Graduation Requirement (.50credit)

Class of 2016 and Beyond

Performing a volunteer action or service which has a direct impact intended to better your community

Generally connected with a non-profit organization, with a requirement that a student is not compensated for their time spent in service

To extend learning beyond the classroom and into the community, to promote civic responsibility through active participation in service experiences, to foster a sense of caring for others, and to develop a habit of volunteer service to those in need.

◦ 30 Service Hours (20 hours for Class of 2016)

◦ Must occur outside of the school day (exceptions: peer tutoring during study hall & other exceptions approved by principal)

◦ Hours achieved through National Honor Society, Key Club, or through another school related activity can count towards Community Service Learning hours

◦ Community service hours may not be court mandated

Volunteering for a non-profit agency

Volunteering for an educational institution

Helping an individual in need such as the poor, the sick, or

those with special needs

If training is required by the organization, i.e. candy striping

at a hospital, the hours required for training may be

included as credit for community service needs.

Volunteering for a for-profit company that meets the criteria

on the log sheet (e.g., coaching, tutoring, candy striper)

School mentoring/Peer mentoring

Nursing Homes

Environmental Projects

Adopt a Highway

Animal Shelters/Zoo

Food Banks

Fundraising hours for nonprofit organizations

Special Olympics volunteer

Relay for Life

Habitat for Humanity

Referee/umpire for youth teams

Participate in community fundraiser

Local Possibilities include ◦ New Hope Arts

◦ New Hope Auto Show

◦ New Hope Historical Society

◦ Honey Hollow

How do I know if my

service activity will be accepted?

If the answer to the following questions is “yes,” then your service activity will likely be acceptable.

1. Does the service activity go beyond the classroom and into the larger community?

2. Does the service activity promote civic responsibility through service experiences?

3. Does the service activity actively foster a sense of service?

4. Is the service activity likely to promote a habit of volunteer service?

Students will be required to complete 30 hours of service as documented on the log sheet.

Students will submit an electronic journal of that experience

Students will make a public presentation upon completion of the project.

(A research component may be added at a future date.)

Students will be assessed on a rubric which provides credit for the hours spent on the service, along with scores for the quality of the journal and presentation. The successful completion of this project will earn .50 credits toward their graduation requirements.

Summer before 9th Grade--Up to 5 hours

By the beginning of 10th Grade--15 Hours minimum completed By the beginning of 11th Grade--25 Hours Completed

By the beginning of 12th Grade--30 hours Completed

October of 12th Grade: Submission of journal

November of 12th Grade: public presentation of community

service experience. It is the student's responsibility to periodically share hourly logs

with their homeroom teacher, who will then record the completion of those hours on E-School.

Student will document the community service experience through the development of an electronic journal.

Documentation could include blogs, journals, social media pages, etc.

Purpose is to give a reader the opportunity to understand the details of the student’s experience, to learn about specific causes related to the service, and to provide evidence of reflection about the importance of the community service.

Formal public presentation of the community service experience.

Includes an overview of the experience, discussion of the related cause, and a personal reflection of the impact of the experience on the student.

Presentation may also be designed as a “call to action” persuasive speech, made to convince an audience to act in support of your cause.