Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions of students and parents.
Why do we believe in community service activities for our students?
We believe that young people are remarkable idealistic. We want to encourage them in their desire to help their local community. We also want to help them become more thoughtful and self-reflective about their actions. Finally, we hope to produce young people who will carry the spirit of engagement forward into their later lives.Back to Top
Service learning is based on the idea that students can learn valuable skills outside of the conventional classroom. Service learning is NOT unstructured or unsupervised learning. The key to the success of the program is careful planning, active supervision, and support mechanisms to ensure student reflection on the process.Back to Top
What do we mean by "active supervision"?
First, all locations where your child might volunteer his/her time have been carefully selected. We have relationships with several elementary schools in the neighborhood where our high school students can tutor younger children. We also send some students to volunteer their time at a local Boys and Girls Club. Second, all high school students who want to participate in the program must be recommended his/her guidance counselor. We only accept students into the Community Service Learning Program who are JUNIORS or SENIORS with solid academic records. Students must also have an excellent record of attendance and have a track record of being reliable and trustworthy. Third, all students are supervised by a teacher at Richmond Hill High School who meets with the student once each week to verify that the student has been regularly to the place where they agreed to volunteer. The teacher checks their Time Sheet and reviews their daily Journals. Fourth, all students are supervised by teachers or other qualified supervisors at the location where they are volunteering. These teachers will evaluate the student's performance "on the job" and make a recommendation about granting the student credit for his or her volunteer work.Back to Top
What do we mean by "student reflection" and "student growth"?
Students are required to complete a DAILY JOURNAL in which they write down their thoughts about their experiences while volunteering. Students are also asked to pull together their thoughts about their experiences in a 500 WORD FINAL ESSAY. Throughout the time in which they are working, students are encouraged to think about the value of their volunteer experiences for both themselves and for the young people they have helped.Back to Top
Parents are a VERY IMPORTANT part of the procress. No student can be allowed to volunteer at a site without having a STUDENT CONTRACT on file, co- signed by a parent. Students must also have a LIABILITY DISCLAIMER on file at Richmond Hill High School. If a student is not performing as expected, the parents are sent a notice explaining that their child is in danger of being dropped from the program.Back to Top
Do all students complete the program and earn a credit?
Not all students complete the program, but most students do, and benefit greatly from having contributed their services to the community. Approximately 3 out of 4 students can be expectd to finish the program and earn an elective credit. A few students find their experience so rewarding that they continue to volunteer their time past the 40 hour MINIMUM requirement. Other students have said that their experience tutoring younger children in an elementary school setting inspired them to major in education in college. All who stay in the program to its completion seem to feel that they got a great deal out of the program beyond the credit earned.Back to Top
I still have a question. Who do I contact for more information?
Call Ms. Vojvodic, the Coordinator of the Community Service Program at Richmond Hill High School, at (718) 846-3335, ext. 401 and leave a message. Please speak slowly and clearly and be sure to leave your own phone number. Or you can click the �letterbox� icon on the top right of this page to send her an email question. Again, clearly identify your child�s name and explain how she can best contact you.Back to Top