Community Service

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” Acts 20:35

WHAT IS COMMUNITY SERVICE?
Community service is defined as voluntary help or aid given by a student that in some way contributes to or improves the quality of life in the community or environment. Service hours are accumulated outside regularly scheduled school or church activities and must benefit a person or people in need. At times, community service may meet the spiritual needs of others as long as the effort is consistent with the Biblical philosophy of CCHS.

Work done for pay, for family, or for a profit-making organization is not considered community service.

WHY DO COMMUNITY SERVICE?
Community Service provides a wonderful opportunity to broaden the student’s learning experience. Service activities provide exposure to, and engagement with the real needs of our community and our world. They also involve the student in activities that raise “ministry awareness” with the hope of nurturing a greater desire to serve in ways like that of Jesus Christ.

WHAT IS REQUIRED?
Students in grades 9-11 are asked to serve in the community for a minimum of 100 hours. (25 hours per year in attendance at CCHS). This requirement is necessary for graduation from Calvary Christian High School and will be so noted on the student’s transcript.

HOW DO I RECORD MY COMMUNITY SERVICE?
Each community service effort needs to be documented on an official Community Service timesheet provided by the Guidance Office. Make sure you record each hour spent serving and have an adult supervisor’s signature. Keep in mind that time spent in preparation or transportation is not counted toward the requirement. CCHS reserves the right to approve all service activities.

Community Service Policy

As stated in the CCHS Parent/Student Handbook, Calvary students are required to perform 25 hours of community service for each year they attend CCHS in order to graduate. The Florida Academic Scholars Award of the Bright Futures Scholarship Program requires a minimum of 75 hours of approved community service in order for a student to be eligible.

Community Service forms are to be completed and turned in to the Assistant Principal of Academics and Guidance in a timely manner. Students and Parents may check community service hours through RenWeb. Community Service hours will be updated weekly. A student must reach the required number of hours in order to receive a diploma. Seniors must complete all community service before the end of the 3 rd quarter of his/her senior year.

Students may complete community service for a variety of organizations, businesses, and individuals. Approval of all community service hours is at the discretion of CCHS administration.

Students should submit all community service hours performed. All hours earned will be recorded and counted toward Bright Futures requirements, scholarships, and awards. Ten hours per activity, per year will be counted toward graduation requirements.

Students and parents can see both total hours, and “CCHS hours” on the RenWeb Community Service posting.

The following regulations apply when seeking opportunities for service (effective for all hours turned in after 9/1/07).

Community service hours may only be awarded for physical acts of service. Bringing in items to donate to charity will no longer be counted towards community service.

Students may not earn community service hours while doing work for a class or athletic fundraiser or any activity that earns money that directly benefits the student’s class, team sport or club.

Community service hours may only be earned outside of the school day. No community service hours will be given for service performed between 7:45 am – 2:30 pm on regularly scheduled school days. The exception to this is Minimester.

Students who join a school organization or activity group may not earn community service hours for school-related functions (ex. Band, Choir, Drama). An exception to this would be Interact Club, National Honor Society, or other service related organizations sponsored by CCHS.

Community service hours cannot be earned by performing duties for CCHS athletic teams such as managers, water girls, scorekeepers, etc.

Students may not earn community service hours while performing with a CCHS performing group at a class scheduled performance (ie band, drama, etc).

Students may not earn community service hours for work performed for parents, parent-run businesses or for other immediate family members (siblings, grandparents, aunts, uncles)

Minimester is a great opportunity to earn community service. Students who choose to participate in CCHS sponsored community service during Minimester will be credited all hours toward graduation requirements. All Minimester opportunities (except for internships and college visits – available to juniors only) must incorporate some sort of outreach component for community service)

Community Service Form