Community Service

  • *This community service page details types of volunteer hours that are accepted for Bright Futures and how to log the hours. For details on how these community service hours apply to Bright Futures Scholarship opportunities, please visit this link: Bright Futures. 

    High School Community Service
    Community service projects are well-planned, organized, and voluntary efforts designed to address a specific need in the community. Well-conceived projects provide students with the opportunity to participate in a volunteer opportunity to which they feel personally committed. Below is a brief description of the three ways to categorize community service projects - school-site service, group community service, and individual community service. Students may fulfill the community service hours using any one, or combination, of these three project models.

    Documents: General Information, Community Service Fill In Form, Student Reflection and Evaluation, Work Hours Log and Reflection

  • Model 1 - School-Site Service Projects
    School-site service is a traditional form of community service currently performed by students. School-site service provides a meaningful way to complete the community service project requirement while also helping meet the needs of the school community. School-site projects also provide excellent opportunities for at-risk students and for students with special needs; e.g., students that must work to provide family income. School-site projects should promote an on-going commitment on the part of students to provide support and assistance to their school.
    Examples of School-Site Projects include:
    Student plans, coordinates, and monitors a school-wide letter writing campaign in support of an issue of local importance.
    Student tutor other students in reading, math, science, social science or other subject for a semester.
    Student serves as a Community Service aide to an appropriate teacher or counselor and assists with the efforts to implement and monitor community service experiences.

     

  • Model 2 - Group Community Service Projects
    Group service projects provide excellent opportunities for students to complete service requirements while also meeting the needs of an individual neighborhood or community. Group community service projects provide excellent service opportunities for organized student groups; e.g., service clubs, honor societies, or athletic teams. (Membership in a service club or organization does not in itself meet an individual student’s community service responsibility.) Group projects should promote an on-going commitment on the part of students to provide support and assistance to the community.
    Examples of Group Community Service Projects include:
    Students develop an Adopt-A-Park program that includes organizing and monitoring regular work details and beautification.
    Students work regularly at a senior citizens’ center assisting with cleaning, food service, and visitations.
    Students work regularly at a children’s home and assist with child care and school work; e.g., reading stories, helping with homework.

     

  • Model 3 - Individual Community Service Projects
    Individual community service projects allow a student to complete service requirements while addressing a community need to which he/she is personally committed. Individual projects should promote an on-going commitment on the part of the student to provide support and assistance to his/her community.
    Examples of Individual Community Service Projects include:
    Student hosts story hours for younger children at a community library or at nearby elementary school.
    Student reads to or records for the blind.
    Student serves as a volunteer at a museum or cultural center.