Wood-Ridge Jr/Sr High School Community Service Program

1. Wood-Ridge Jr/Sr High School Community Service Program

2. WHAT IS COMMUNITY SERVICE? It is defined as an unpaid service that is performed for the benefit of an INDIVIDUAL or Group Words that come to mind regarding Community Service are…. Volunteering Helping Organizing Communicating Serving

3. Community Service • The newly implemented Community Service Program at Wood-Ridge Junior/Senior High School will demonstrate that a well rounded education is more than achievement in the core curriculum subjects such as Math. English & Social Studies. • Students will be able to meet and work within our community with people of all ages, capabilities, and interests who will benefit and enrich their lives.

4. Participation in Community Service • Through participation in various community service projects, students will be expected to: • Demonstrate an ability to perform a community service individually or as part of a group • Recognize personal responsibilities to the larger community • Demonstrate learning through experienced-based activities.

5. Program Description • Beginning September 2014, all students will be required to perform community service as part of their graduation requirements: • Class of 2015 12 hours(over the course of their Senior Year) • Class of 2016 25 hours(over the course of grades 11 & 12) • Class of 2017 40 hours (over the course of grades 10, 11, 12)

6. Examples of Appropriate Student Activities • Participating in or volunteering at charity events • Performing in public relations tasks • Organizing/Assisting with recreation programs • Visiting the homebound • Assisting the elderly • Collecting and distributing food, toys etc. • Volunteering at local Soup Kitchens or Food Banks

7. LOCAL Community Service Opportunities A. In School…. • Peer Tutoring is permissible providing that the tutor does not receive monetary compensation or release from midterm/final exam B. In The Community… • Hackensack University Medical Center • Holy Name Hospital • Local Churches

8. Community Service Opportunities C. Community Outreach • Wood-Ridge Public Library • Local First Aid Squads • Local Fire Departments • Salvation Army • YMCA • ELKS Club • Lions Club • American Cancer Society

9. Community Service Opportunities D. Other OPPORTUNITIES… • Volunteer teaching in a Religious School • Snow shoveling/yard care for the elderly providing no monetary compensation is given • School-Sponsored after-care programs.

10. Community Service Opportunities E. Special Events • Blood Drives • Activity Nights • Special Olympics • Sports Camps

11. Due Dates… • ALL Community Service must be recorded. • Community Service Logs will be available in the Guidance Office as well as on the school’s website. • All Community Service Logs must be handed in to the Guidance Office within 30 days of completing the activity. If the form is not handed in within this time frame the student will not receive credit or the hours. • Forms for approved activities performed over the summer must be handed in by September 30th. • Community Service Logs must be submitted before May 31st in order to receive credit for the activity.

12. When to Perform your Activities • Students may perform community service: After School, Weekends, During School Vacations • HOWEVER… Community Service hours performed during the school day, to fulfill a requirement for another organization (such as NHS) will not count toward a student’s graduation requirement.

13. Five Steps to Performing Community Service • Student contacts the organization of interest to inquire about community service opportunities. • Student completes Community Service Form Part A and submits it to his/her counselor for approval • Once project has been approved by his/her guidance counselor, student begins to log hours of community service • Supervisor of volunteer organization signs Community Service Form Part B • Student returns completed Form B to his/her counselor • Prior Approval is required