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Chelsea Center

Experiential Education Opportunities for ALL students

Chelsea Center Experiential Education Opportunities for ALL students
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December 11, 2025 December 11, 2025

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Course Selection for the 2026-2027 School Year

The Chelsea Experiential Learning Center is embedded in Webster Groves High School, and works to match students with experiences aligning with careers they want to explore, passion areas of interest, and service learning opportunities. We ask students, "What lights you up inside?"


With 2026-2027 course registration coming up soon, don’t forget to discuss Chelsea Center options with your students! We will have the Chelsea Center Teaching & Learning Cohort, Passion Pursuit Experience, Passion Pursuit: Mercy Hospital Clinical Field Experience, Guided Service Learning Experience, Independent Service Learning Experience, and Internship Experience courses available. Students can view all the various course descriptions listed below or on the Courses for Credit tab of our website at bit.ly/chelseacenter. And of course they can visit us anytime in the Chelsea Center room 200 to learn more. Questions can be directed to Chelsea Center Coordinator Dr. Kerry Arens, arens.kerry@wgmail.org. We look forward to working with you!

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H9098 CHELSEA CENTER TEACHING AND LEARNING COHORT

Credit: 2 units; this is a two-hour, yearlong course

Prerequisites: None

Open to Grades 11-12

Considering a career in teaching and looking to jump-start your college education? Study the art of teaching and be part of our Grow-Your-Own educator program. The Webster Groves School District will invest in you now to develop your teaching skills with the hope you will come home to join our faculty after college. Explore teaching through observations, small group instruction, and supported teaching opportunities in K-8 classrooms throughout WGSD. Students will also participate in seminar-style classes to study best practices in teaching and to reflect on their learning along the way. Through our partnership with Webster University, students gain access to their virtual classroom simulator and workshop sessions with faculty from Webster University’s School of Education. Note: Students may earn 4 hours of dual credit from Webster University. Enrollment for college credit requires a GPA of at least 3.0 and counselor recommendation.


H9144 CHELSEA CENTER PASSION PURSUIT EXPERIENCE

Credit: ½ unit

Open to grades: 9-12

What lights you up inside? In this course, we will work together to design a process to dive deep into an interest you have, and pair you with a community mentor for expert subject guidance. We will work in a cycle of carefully chosen experiences supported by reflection, analysis, and experimentation. The course structure encourages you to take initiative, make decisions, and be accountable for the results through actively wondering, designing, tinkering, collaborating, adapting, and communicating your growth. Each week you will reflect on your experiential learning and produce a deliverable that captures progress toward your goals. By the end of the course you will have curated authentic experiences and products that will not only bring you joy but also set you apart in your college and professional interviews.


H9146 CHELSEA CENTER PASSION PURSUIT: MERCY HOSPITAL CLINICAL FIELD EXPERIENCE

Credit: ½ unit

Open to grades: 11-12

Interested in exploring a career in medicine? If so, this course is for you! The Chelsea Center partners with Mercy Hospital to provide you with the opportunity to shadow medical professionals for 40 hours. Team Chelsea will support your experience through reflection, analysis, and experimentation. Each week you will reflect on your clinical field experience and produce a deliverable that captures progress toward your goals. By the end of the course you will have curated authentic experiences and products that will not only bring you joy but also set you apart in your college and professional interviews. Note: Students must be able to commit to time outside of school to complete the hours needed for this experience. Limited seats are available, as dictated by Mercy. Application process.


H9142 CHELSEA CENTER INTERNSHIP EXPERIENCE

Credit: ½ unit

Open to grades: 9-12

Are you ready to explore your dream career now, while you are still in high school? In this course, you will explore a potential career through hands-on, project-based learning with a partner company or nonprofit. We have some community partners ready to host interns now, and can also work to develop new partnerships to align with your professional interests. Each week you will reflect on your experiential learning and produce a deliverable that captures progress toward your goals. By the end of the course you will have curated authentic experiences and products for your professional portfolio that will set you apart in your college and professional interviews.


H9148 S1 CHELSEA CENTER GUIDED SERVICE LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Credit: ½ unit (only offered Semester 1)

Open to grades: 9-12

Create change and be changed: Learn about and make your own impact with the great organizations addressing local and regional issues. In this guided service learning class, we partner with local organizations to engage in hands-on service. By the end of the course you will have curated authentic experiences and products that demonstrate your initiative, problem-solving skills, and ability to create effective responses to community needs.


H9143 CHELSEA CENTER SERVICE LEARNING EXPERIENCE

Credit: ½ unit

Open to grades: 9-12

Recommendation: Guided Service Learning

Create change and be changed: In this independent service learning class, research and co-design a service project to address a human or community need through hands-on exploration. By the end of the course you will have curated authentic experiences and products that demonstrate your initiative, problem solving skills, and ability to create effective responses to community needs.

Reminder: We can help students who are pursuing their A+ hours find connections to service learning that include the mentorship or job shadowing components the A+ program requires. Have your students stop by to talk with us, or independently explore their GivePulse account opportunity listings at wgsd.givepulse.com.

The Chelsea Center wants to spark joy and self-discovery for all WGHS students! The Chelsea Center wants to spark joy and self-discovery for all WGHS students!

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Get in touch!

For more information please contact Dr. Kerry Arens, Coordinator of the Chelsea Center:

Email: arens.kerry@wgmail.org
Website: https://hs.webster.k12.mo.us/programs/chelsea-center
Location: Webster Groves High School, Room 200
Phone: (314) 918-4181

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