Sidwell service learning?

[Anonymous]

Can someone tell me how Community Service works in the Upper School?

My kid is entering as a freshman, and I am wanting to learn more.

I did find info in the curriculum guide on pages 5 and 6, but I'm not really clear if they are saying the kid needs to do 60 hours for one organization and a project, or if they are considering 60 hours to be the project?

What kinds of things have other kids done?

[Anonymous]

Can’t you call the community service coordinator? The school likely has a website devoted to all of this stuff.

[Anonymous]

I believe Alex McCoy is your contact.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can’t you call the community service coordinator? The school likely has a website devoted to all of this stuff.

I could but since I'm curious and not needing to know, I'm not going to bother them.

It seems like we have time to figure this out since the hours need to be in 10th and 11th. Kid is already volunteers, so I'm just wondering.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can’t you call the community service coordinator? The school likely has a website devoted to all of this stuff.

I could but since I'm curious and not needing to know, I'm not going to bother them.

It seems like we have time to figure this out since the hours need to be in 10th and 11th. Kid is already volunteers, so I'm just wondering.

The only way you're going to find out is by contacting the person above. Also - if you are a new parent there is a page one you log in that gives far more details. But the process can be complicated and it has changed over time (COVID) so it's really best to just send an email and ask.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can’t you call the community service coordinator? The school likely has a website devoted to all of this stuff.

I could but since I'm curious and not needing to know, I'm not going to bother them.

It seems like we have time to figure this out since the hours need to be in 10th and 11th. Kid is already volunteers, so I'm just wondering.

The only way you're going to find out is by contacting the person above. Also - if you are a new parent there is a page once you log in (behind the firewall) that gives far more details. But the process can be complicated and it has changed over time (COVID) so it's really best to just send an email and ask.

[Anonymous]

Gosh Sidwell parents are SO welcoming

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gosh Sidwell parents are SO welcoming

How is not welcoming to point to the person who will help them? The rules are so specific and change a lot.

As per original question - I don't know what you mean by a project. So it will be one organization. But what qualifies is not broad. Has to be person related (not animals) - has to be direct contact with people - not a camp counselor (unless serving free underprivileged population).

It's a mess (and fyi - often a hassle). Contact the person above. They will want your kid to deal with most everything but even your kid will might frustrated with it all.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Gosh Sidwell parents are SO welcoming

What did you expect?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gosh Sidwell parents are SO welcoming

How is not welcoming to point to the person who will help them? The rules are so specific and change a lot.

As per original question - I don't know what you mean by a project. So it will be one organization. But what qualifies is not broad. Has to be person related (not animals) - has to be direct contact with people - not a camp counselor (unless serving free underprivileged population).

It's a mess (and fyi - often a hassle). Contact the person above. They will want your kid to deal with most everything but even your kid will might frustrated with it all.

Exactly. It has totally changed through the years. When DD started they were very specific about which organizations you could volunteer with and now they have relaxed the rules.

[Anonymous]

even the process for tracking it all keeps changing.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gosh Sidwell parents are SO welcoming

How is not welcoming to point to the person who will help them? The rules are so specific and change a lot.

As per original question - I don't know what you mean by a project. So it will be one organization. But what qualifies is not broad. Has to be person related (not animals) - has to be direct contact with people - not a camp counselor (unless serving free underprivileged population).

It's a mess (and fyi - often a hassle). Contact the person above. They will want your kid to deal with most everything but even your kid will might frustrated with it all.

Here is the language about projects:

Sidwell 2023-24 Course Bulletin wrote:

Graduation Requirement (10th and 11th)

As a graduation requirement, students must make a long-term commitment of at least 60 hours to one organization, though some students work beyond this. Between the end of 9th grade and the start of 12th grade, students develop individual community projects that may tie into the academic topics covered in sophomore and junior classes. Students can consult a list of organizations or issue areas to explore. Projects must involve direct and active engagement with people in the community so that Sidwell Friends students get to know and build relationships with those in the wider community who they otherwise might not meet.

I'm just not sure if they spend 60 hours developing their project, or if they work 60 hours and then do a project.

I'd love to hear examples of what other kids have done.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can’t you call the community service coordinator? The school likely has a website devoted to all of this stuff.

This, or a variation thereof, is such a useless drivel of a question.Yes, of people could call the school. After all, having applied there, they have the contact information. But sometimes it's easier and faster to get quick answer online and often that works. If you don't understand, you're dumb.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Gosh Sidwell parents are SO welcoming

How is not welcoming to point to the person who will help them? The rules are so specific and change a lot.

As per original question - I don't know what you mean by a project. So it will be one organization. But what qualifies is not broad. Has to be person related (not animals) - has to be direct contact with people - not a camp counselor (unless serving free underprivileged population).

It's a mess (and fyi - often a hassle). Contact the person above. They will want your kid to deal with most everything but even your kid will might frustrated with it all.

Here is the language about projects:

Sidwell 2023-24 Course Bulletin wrote:

Graduation Requirement (10th and 11th)

As a graduation requirement, students must make a long-term commitment of at least 60 hours to one organization, though some students work beyond this. Between the end of 9th grade and the start of 12th grade, students develop individual community projects that may tie into the academic topics covered in sophomore and junior classes. Students can consult a list of organizations or issue areas to explore. Projects must involve direct and active engagement with people in the community so that Sidwell Friends students get to know and build relationships with those in the wider community who they otherwise might not meet.

I'm just not sure if they spend 60 hours developing their project, or if they work 60 hours and then do a project.

I'd love to hear examples of what other kids have done.

As noted above - I think it's less project based than you are interpreting. Most people find an organization, make sure it is approved, and then volunteer for that organization. During COVID it was a little tricky...so it's been squishy in recent years. My examples would not likely help because it was volunteering for Sidwell sponsored online camp, helping kids study online, and then their (more normal) experience was to work at an organization that collected food and provided it for local communities. Part of the organization was providing food in a suburb - but their job was more to move crates into trucks to be taken elsewhere.

THere were some kids that created COVID related projects to help (mask making etc) - but most kids did not create their own "project" - so unless your child is inclined to do such a thing (and get it past the gatekeeping of Sidwell community service) - I'd focus more on finding an organization to work for.....again....it has to get past gatekeeping. <<< and this is why you need to contact McCoy.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Can’t you call the community service coordinator? The school likely has a website devoted to all of this stuff.

This, or a variation thereof, is such a useless drivel of a question.Yes, of people could call the school. After all, having applied there, they have the contact information. But sometimes it's easier and faster to get quick answer online and often that works. If you don't understand, you're dumb.

Apparently they don't have the information. And those of us who have gone through it all seem to have the same conclusion (and it is meant to be HELPFUL....that they will get what they need by contacting the person provided above. It's a complicated dance that is continually changing..... Nobody here is being negative but you.