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Community Service FAQs

 
      • Service is a contribution to the social welfare of communities in need or who have a significant lack of resources and is often unpaid. Consistent with the school’s mission and history, work in service to others has been a long standing tradition and community value. Fieldston believes in building an engaged citizenry that actively participates in community life.
      • Community Service is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities . Toward this end we require that students reflect formally on their service experiences to increase learning.
      • TOTAL of sixty (60) hours of service accumulated during the academic year between freshman and senior year or 120 hours accumulated during the summer. The breakdown of the TOTAL hours occurs in two ways:
        • CORE Students are required to complete the majority of their community service learning commitment (approximately 45 hours during school year/90 hours during summer) by working continuously with one distinct non-profit service agency or organization. This helps students sustain a long lasting community commitment, build relationships, nurture leadership skills, and gain a comprehensive understanding of a particular social justice issue.
           
        • FILLER The remaining hours approximately 15 school year/30 summer  can be earned via "filler" opportunities. These are one time or shorter service opportunities that allow students to explore a range of service work. "Filler" hours can be earned through opportunities at multiple agencies, events, or service areas.
        • Come to the CS office in Room 115a
        • Meet with a CS advisor to exchange ideas and learn about opportunities through the school or in your local community.
        • Many opportunities are often listed in the daily Fieldston Bulletin.
        • Complete a CS Project Proposal form.
      • Students must complete the relevant CS forms.

        Core         projects require the following documents to be received and reviewed by the CS office in order to receive credit for their service work:
        1. Project Proposal Form – this needs to be approved before starting the project.
        2. Field Sponsor Evaluation Form and Log of Hours
        3. Student Evaluation of Volunteer Experience Form
        4. Student Evaluation of Lobby or Campaign Trip- as applicable
        5. Internship Reflection Essay
        Filler projects require the same documents as core projects but not the Reflection Essay.

        All forms are available in the CS office and on the ECFS website in the student section under Community Service forms.
      • Only CS advisors can approve credit. This means that if another adult or student in the ECFS community offers CS credit, it still must be approved by a CS advisor. Always check with a CS advisor before beginning CS work.
      • All CS work must be submitted/updated on a yearly basis or it runs the risk of not being approved. This means that forms should be handed into the CS office by June of the school tear/summer in which the work was completed. Due to high turnover in community organizations and non-profits it behooves the student to protect their CS work by making sure it is documented by a current site supervisor and submitted by the end of the school year.

        Please note: Seniors must submit all completed work by early spring of the Senior Year in order to be eligible for graduation – see the CS office for specific dates.
      • Service is a contribution to the social welfare of communities in need or who have a significant lack of resources and is often unpaid. Some service work meets primary needs: supporting a person, agency, or group that demonstrates a community need, usually done through a non-profit or community organization. This includes doing “behind-the-scenes” work that frees others up to do direct service, such as administrative work to aid an agency. Some service work is social justice/advocacy based: participating in a campaign, lobbying for change, mounting an advocacy project.

        “Helpful” jobs such as those done on campus, i.e. managing a team or stage crew has much social and educational value but does not necessarily meet the service requirement as they do not occur in communities of great demonstrated need. This type of work may qualify for filler hours – please see a CS advisor.
        • Any work that does not does directly benefit a community in need (although work done for the ECFS community may qualify for filler credit).
        • Transportation time to and from service sites.
        • Service Club weekly meetings are not eligible for credit (although intensive time spent planning for service by key leaders may be considered).
      • In order to avoid privileging service for students who do not need to earn money, we can accept CS paid work for students on a case by case basis.
      • These may be approved on a case by case basis. Please see a CS advisor for approval.
      • Yes! Be sure to come tell us about the work you are involved in and submit a proposal to make sure your CS work meets with our requirements.