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12465 County Line Road, P.O. Box 8002
Gates Mills, Ohio 44040-8002
440.423.4446
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Community Service
The Hawken Community Service Program affirms that we, both as individuals and a community, are dedicated to do ongoing community service. We believe, as the School's Mission and Central Beliefs state, that it is in serving others that our "better selves shall prevail," that we "sacrifice for the common good," and that we learn to appreciate "different cultures, talents and perspectives."
Guiding Principles
• To practice selflessness and build a life-long concern for others
• To appreciate diversity and to adapt more readily to what is unfamiliar
• To promote the confidence that even one person can make a significant difference in the lives and communities of others
• To return a fair share of our gifts of time and talent
• To build teamwork and commitment around a common goal
• To connect curricular lessons from the classroom to life lessons in the real world
Community Service Proposal
April 21, 2009
Passed as non-binding recommendation April 28, 2009
The Senate Resolves to eliminate the existing Community Service Requirement of individual hours and charge the CSAB to design and (pending approval) implement a new community service program guided by the following principles:
Service will remain an important part of the life and culture of the school;
Group-based community service experiences will be designed and organized for all students, with faculty guidance;
All students will engage in campus stewardship activities over the course of each year;
The program will better align with lower and middle school programs and consistent with trends in higher education;
The program will support individual students interested in pursuing service independently, including internships, on their own time or as part of special projects, with appropriate recognition given to students who demonstrate particular dedication and leadership;
Service and community-based learning wil l be incorporated into our existing curriculum, including creating more courses specifically designed around service and integrating service into core courses where appropriate and feasible.
Service-based clubs and activities will continue as a part of the life of the school, but with greater support to student leadership;
Service-based global opportunities will increase over time;
US community service programming will be linked to opportunities in University Circle that involve community and civic engagement.
The Community Partnership and Service Learning office will provide leadership and administrative support to the roll out of the program, and all program recommendations will be made in conjunction with the Community Service Advisory Board, the Dean of Students, all class deans, and the Director of the Upper School.
Transition
Current seniors must complete community service requirements in the current system; failure to do so will prevent students from receiving their diplomas at graduation. Rising Seniors, Juniors, and Sophomores who complete the existing requirements shall be honored with a commendation for service on their transcripts.
Moving Forward
The Senate feels some urgency in moving forward with this redesign and proposes that design phase of this proposal should be completed by Winter Break of 2009, with implementation to begin after review in January. As a start down the road of service integrated into other school programs, and as a trial experiment in collective responsibility for service, the Senate also resolves that for 2009-2010 each House in the Quad system complete two substantial service initiatives. Each advisory must participate meaningfully in at least one of these projects offered by their house. The Senate is mindful that ongoing service efforts might feel that "their" service initiative is taken from them to satisfy a house's requirement; we urge co-operation between house leadership and existing service expertise to maximize the good we can do.
Community Service Fair
Hawken held its first ever Community Service Fair last school year. Over 40 agencies and organizations participated. Click here to read the story. Click here for a list of fair participants.
Looking for Community Service and Volunteer Opportunities?
Click here.
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