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The Community Service Learning Program is an important part of the educational experience offered at Needham High School. All students are required to complete and document two community service learning credits (60 hours) as part of their graduation requirement. Here's the link to the CSL form. Completed forms should be given to your School Counselor.
The mission of the Community Service Learning Program is to broaden students’ experiences beyond the traditional classroom by providing opportunities to become involved in volunteerism, service learning, and career exploration. By engaging in such activities, students learn more about themselves, their interests, and the privileges and responsibilities of being a member of a school, local, and global community. Students may complete their community service learning requirements through volunteer work, an unpaid internship, or a combination of both. Specific requirements for each of these two options are listed below. Students may start their community service learning hours beginning in their freshman year. Hours earned prior to that year, including the summer, may not be used.
Students may begin earning their community service hours at the start of their ninth grade year in September.
Students who enter Needham High School in Grades 10, 11 or 12 are expected to earn CSL hours at a prorated rate [Grade 10 (45 hours); Grade 11 (30 hours); Grade 12 (15 hours)].
Students must complete 2 credits, for a total of 60 hours. Each credit equals 30 hours of volunteer or internship service. A minimum of 30 hours must be done with the same organization for one credit, and the other credit/30 hours can be divided up with multiple organizations. Students may complete the entire 60 hours with one organization if they choose, or they may do 30 hours each with two or more different organizations or they can mix and match several experiences that meet the requirement.
Students may earn a maximum of 1 credit through Counselor In Training programs, 4 weeks or greater in duration. Under 4 weeks, students may earn a maximum of 15 hours.
Students may earn a maximum of 1 credit through unpaid internships. All internships require pre-approval, as do some service opportunities.
Students may earn up to 2 credits per year with a maximum of 8 credits over four years. Once earned, these credits are recorded on your transcript with a grade of P (Pass).
Students who plan to earn CSL credit through a service trip: Please log hours of service specifically - travel time, leisure time and sleep time are not considered community service learning hours and cannot be used to earn credit.
Students should get approval from their counselor if a service opportunity is not included in our pre approved list below
Some clubs include a community service component. The service hours are limited to the actual number of hours that students participate in the service component of the club. Planning and meeting times are not considered service hours. For example, a club may have a bake sale to raise funds for a cause. The service hours would reflect only the hours of the bake sale itself, not the planning time.
Students participating in Students Acting to Make a Difference (SAMD) earn service hours for the performance time, not rehearsal time.
Need ideas??? Look here for a list of available opportunities!!
Pre-Approved Volunteer Opportunities
The following is a list of organizations that have been pre-approved for community service credits. A minimum of 30 hours must be completed at one organization. If you have an idea for volunteer service that is not on this list, please inform your School Counselor.
Animals
Animal Rescue League, Dedham, Boston, and other locations
Bina Farm, Therapeutic Riding Program, Wellesley and Sherborn
MSPCA (Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) Boston, MA
Medfield Animal Shelter, Medfield, MA
Needham Science Center, Needham Public Schools
New England Aquarium, Central Wharf, Boston, MA
New England Wildlife Center, Weymouth, MA
Arts, Theatre, Music
Boston International Film Festival (Spring)
Center for the Arts, Natick, MA
Charles River Ballet Academy, Teaching Assistant *
Freelance Players, Jamaica Plain, MA (theater for ages 8-16)
Great Hall Performance Series Foundation, Needham, MA, Ms. Brodsky
Needham Dance Theater, Teaching Assistant*
Needham High School Annual Musical, production support
Needham Players (working with elementary age students on a play) contact: katydirks@verizon.net
Paulette's Ballet Studio, Newton, MA, Teaching Assistant *
Plugged In (assist with teaching rock music classes to younger students)
St. Joseph's Summer Theater, production support
*Teaching Assistants must be currently enrolled students recommended by the studio.
Charitable Foundations
American Cancer Society/Relay for Life
Crohn's and Colitis Foundation
PanMass Challenge (annual bicyling event for cancer research; headquarters in Needham)
Childcare: Education and Service
Most child care programs require volunteers to be at least 16 years old.
Alliance for Children (Adoption Services) 464 Hillside Avenue, Needham
Carter Center for Children, 800 Highland Avenue, Needham, 781-449-4771
Charles River YMCA, Active Family Center, 360 Chestnut Street, Needham, 781-449-6646
Chestnut Children's Center, 167 Chestnut Street, Needham, 781-455-7144
Cradles to Crayons, Quincy, MA
Expressions After School, 1132 Highland Avenue (Episcopal Church), Amy Saltalamacchia: saltalamacchiaexpressions4kids@gmail.com
Kindercare, 1000 Highland Avenue, Needham, 781-449-0777
Needham Children's Center, 858 Great Plain Avenue and 23 Dedham Avenue, Needham
Needham Extended Day Program (NEDP), 781-444-NEDP(6337)
Needham ACE Program:Contact: Guang Rong, Director; Email: NeedhamACE.office@gmail.com Phone: 781-474-3998
Communications
The Needham Channel, 257 Chestnut Street, Needham (assist with production of weekly cable show),
WGBH Public Broadcasting (ages 16+)
Education and Library
Expressions After School, Episcopal Church, Highland Avenue (Homework helpers)
Needham High School Media Center, see Librarian
Needham Public Library
Needham Summer Explorations Program (teacher assistants)
Needham Youth Services Peer Tutor Program
Food, Farms, and Sustainable Agriculture
The Food Project (summer)
Natick Organic Community Farm, 117 Eliot Street, Natick, MA
Newton Community Farm, 303 Nahanton Street, Newton, MA
Powisset Farm CSA, Dover, MA
Languages and Cultural Awareness
Chinese Friends of Needham (CFN):Contact: Dennis Zhang, President of CFN; Email: mycfn.org@gmail.com
Phone: 617-510-8461
www.lifeworks-international.com
www.spanishimmersionjamaicaplain.org
www.visionsServiceAdventures.com
Medicine, Health, and Science
Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Needham, MA
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital, Boston, MA; Summer Health Care Corps Volunteer Program. Contact: Volunteer Services Program Coordinator
Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Needham,
Newton-Wellesley Hospital, Route 16, Newton, MA
Museums
Cape Cod Museum of Natural History, Brewster, MA
Children's Museum, 300 Congress Street, Boston, MA
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA
Needham Historical Society, 1147 Central Avenue, Needham
Science Museum, Science Park, Boston, MA
Outdoor and Environmental Education
Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC)
Blue Hills Meterological Observatory, Milton, MA
The Food Project (summer)
Friends of the Needham Rail Trail Greenway
Hale Reservation, Westwood, MA
Massachusetts Audubon Sanctuaries
Massachusetts Horticultural Society/Elm Bank Reservation
Natick Organic Community Farm, 117 Eliot Street, Natick, MA
Needham Park and Recreation Commission
Newton Community Farm, 303 Nahanton Street, Newton, MA
Powisset Farm CSA, Dover, MA
The Student Conservation Association
Religious Education/Outreach
Carter Memorial Methodist Church, Needham, MA
Christ Episcopal Church, Needham, MA
First Unitarian Parish., Needham, MA
Grace Lutheran Church, Needham, MA
Greendale Avenue Worship Center, Needham, MA
St. Bartholomew's Church, Needham, MA
St. Joseph's Church, Needham, MA
Temple Aliyah, Needham, MA
Temple Beth Shalom, Needham, MA
Senior Citizens
Avery Manor, 100 West Street, Needham, 781-433-0202
Avita of Needham, 880 Greendale Avenue
Briarwood Health Care, 150 Lincoln Street, Needham, 781-449-4040
Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, 1200 Centre Street, Roslindale, MA
Hebrew Rehabilitation Center, Newbridge on the Charles
Needham Council on Aging, 83 Pickering Street, Needham, 781-455-7555
North Hill, 865 Central Avenue, Needham, 781-433-6526
Social Services/Community Outreach/Advocacy
Bikes not Bombs, Jamaica Plain, MA, alternative transportation, bike repairs for economic development projects
Boston Mobilization, Sub/Urban Justice Program
Circle of Hope, 65 Rosemary Street, Needham
The City School, Dorchester, MA
The Food Project (summer food harvesting program)
Habitat for Humanity, High school chapter: contact NHS faculty advisor
Jewish Family & Children's Services Family Table, 1430 Main Street, Waltham, MA, 617-566-0333
Metrowest Step (campaign to end tobacco use), Cambridge, MA youthboard@healthier-communities.org
MIHN (Metrowest Interfaith Hospitality Network), Natick and Wellesley, MA (transitional shelter, homelessness outreach)
Needham Community Council, 570 Hillside Ave., Needham, Ms. Sandy Robinson, 781-444-2415
Needham Council on Aging, 83 Pickering Street, Needham, 781-455-7555
Project Place, Boston, MA, help with events including annual gospel brunch
SALSA Needham, SALSA/Students Advocating for Life without Substance Abuse is an offshoot of the RADD Club. SALSA is a mentoring and peer leadership skills program for students who abstain from alcohol and other drug use. SALSA Youth Leaders are trained to speak to younger students in middle school, presenting themselves as healthy, happy and productive teenagers who have chosen not to use alcohol, tobacco or other drugs. Middle School students learn refusal skills they can use when faced with any risky behavior.
Samariteens (phone befriending for teens in crisis), 617-536-2460
Second Step (transitional shelter for domestic violence survivors), Newton, MA
Stanley Tippett Hospice House, South Street, Needham
Storytime Crafts Storytime Crafts is looking for "Volunteer Ambassadors" to conduct book drives and assist with sorting books by reading level for distribution to schools. Books needed are K-8 with an emphasis on multicultural books. Teens for Tzedek, Urban Literacy Program
Special Needs
Best Buddies, contact NHS Faculty Advisor
Charles River ARC, Militia Heights Road, Needham, MA
Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress
Sports
Girls on the Run - Serve as a role model for program participants. Assist with setting up and breaking down of games and lessons. Provide one-on-one attention to program participants. Participate in games and workouts with the girls. Lead an activity with assistance and supervision of the Head Coach if desired. Participate in the Girls on the Run 5K
The Needham Park and Recreation Commission maintains a current, comprehensive listing of coach contacts for Needham youth sports
Charles River YMCA
Needham Basketball Association (grades 1-4)
Needham Girls' Youth Lacrosse, girlslax@hotmail.com
Needham High School Booster Club
Needham High School Sports Team Manager - contact head coach for that team
Needham Park and Recreation Commission, Summer Programs, 781-455-7521
Needham Rockets Summer Basketball Camp, volunteer only
Needham Jr. Football and Cheerleading
Wellesley S.T.A.R.S, Swim Program in preparation for Special Olympics
Interested in offer a community service opportunity to an NHS student?
In an effort to ensure consistency of practice in awarding Community Service Learning (CSL) credit, please keep in mind the following:
The mission of CSL is to improve and impact a community and its members
CSL must be a student-driven activity. The student is responsible for completing the service and, once finished, the CSL form (including obtaining signatures and handing in the completed form to the school counselor).
Prior approval is strongly encouraged to ensure NHS standards have been met and credit can be given.
1 hour of service = 1 hour of CSL. No incentive deals should be awarded (eg. "work 1 hour, get 5 hours credited").
Adult oversight and signed confirmation of service on the CSL form is required. This cannot be done by a family member.
CSL credit may not be awarded for planning, set up, preparation of the service, etc. (eg. baking time for a bake sale; rehearsal time; meetings in preparation for an event).
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