Approaches to Service

Students investigate a need that leads to a plan of action over time, developing perseverance and commitment.

Students can participate in meaningful service that benefits the school community. An authentic need should be verified first.

Example: tutor younger students at school, reading buddies, helping beautify the exterior of the building, develop a composting program for the school

Students can participate in service within the local community, with a regularity that builds and sustains relationships for the mutual benefit of all. (These should not be single events of service that lack depth of meaning!)

Examples: regular visits to a retirement home, working weekly with a gardening club to maintain a community garden, working in the church nursery monthly

In response to a disaster, students can quickly assess a need a devise a planned response in order to move towards immediate action. This might lead to more ongoing service opportunities.

Examples: responding to an earthquake by gathering toiletries to send, gathering supplies for family who lost their house in a fire, providing childcare for a family who is having a medical emergency

This would take place after the student has initially developed an understanding of the organization they choose to support and the issues being addressed. Students would directly communicate with the organization and establish accountability for the funds raised. Other types of service (direct, advocacy or research) would also be recommended.

This type of service would be recommended after students participate in more local service opportunities.

Students must understand the background and the circumstances of an identified and authenticated need to support their involvement.

Students can volunteer in service experiences organized by other students, the school or an external group. Students should obtain prior knowledge of the context and service need and use CAS stages prior to and during volunteering.

Students may respond to and act on service learning opportunities that grow out of DP curriculum and units of study. These experiences must be an outgrowth of the class curriculum, rather than an assigned experience.