in Senior Seminar, Philosophy/Theology, and Spectrum are working at 32 different sites across the metro. Once a student is assigned to a location, she/he serves this organization for the entire school year, enabling them to best understand the mission and challenges of their site, build relationships, and possibly make a significant contribution in their volunteer role. 

“The fieldwork program at Cretin-Derham Hall is part of the curriculum because it is critical that our students meet and know the dear neighbor, as the Sisters of St. Joseph put it,” explained Rob Peick, a retired faculty member with a strong passion and dedication for this unique program at CDH who is coordinating the fieldwork program this year. “We call it ‘fieldwork’ because we want to be clear that even though our students do provide a service during their weekly visits, the most important goals are that they learn something about a world a bit different from their own and develop relationships with the young people or adults they meet.”

Principal Mona Passman estimates that the fieldwork component for seniors has been in place at CDH for 35 years. “Fieldwork isn’t just an extra component of a CDH education. It is an integral part of our mission here at CDH,” explained Passman. “Our senior religion, English, and social studies teachers build their courses around it. It is a distinguishing feature of a CDH education. I don’t know of any other school that offers a comparable program. Students, both past and present, consistently share that fieldwork was one of their most valuable experiences at CDH.”

Senior Jeremiah Thom '25 is assigned to Bancroft Elementary School in Minneapolis and is aware of the value of this experience already. At Bancroft, he is a teacher’s assistant in 2nd grade and supports English and reading in class and then helps supervise recess, playing with the elementary students. “Not only do I believe that service is a critical part of my curriculum at CDH, but I also believe that it is critical to my development as a leader and growing human being. Service is the highlight of my week more times than not, because I know I am making a difference while also having fun and bettering my character.”

The fieldwork assignment starts with students learning about the types of fieldwork sites. Some students see immediate connections between their strengths and the goals/needs of an organization. Often teachers may push students out of their comfort zone, while trying to ensure a good fit for both the organization and the student. The teachers outline general expectations before site assignments are made. Throughout the school year, the students will also have dedicated opportunities in class to reflect and learn from these experiences. 

Senior Grace Nickel volunteers at the Peace House Community in Minneapolis, a ‘place of safety and respite from the streets.'  She found herself involved in the work of the community early on. “I started off intimidated by my environment and felt out of place. Throughout the last three weeks, I have begun to build relationships and feel like I have been accepted into the community. I have listened to stories about incarceration, researched laws and subsidies, and worked to get people into shelters.”

Click here to watch a video highlighting CDH seniors at one fieldwork site, The Willows of Ramsey Hill, where several students served in 2023/24. 

CDH Seniors Fieldwork - 2024/25 Sites

The 2024/25 fieldwork sites include both public and private organizations in the metro area.  

• Schools - the work includes tutoring or helping with recess or lunch supervision at school with kids, adults, immigrants, individuals with disabilities, and more.

Banaadir, Bancroft, Benjamin Mays, Bridge View, Bruce Vento, Capitol Hill, Community of Saints, Expo, Highland Park, Highwood Hills, Learning in Style, Mississippi Creative Arts, MORE School for Empowerment, Nokomis Montessori (North Campus), NorthBridge Child Development, Randolph Heights, Risen Christ, St. Pascal, St. Peter Claver, Sarah's Oasis, Seward Montessori, St. Thomas More, Twin Cities International, and Wilder Child Development

• Nursing or Assisted Living Homes - the work focuses on visiting guests and assisting with projects, or games with senior citizens. 

Catholic Elder Care (two campuses), Lexington Landing, Marvella, and the Willows of Ramsey Hill

• Helping Agencies - the work involves welcoming and talking with guests and helping out with other tasks.   

Aliveness Project, Listening House, Peace House