What's the purpose of the Service Learning Committee?
The mission of the Charles Wright Service Learning Committee is to develop each person's potential for moral conduct and responsible citizenship by incorporating service learning into the intellectual, physical and artistic life of the Upper School. We strive for service that comes from our hearts, that blends into our lives and connects us to others.

What is the Upper School community service requirement?
Each student must complete and document a minimum of 15 hours of community service each year. Hours do not carry over from one year to another. A maximum of 5 hours serving the Charles Wright community can be applied toward the requirement in a given year.

What qualifies as "community service"?
The requirement specifies volunteer work for a non-profit organization. This means that picking up litter on your own or washing cars for free at a car dealership does not qualify. If you have any questions about whether an activity qualifies, please contact Carla Parker, Service Learning Coordinator.

Can you suggest activities that do qualify?
Working with service organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, participating in the AIDS Walk, teaching Sunday School and being a youth leader at the YMCA are examples of activities that Upper School students have done.

How can I find out about community service opportunities?
During the school year announcements about service opportunities are made in assembly. Many local newspapers list volunteer opportunities. The United Way website for your county also lists organizations in your area that are seeking volunteers. Often the best sources of community service are organizations that your family is already connected with, such as your church or a hospital guild or a local park board.

Can I get community service hours by serving CWA?
There are lots of opportunities to serve the Charles Wright community. Although the number of hours serving CWA that count toward the requirement is limited, students often volunteer many hours above and beyond that limit. These students have found that service and the resulting connections with other people matter more to them than whether or not the hours "count."

Are there school-sponsored opportunities that serve communities other than CWA?
The Chapel Home Project, the Christmas Dinner, Tussock Moth Day, and various Winterim offerings give students a chance to serve communities other than Charles Wright. In addition, the Service Learning Committee organizes several service projects. Finally, teachers may incorporate a service element into their classes for which students receive community service hours. Most students do not earn all of their 15 hours through school-sponsored events. Part of the educational value of the service requirement is the initiative and the research into agencies that students engage in to fully meet the requirement.

Can I get other people involved in a service opportunity that is important to me?
By all means, tell your friends about it! Students who get excited about a particular service are great recruiters. If it is a service opportunity that could use 10 or more volunteers at one time, the Service Learning Committee may want to organize a group of students to participate. Please come to our meetings and let us know what you know!

How can I document my hours?
Use the Community Service Verification form. The forms are also available from Mrs. Kreise.

After I complete 15 hours, should I turn in verification forms for the extra hours of service I do?
We hope you will turn in all the hours you do. For one thing, your experience can be a resource for someone else. If we know you worked with a search and rescue team from Thurston county, we can direct another student with the same interests to you. Most importantly, we just get excited about all the service students do and we love hearing about it. When word gets out that there are students doing hundreds of hours of service, everyone at school is inspired. Please allow us to share your vision and celebrate with you.

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