Performing community service is an important value we hope to instill in our students. Please call me if you need help in finding someone to help you. The policy and the recording sheet follows.

Susan Chastan District Administrator

Community Service

The Board of Education desires that all students develop a strong sense of personal and social responsibility. The District recognizes that Community Service can help students develop skills, career awareness and self-esteem. Service experiences can also motivate students by allowing them to apply their skills and knowledge to local needs and problems and showing them that they can make a contribution to their community, by being part of the solution.

We encourage the students to participate in activities that help to develop youth as contributing citizens and allow the opportunity for youth to be seen as resources in their communities.

High school students must complete a minimum of 40 hours of community service as a requirement for graduation, beginning with the class of 2012. (The minimum requirement for students in the class of 2011 is 30 hours; the class of 2010 is 20 hours; and the class of 2009 is 10 hours.) A proportionate adjustment will be made for transfer students. Not more than 10 hours may be done at school, and not more than 10 hours may be done off island. Only hours used in service to others may be counted during overnight or full day experiences.

A Community Service activity must meet the following requirements:

• It must be something that benefits others.

• It must be something that you are not required to do.

• It must be something for which you are not paid or receive credit.

Community Service Guidelines and Procedures:

• Community Service forms are available from the District Administrator, and activities must be pre-approved.

• Court ordered or school mandated community service does not count toward this graduation requirement.

• There can be no financial payment for community service.

• Students may not do community service for family members.

• The supervisor of the community service activity must sign the log sheet.

• Students cannot be excused from class for community service.

• Students may not receive community service credit for church activities that are strictly of a religious nature.

• Students may not receive credit for activities that are required for completion of confirmation classes or scouting requirements (no “double dipping”)