Community FTHS Meeting Your Community Service Requirements for FTHS Graduation

The Bottom Line  75 hours total for graduation  12 th grade - 15 recommended  Dragon Talks project is NOT CS -based  Can do service as part of the new senior project  60 hours recommended by end of 11 th grade  11 th grade – 20 recommended  10 th grade – 20 recommended  9 th grade – 20 recommended  Hours are to be logged by ½ hour at minimum (no 10 minutes here, 5 minutes there)  Example: 2 hours 30 minutes for Project Understanding on 10/05/10

Recognition Opportunities  Extra hours look AWESOME to colleges  Must be significant number of hours with a particular group – showing dedication/interest  Some colleges are now requiring service for degree completion  Extra hours recognized at Sr. Memories Night  Silver  Gold  Platinum 225+  Scholarships often tied to community service  Local and National service awards  

Where’s the Information?  Next to Student Store  Bulletin board outside student store office for current list  Foothill website  Media Center  Get forms and proposal applications  Turn in completed hours and reflection papers  Give to Mrs. Kapala (Fall ‘14-Ms. Perry in records) Review, log hours, sign off on completion  Do NOT set on the Media Center desk  Do NOT put in anyone’s box in the office  Mrs. Kapala can help you tie your career interests to community service organizations  Counselors, Mr. Boyd & Mrs. Freeman & Ms. Vega  Answer questions about graduation requirements  Discuss adjustments for non-4 year FTHS students

Programs and Organizations  Approved list of organizations  bulletin board in Building B next to student store  ationProposal to Approve applications  available in Media Center  Additional offers and opportunities  posted regularly on bulletin board in Building B  Off-campus: March of Dimes, Aegis Senior Home, Loving Heart Hospice, Big Brothers/Big Sisters of America, American Red Cross, Guide Dogs of America, Habitat for Humanity  On-campus: NHS Tutoring, FIRE Crew Student Mentors  One day: Beach Clean Up, carnivals for elementary schools, 5K events, etc.

When Were You Notified?  FTHS Application Process  FTHS Registration Guide  FTHS Website  Community Service (media center link)  Counselor visits in Health/Geography  Education in the Digital Age class  4-year Planning  Graduation requirement meetings with counselors

What Do I Do to START……and……FINISH?  Choose an APPROVED organization  Not on list? Go through approval process FIRST – no exceptions!  Complete Community Service cover sheet  Log your service hours for the current year  Have organization verify hours and fill out their section of your form  Write descriptive paper on your service  What you learned about the community…  How your participation improved the organization/community…  Identify the values and ethics of the organization…  What are they trying to accomplish?  Explain how experience relates to or changes career goals…  Turn in cover sheet, log sheet and written essay to Mrs. Kapala – papers in order, please!  Due no later than the last Friday in September*

Special Situations  Main emphasis – LOCAL service  Main emphasis – MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN OTHERS’ LIVES  No more than 8 hours per day for an event  Some organizations have limitations – Milk Rocks, Jofree Ballet  Only performances FREE to a targeted audience may count  Check BEFOREHAND with Mrs. Kapala  Church missions out of the country – 20 hours per week  Must be building, cleaning, drilling wells, etc.  Service out of the country – 20 hours per week  No service for parents or relatives

Final Notes  Find a niche; really get involved, stick with it awhile!  Don’t do 2 hours here, 1.5 hours there,.5 hour another place, 3 hours over there, etc.  Required to perform service at 2 organizations within your 4 years, at least  Service in church organizations is RARELY approved because often it serves a NARROW community, not the GREATER  Student cannot earn any money, pay or financial reward  Approval of service organization after the fact does NOT count – must have PRE-approval  Students that do NOT complete service will NOT graduate from FTHS – VUSD School Board enforces rule