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.
