Student Community Service
Hawthorne Valley High School Volunteer Requirement
All Hawthorne Valley high school students in grades 9 – 11 are required to volunteer for a minimum of 40 hours over the course of the year. Volunteerism has been incorporated into the curriculum at Hawthorne Valley School as we believe that all of us, including students, have an important role in bringing about a positive change in the world. By each student giving of their time and talents, they provide a valuable service and support others in our community, while expanding their own worldview and potentially exploring future career paths.
The following list of frequently asked questions is provided to help students and their parents understand the volunteer requirement, the resources that are available to help students find appropriate volunteer sites, and documentation requirements.
What types of volunteer projects are acceptable?
There are a wide range of volunteer activities that you can do. It can be informal volunteerism, like helping an elderly neighbor with yard work or working with a non-profit organization, such as the Boys and Girls Club or the Humane Society. Throughout the year there are a number of volunteer opportunities right at Hawthorne Valley, such helping to prepare for a school concert or at one of the seasonal fairs and festivals. You may want work on an existing event or organization or create something completely new.
How do I go about finding volunteer opportunities?
Start by thinking about what kind of volunteer work you would like to do. Is there a particular cause or group that you would like to support or understand more about? Do you have any hobbies or ideas about possible careers that you would like to explore? If so, this is a great way to learn more and try something on for size.
Check the local paper, craigslist or get in touch with local non-profits. Clearinghouses such as the United Way or Volunteer Match www.volunteermatch.org are other great ways to find volunteer opportunities. The possibilities for volunteering are truly endless; but some ways to find volunteer work include:
· Calling or visiting a nursing home. It could be as simple as offering to visit a resident for an hour a week or helping out in recreation departments of nursing homes by assisting with arts and crafts.
· Inquire at the local library to see if you can read books to children or help at an upcoming book sale.
· Call a community hospital or clinic and inquire about volunteering. There are lots of positions in the hospital that are volunteer only like transporting patients to different areas of the hospital, delivering mail and messages, or just plain visiting with patients and having a conversation.
· Volunteer at the community animal shelter.
· Give your time and energy to a homeless shelter, food pantry or soup kitchen. You can serve meals or collect donated non-perishable foods.
· Check with the local fire and police departments. They often have volunteer opportunities available for community members.
· Get involved in a political cause that can use volunteer support.
Students can also meet with their high school advisor, who is able to provide support and guidance to help students find volunteer opportunities. The school posts some volunteer opportunities that have come directly to the school on the Hawthorne Valley School website in the “Our Community” section under “Students”. The direct link is: http://hawthornevalleyschool.org/our-community/students/student-community-service/
How do I document that I have done the 40 hours requirement?
Students need to complete a volunteer evaluation form for each different volunteer project that the student participated in. The form will document the volunteer hours, provide feedback on the volunteer activity and give a recommendation for future students who will be doing this project next year in the school. Once completed, the form should be submitted to your high school advisor.
Posted below are opportunities for Middle and High School students to satisfy their mandatory community service hours. Descriptions of the organization, service, and requirements accompany each opportunity, as well as the necessary contact information. All opportunities have been pre-screened and approved by the Student Volunteer Coordinator.
“A healthy social life is found only, when, in the mirror of each soul, the whole community finds its reflection and, when in the whole community, the virtue of each one is living” – Rudolf Steiner
Organization: Omi International Arts Center
Location: Ghent, NY
Brief Description of Organization: Omi is a not-for-profit residency program for international visual artists, writers, musicians and dancers as well as the site for The Fields Sculpture Park, a year round public exhibition space for contemporary sculpture. www.artomi.org
Brief Description of Volunteer Opportunity: Two student volunteers will work directly alongside the Director of Education Programs, Sasha Sicurella, on Saturdays, helping with the Saturday Children’s Workshop. The weekly class consists of a tour in The Fields Sculpture Park followed by an art activity. Interns would be responsible for helping with set up and clean up, and would have a chance to work with the children in a creative capacity.
Details regarding the volunteer work: The Saturday workshops run in blocks of approximately 10 week in the Fall, Winter, and Spring. The dates for the 2009/2010 season are as follows:
Fall Session
Sept.12 – Nov.28 (No class October 31)
Winter Session
Jan.2 – Mar.6
Spring Session
Apr.3 – Jun. 5
The hours are 10am-12pm and the workshop meets at the Visitors Center.
Requirements: This volunteer opportunity is open to 8th – 12th grade students. Students would need to commit to a minimum of 3 Saturdays and sign up at least two weeks in advance. There is a maximum of two volunteers per session.
If interested, contact: Sasha Sicurella Director, Educational Programs
sashasicurella@hotmail.com
tel: 518.728.9256
Organization: Rewraps clothing store
Website: ps21chatham.org
Location: 32 Main Street, Chatham Village
Brief Description of Organization:
PS/21 is a non-profit arts organization that presents summer programming under a large tent in a preserved apple orchard one mile north of the Village. Rewraps recycles carefully selected donated clothing to benefit PS/21. It is also a year-round source of information about PS/21.
Brief Description of Volunteer Opportunity:
Students will learn to organize accepted clothing, to identify fabrics, to label and tag clothes. If interested, they may be able to assist customers, under the guidance of the daily manager, and help with window displays.
Details regarding the volunteer work: (See above & below.)
Requirements:
Students must provide their own transportation. Age level would depend on level of experience and interest: from 15-18 would probably work. It is presumed that students who apply will have some knowledge of fashion trends.Time commitment could vary from 3-6 hours per week. (The shop’s open hours are Mon, Thurs & Fri 10-5, Saturday 10-4, Sunday 11-3. It is closed Tuesday & Wednesday.) Gender unimportant. We sell men’s & women’s clothes.
If interested, contact:
Susan Falzon, daily manager or
Emilia Teasdale, weekend manager
during shop hours. 392-7333
Or can contact Judy Grunberg (Pres. PS/21) at home anytime
758-1645