Dear Parents and Students,
Piedmont Middle School - an IB World School is a place where students are challenged to display a sense of social responsibility and global awareness. Each child is challenged to become a well-rounded citizen who learns to be aware of the surrounding world and to give back to the community. One of the requirements of the International Baccalaureate program here at Piedmont is for students to complete a specific number of volunteer hours. This requirement is a part of the Community and Service area of interaction as mandated by the International Baccalaureate Organization. Community and Service helps students become more aware of their place in the world and see how they can have a positive impact on others. As a parent, you play an important role in supporting your child in completing his or her Community and Service requirement and can do so in the following ways:
· Sit down with your child and read this information together.
· Help your child brainstorm a list of areas of interest that already appeal to your child, such as love of animals, spending time with older people, working with children, caring for the environment, etc.
· Help your child focus on an idea that he / she would like to develop into a project. Encourage your child to select ideas that are appropriate and fun!
· Help your child organize his/her planning by talking through these question steps:
1. What would be an easy and fun project idea to work on?
2. What are the steps you will need to complete the project?
3. When does each task need to be completed?
· Periodically review his / her community and service hours, helping your child know HOW to write up the service documentation by showing WHAT the project was, WHAT his or her job was, HOW he or she felt about the experience, and HOW he or she affected the people that were helped.
· Help your child understand the positive aspects of community and service through the impact on others and the world.
Your support of the Community and Service area of interaction will help make this a worthwhile experience for your child. Please remember that for your child to remain in the program; he/she must complete his/her Community and Service hours. Thank you for your help in this important matter.
Sincerely,
Jackie Barone, Principal
Community and Service FAQ
What is My Community?
A community is a group of people living, working, or playing together. Notice how some communities are small and others large. Your family is a community. Your class is a community. Your school is a community. Charlotte is a community as well as North Carolina. In fact, we are all members of the largest community of all….the world!
Why Should I Care About My Community?
Since you are part of your community, you are actually helping yourself when you work to maintain and preserve your community. Unfortunately, it is true that many people do not care about their community, but you do not have to think that way. It is important that students learn to care about their community in order to improve the quality of life for themselves and others.
Sometimes it is easy to be selfish and to think about oneself. We all do it some of the time, but just imagine what the world would be like if we did it all the time! The fact is, we are all members of many communities and as members we have to share in the responsibility of making sure that they are the best possible communities in which to live.
What is service?
Serving the community is an opportunity to participate in activities based upon your personal talents and interests. The main focus of community service is to instill an awareness of yourself and the role you play in your community and the world.
What does this have to do with school?
The school is a community of its own. The school community is enriched by the activities we participate in during the summer, on holidays, and on weekends.
This information is a guide to help with logging the community service activities in which you participate. You must document all of your community service activities.
Community & Service Instructions
1. Fill out the Community and Service log by completing the sentence stems. You must document all hours you have completed.
2. Don’t miss out on the many “small” community acts you provide. Make an entry each time you complete one.
3. Remember to include any community and service activities that you have participated in through other organizations such as scouting or church.
4. Community and Service hours may be earned by helping organizations or people other than immediate family. Some examples include:
If you are interested in small children:
Community and Service is not babysitting for your family
Community and Service is watching children at a community center
If you are interested in older people:
Community and Service is not selling them raffle tickets
Community and Service is helping elderly people by volunteering at a Nursing home.
If you are interested in animals:
Community and Service is not walking your dog or family member’s dog.
Community and Service is volunteering your time at an animal shelter.
If you are interested in the arts:
Community and Service is not performing for the school with the chorus
Community and Service is performing at an assisted living center
5. You may not receive money for any community and service hours.
6. You must complete the following service hours
· 6th grade – 20 hours
· 7th grade – 25 hours
· 8th grade – 30 hours
7. Community and Service hours may be completed during the summer.
8. Student logs are collected by your Math teacher.
9. Students/Parents will need to check the PowerSchool Portal under their Math class for the current number of hours turned in and recorded as complete.
10. Community and Service hours are due at the end of each quarter. Any hours completed over the summer are due by the end of first quarter. Fourth quarter hours are due the last Friday in April.
Community & Service Hours Log
Name: ___________________________________________ Grade:_____ Math Teacher: ____________
My Community and Service activity was: ____________________________________________________
My job was: __________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________
The best part was:______________________________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The hard part was:______________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
I made an impact on the people I helped in this way: _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
I'm changed because: _____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
Date(s) of Activity:
Date: _____ Hours: _____ Date: _____ Hours: _____
Date: _____ Hours: _____ Date: _____ Hours: _____
Date: _____ Hours: _____ Date: _____ Hours: _____
Total Hours: _____
Service Organization (if applicable):
_______________________________________
Supervisor’s Name (Please Print): _______________________________________
Supervisor’s Phone #: _______________________________________
Supervisor’s Email or Web Address: _______________________________________
Supervisor's Signature: _______________________________________
Comments: _______________________________________
Student’s Signature: ______________________________________
Piedmont Math Teacher Approval: _______________________________________