Questions
Log both your in-school and off-campus hours on MobileServe. You will need to sign in with Google using your school account. You will need a picture of you at the site or event while volunteering to submit your hours. Hours accrued over the summer are due October 1 of that year. Hours received after this date will be forfeit. To check your hours, go to the "Activity" page on MobileServe.
For his/her/their OFF-CAMPUS portion (45 hours) of service, every student needs to submit a proposal form explaining where they would like to complete their off-campus service hours and what they will be doing. You can submit it online (see Proposal Form).
Yes. For reasons of transparency and consistency every student should submit a proposal for his/her/their off-campus service prior to starting their off-campus service work. To avoid disappointment or confusion, please submit a proposal for your site prior to starting.
If a proposed site is new or unfamiliar to the student evaluators, Ms. Bening contacts the student and/or organization in order to be able to provide answers to facilitate Wednesday/Friday Service Board discussions. Research often takes time and can be dependent on the response time of the contact person. Service work completed prior to Service Board approval is subject to the same scrutiny.
• Evidence of real need must be demonstrated. The work being done must directly impact and be accessible to those in need
• The proposed work may not be completed at the Academy or in direct support of Academy students.
• Students may not work for or serve their parents/family members or at their home.
• Students may not waive payment or compensation in exchange for credit nor may they receive any return for their work (Return for their work (including fulfilling requirement for advancing in a position): e.g. Community service assigned by a court for the reinstatement of driving privileges may not be used to fulfill the graduation requirement.
• Students should have direct contact with the beneficiaries of the service.
• While service work may be performed through religiously oriented or social organizations, students will not receive hours for proselytizing or directly promoting the views of a group. Board work/leadership positions on boards, research internships, and lab work are not acceptable for off-campus service hours; these options fall under CA's Internship program. Please reach out to the Director of Internships for more info.
• Students may not complete more than ½ their hours in fund raising activities.
*Other factors may be considered in the evaluation of proposals; the Service Board uses these criteria as basic but not exclusive guidelines.
A list of suggested sites can be found on this website (see Suggested Sites), but students are welcome to work at sites other than those we suggest. A student can email Ms. Bening to ask about sites prior to writing up the proposal to see whether the work may be acceptable; HOWEVER, she does not have final approval; decisions are made by vote of the Service Board.
If a proposed site is new or unfamiliar to the student evaluators, Ms. Bening contacts the student and/or organization in order to be able to provide answers to facilitate Wednesday/Friday Service Board discussions. Research often takes time and can be dependent on the response time of the contact person. Service work completed prior to Service Board approval is subject to the same scrutiny.
No, students who join the Academy after their freshman year will have their requirement adjusted from the normal fifty hour requirement. Students entering as sophomores will complete 40 hours; those entering as juniors 30 hours; those entering as seniors 20 hours. Students may transfer work completed from the school they attended previously so long as it meets CA’s standards.
No, students may not complete their off-campus service hours during the school day when school is in session.
Shapers are a 30 member advisory group for the Service Board. Shapers provide guidance to the elected seniors and serve as event managers for a broad range of events throughout the school year. Once selected, Shapers hold their position throughout their Upper School career. Applications are sent out every year in late-January. To learn more, see Shaper Application.
Academy hours are easily acquired and can be completed through work at a variety of community functions. Examples included but are not limited to work at the many CA social, athletic events and admissions. Any event the Service Board hosts offers service hours as well, such as Tidy Up, Blessing Boxes, and Baking For Good. Work at US dances, sports concessions or with school clubs is NOT acceptable for fulfillment of hours.
Many sites have orientation requirements and/or require background checks for all volunteers. Such requirements cost the agency/site time and resources. To maximize and support their investment, we ask students to complete their requirement at one site/agency.
If a student's site closes or ceases to welcome student volunteers, students may switch sites. A new proposal is required; forfeiture of previously accrued hours will not occur. Ms. Bening will contact the site manager to learn the details.
When a proposal is submitted, Ms. Bening and the elected leaders preview the proposal to ensure that it is complete and the basic criteria have been met. If there are questions about the student’s work, Ms. Bening contacts the student or organization in order to be able to provide answers to facilitate Wednesday/Friday Service Board discussions. Every attempt is made to evaluate the proposal objectively on its merits and not on the merits of the proposer. At the meeting the Service Board President reads the student's explanation of the proposed work and then calls for discussion; the student's name is not shared at any time with the voting body. Once discussion ends, s/he calls for a vote. The president and vice-president do not vote at this time. In the event of a tie, the president and vice-president vote. Should their vote be split, Ms. Bening votes. Once a decision is made, it is recorded in the Service Board minutes, and the student, her/his parent(s), and CA advisor receive an email communication with info about due dates, procedures, and expectations ; if the proposal is denied, an explanation is provided. Often with some adjustment, denied proposals can be resubmitted and accepted.