Pinewood Preparatory School’s Community Service Learning Program Mission Statement: The Pinewood Community Service Learning Program is tailored to the developmental needs of the students and to the academic mission of the school. The program seeks to develop a sense of identity, responsibility, and purpose in our students in relation to the surrounding community and to help those students become conscientious and resourceful citizens. Community Service Learning Program Overview: Upper School students are required to complete a certain number of community service hours during their academic years at Pinewood preparatory School. The requirements for each grade level are: 6th, 7th, & 8th Grade - 5 hours Freshmen – 10 hours Sophomores – 10 hours Juniors – 20 hours Seniors – 30 hours* *Seniors will be required to complete at least 15 hours by the second report card marking date (Christmas break). Failure to complete this requirement will result in the loss of senior privileges. If senior privileges are already withheld, the student will have to complete mandatory weekend service until his/her requirement is met. Community Service hours for each school year begin on June 1st and will end on May 31st. A student can have NO MORE THAN A THIRD of his/her required service hours as in school service, however, ALL of his/her service hours can be out in the community. Students are encouraged to complete their required hours over the summer and become involved in other service opportunities during the school year. Failure to Meet the Community Service Learning Requirement: SENIORS: FAILURE TO MEET THE COMMUNITY SERVICE HOUR REQUIREMENT WILL RESULT IN THE WITHHOLDING OF YOUR DIPLOMA. YOU MUST COMPLETE THE COMMUNITY SERVICE REQUIREMENT IN ORDER TO GRADUATE. If a rising 7th, 8th, freshman, sophomore, junior, or senior student fails to complete his/her service hour requirement, he/she will be expected to report to Pinewood during the summer for the Summer Service Program. This week long Summer Service Program will be scheduled at the discretion of the Community Service Coordinator. Failure to attend this program could jeopardize enrollment for the following school year. Any rising senior involved in the Summer Service Program WILL NOT be granted senior privileges until after the first nine week grading period of his/her senior year. Students will also have their grades withheld UNTIL they complete the required hours of community service. Requirements and Guidelines: Because of the importance of our mission to service, participation in and successful completion of the Community Service Learning Program is a requirement for receiving a Pinewood diploma. It is also mandatory for the successful completion of each grade level. Time Sheets: All students are required to complete the Community Service Time Sheet. These sheets will be turned into the Community Service Coordinator in order for the student to receive proper credit for his/her hours. All community service learning hours are recorded on report cards. Community Service Specifics: Community Service activities are those performed to benefit at least one other unrelated person and for which you receive no payment. - The service you do must be under the support of an organization (town government, council on aging, school, hospital, nursing home, charitable organization, religious organization, etc.) Work you do to help a friend or neighbor should receive approval prior to the service. - Community service for which you receive an academic credit or which is court-assigned will not be applied to the requirement. - No more than a third of your required service hours can be performed in school. - All of your required community service hours can be completed in the community. PLEASE NOTE: YOU MUST OBTAIN PRIOR APPROVAL FROM THE COMMUNITY SERVICE HOUR COORDINATOR IF ALL OF YOUR COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS ARE FOR ONE PROJECT! Awards: Students can earn awards for their hard work and willingness to serve others. Club 100 recognizes students who have performed 100 or more hours of service. They will receive a Club 100 t-shirt and will become eligible for National Presidential Service Awards. The Headmaster’s Community Service Awards will be presented at the High School Awards Day/Night. These awards are broken into 3 categories: Bronze: 70 – 119 hours; Silver: 120 – 169 hours; Gold: 170 and over hours The Community Service Class of the Year is awarded to the class who accumulates the most community service hours per person. A class community service hour average will determine the recipient of this award. This award is given to the top middle school class and the top high school class. The Panther Pride Service Scholarship (the PPS Scholarship): A $500 scholarship will be given to the Pinewood senior who has accumulated the most community service hours during his/her senior year. Community Service Projects: Any student interested in beginning a Community Service Project must coordinate that project with the Community Service Coordinator. If you are interested in becoming a part of a Community Service Project, see the Community Service Coordinator to become involved.