Service Learning

Our school culture is enriched by an educational philosophy that encourages kindness, truth, and service to others. As early as preschool, our students affirm the values of diversity, mutual respect, and social responsibility – not only as they apply within our own walls, but also within a broader social context.

 

We teach our students that learning and leadership are gifts to be shared through service to others; wherever we serve, we make a difference in the lives of others.

By the time a student reaches the school’s upper division, he or she will have amassed hundreds of hours in service; as a school community, we donate approximately 20,000 hours of service annually. Distinguished by an indelible compassion to serve, every Heritage Hall graduate is fully prepared for lifelong civic responsibility.

Service hours will be granted for volunteer experiences completed with nonprofit agencies that have been pre-approved by the Director of Service Learning (Mr. Steve Chard). Additional options may be presented for approval to the Director of Service Learning before the service is completed. It is the student's responsibility to schedule and complete service hours with pre-approved organizations or at a pre-approved event. To receive credit for hours, a Service Learning Reflection Log must be signed by a supervising representative of the agency or activity (other than student's parent) and turned in to the Director of Service Learning in a timely fashion. No service learning hours will be given for hours earned while missing academic class time or while participating in an activity associated with an academic class.

All Upper School students are required to perform a minimum of 25 hours of service per year and a minimum of 100 hours required for graduation.

Service hours will be granted for volunteer experiences completed with nonprofit agencies that have been pre-approved by the Director of Service Learning. An excess of service hours in one school year may not be carried over to the next year. No community service hours will be given for hours earned while missing academic class time or participating in an activity associated with an academic class.

In place of this requirement, seniors have the Service Learning Capstone option. This gives seniors the opportunity to investigate a key area of social concern (poverty, justice, health, family, prejudice), conduct interviews, perform service in the area of interest, and ultimately compose a major research paper and presentation proposing a way to address the issue.