Guidelines
	Any student who wishes to receive community service credit for activities that are not clearly defined in this document should complete a waiver form to be considered by the community service advisor and review panel. The goals of community service should always be to better our communities and the lives of those who live in them. It is in this spirit that any student’s participation in service activities will be evaluated. To access this form click here. SERVICE ACTIVITIES (Activities which meet the definition of community service) Humanitarian and Social Service Agencies Community service may be performed for a non-profit organization that provides direct assistance to a group that is disadvantaged or otherwise in need. The service provided may be direct service to the constituents served by the group, or it may be in the form of behind-the-scenes work benefiting the organization as a whole. In the latter case, service performed should be in the form of active feet-on-the-ground participation such as office work, cleaning, building, etc. Traveling to and from distant locations or other time spent not engaged in active service at a location will not count. The following list provides examples of the types of organizations that fit into the humanitarian and social service category: Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia ForKids Hope House Salvation Army Habitat for Humanity Operation Smile N.E.S.T. program American Red Cross Norfolk Animal Care Center S.P.C.A. The Dwelling Place Horizons program Hospitality for the Homeless soup kitchens area hospitals nursing homes Other Activities Benefiting the Community Working to make the community a better place for everyone is also a goal of the community service program at Norfolk Collegiate School. Students may receive community service credit for activities that improve the school or community through service as a mentor, role model, leader, or participant in a project or program that serves the common good. The following activities fit into the category of service benefiting the school community or the community at large: NCS Extended Care Program assistance NCS Summer Camp assistance Serving at the Blue Note Café and Treble Clef Café peer tutoring environmental clean-up or other projects for parks, cities, neighborhoods, and non-profits coaching community youth teams public library volunteering religious activities such as teaching, serving as a summer camp leader, etc. civic league service Senior Project Service Hours Senior projects that are service-based often require students to devote an extraordinary amount of time and talent to their completion. As senior projects are a graduation requirement, the service performed for a senior project is considered credit-earning. In order not to penalize students who must also perform 25 hours of service for the National Honor Society, up to 25 hours of qualifying community service performed for a senior project may also count towards the NHS service requirement. INVOLVEMENT (Activities that are beneficial to students’ growth as individuals, but do NOT meet the definition of community service) The commitment to involvement requires being a faithful participant in a club, team, group, or other organization. As members of such groups, students have basic responsibilities that deepen their connections to the organizations and aid in developing their own talents and interests. Being involved with these organizations benefits students as individuals. In keeping with the goals of the community service program at Norfolk Collegiate School, students will not receive community service credit for activities that fall into the category of involvement. School Involvement In order to encourage students to see themselves as important participants in their communities beyond the boundaries of general school involvement, certain school sponsored activities do not meet the criteria for community service. Activities which are requirements for club membership, fundraisers with proceeds that only benefit group members, and school events in which the general expectation is that students will participate, or those which are held during school attendance hours, are all examples of school involvement. Some specific examples of school involvement include: Fall Fair (except those activities for which 100% of profits go to charity) Art in the Yard Activities to raise money for the Jr. Class SGA Freshman Retreat Managing a sport Playing a sport MS and US Day of Service Lower School Field Day Quick Reference Chart for NCS Service Activities NCS Activities – DO Count NCS Activities – DO NOT Count Babysitting for NCS Open House at LS   NCS Summer Camp Volunteer Art in the Yard NCS Extended Care Volunteer Post Prom NCS Blue Note Café and Treble Clef Café Server Jr. Class Fundraising Peer tutoring for NCS students LS Field Day Tour guide (not during school hours) Managing a Sport                              Horizons Program Day of Service *Fall Fair Booths when 100% of profits go to a non-profit charity  *Fall Fair Booths for classes and clubs Community Involvement Students may be involved in activities in their communities that are admirable and encourage individual growth, but do not meet the criteria for community service. Some examples of community involvement include: Political campaign volunteering Serving as an acolyte at church Singing in a choir; performing with a theater group Attending rallies