FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. What is Service Learning?

Service learning combines learning goals and community service in ways that enhance both student growth and the common good. It’s a form of education where learning occurs through a cycle of action and reflection as students seek to achieve real objectives for the community and deeper understanding and skills for themselves.


2. What is the volunteer requirement and when must it be completed?

Students are required to be involved with an organization or participate in a community-focused event each quarter AND log the event on helperhelper.com  for quarters 1 2, 3, and 4 (totaling at least 4 events each school year) . Service Learning encourages students to be consistently involved with their community throughout the school year. With this goal in mind, students may not just complete four events in one quarter or over the summer and "just get it over with."


3. What is considered an "event"?

An event is any volunteer opportunity that serves an area of need or community. This includes, but not limited to, events facilitated by non-profit organizations, food drives, animal shelter visits, soup kitchens, as well as Churchill hosted  events (including virtual events) and community programs.  


4. How do students find events?

 All Churchill hosted event are listed on our  Service Learning Opportunities Google Document. This document provides students a brief description of the event, the date & time, as well as how to sign up. We also include a table of events that are happening outside of the Churchill that we have heard about from the community. Students are also encouraged to research and find events outside of school as service learning can be done outside of Churchill. Please see the the resources tab for a list of non-organizations in NYC! 


5. How will students know if they completed the quarterly requirement? 

Service Learning goes on students report card as a Pass/Fail class each quarter.

At the end of each quarter:

No changes to these marks can be made until the next report card (which brings us to question 5). 

*At any point in a quarter a student may ask their advisor if they have met the requirement as they have access to the master Service Learning Record. As we approach the end of each quarter students who have not met the requirement are notified via email.  We email advisors who remind them during advisement meetings and CC parents. The final step for notifying a potential fail is calling home.*


6. Can students make up the FAIL during the school year? 

Yes. If a student makes up an owed event from a prior quarter within the same school year the FAIL will change to a PASS. The PASS will be reflected on the next report card/transcript. 


7. What happens if students don't complete the quarterly requirement by the end of the school year? 

Students who don't complete 4 events (1 per quarter) by the end of the entire school year (June 18th) will receive a FAIL for the year. The FAIL will go on students official transcript and can not be changed.


8. How do students keep track and verify their volunteer experience? 

All students have personal account on the website helperhelper.com which is a website that tracks and validates student participation. Students will verify their “events” by logging them onto Helper Helper. For even easier tracking, students can download the free app on their phones. See the navigation bar on the top left for step by step directions on how to log events on helper helper.


9. Is there any special recognition for students who do more than the required amount of service? 

Students who complete 120 (or more) hours during their 4 years in High School, including summer, are inducted into Churchill's Green Cord Society. Green Cord members are specially recognized at graduation. This is also something that seniors can put on their college applications/resumes.  

Students interested in Green Cord they need to track the numbers of hours they volunteer at each event.


10. How does Service Learning differ from Community Service?

Community service involves projects that many organizations and individuals participate in to help churches, organizations, schools, and communities. Service learning is community service with intentional learning being the primary goal coupled with the service. It’s a teaching and learning opportunity that integrates meaningful community service with purposeful instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. The program empowers students to cultivate real-life skills by researching areas of need, providing reflections on their service experiences, and recognizing their accomplishments with end-of-the-year demonstrations.


11. How can parents get involved?

We welcome anyone to recommend volunteer opportunities or organizations! If you have any ideas and suggestions, please feel free to contact us at servicelearning@churchillschool.com.