My DD volunteered at KidPower while at Sidwell. They had sessions where the kids came certain days a week and Sidwell students would tutor. Kid Power also had a summer camp where DD worked as a camp counselor, but that was near Union Station.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend posing this question to your summer welcoming pod families. If they don't have personal examples, they will probably give you much more accurate/helpful info than you will get on this forum (where most people replying don't have a child at the school and others would prefer having this conversation outside of a public forum).

Hope this is helpful for you

The OP has gotten at least two people replying who are Sidwell parents. I'm one of them and I have replied many times. There is a direct contact provided who will absolutely answer questions on the current scenario. Both Sidwell parents have noted that the scenario changes often so contacting the person provided is honestly the best resource. You will not be bothering them.

Perhaps. But after seeing two kids through this process, I would direct the new parent somewhere other than Alex, surprise her in person, or email/call and expect to wait, wait, wait.

Additionally, as has been implied on this string, the determination of what SFS accepts for service house seems to be somewhat at the whim of the staff.

Sidwell parent here (of a recent graduate and a current junior) and I agree 1000%. We are about 3 years post covid and this process is still confusing, unorganized, murky and frustrating. So many mandatory particulars just to create the illusion that the kids are "giving back" to their community. IMO, it's in large part so much of a farce, that letting the kids choose their own way to serve would be just as good.

What did your kids end up doing? What were the things they wanted to do or did do that didn’t count?

You can't work for a camp that charges families to attend.

You can't work with animals - must be human based.

You need to be interacting with a community - not doing an office job or working for an organization that just collects money to pass on to others.

These are some I can think of.

Our DC worked with organizations that provided food for community (Not these...but along the lines of Martha's Kitchen. Also considered doing Manna/Capital Food Bank but did not.)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend posing this question to your summer welcoming pod families. If they don't have personal examples, they will probably give you much more accurate/helpful info than you will get on this forum (where most people replying don't have a child at the school and others would prefer having this conversation outside of a public forum).

Hope this is helpful for you

The OP has gotten at least two people replying who are Sidwell parents. I'm one of them and I have replied many times. There is a direct contact provided who will absolutely answer questions on the current scenario. Both Sidwell parents have noted that the scenario changes often so contacting the person provided is honestly the best resource. You will not be bothering them.

Perhaps. But after seeing two kids through this process, I would direct the new parent somewhere other than Alex, surprise her in person, or email/call and expect to wait, wait, wait.

Additionally, as has been implied on this string, the determination of what SFS accepts for service house seems to be somewhat at the whim of the staff.

Sidwell parent here (of a recent graduate and a current junior) and I agree 1000%. We are about 3 years post covid and this process is still confusing, unorganized, murky and frustrating. So many mandatory particulars just to create the illusion that the kids are "giving back" to their community. IMO, it's in large part so much of a farce, that letting the kids choose their own way to serve would be just as good.

But in the end - there is a gatekeeper and that gatekeeper is the only person who can approve (or not) the organization. It's true to expect frustration though....the system is constantly changing and answers are hard to get (even from the gatekeeper).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend posing this question to your summer welcoming pod families. If they don't have personal examples, they will probably give you much more accurate/helpful info than you will get on this forum (where most people replying don't have a child at the school and others would prefer having this conversation outside of a public forum).

Hope this is helpful for you

The OP has gotten at least two people replying who are Sidwell parents. I'm one of them and I have replied many times. There is a direct contact provided who will absolutely answer questions on the current scenario. Both Sidwell parents have noted that the scenario changes often so contacting the person provided is honestly the best resource. You will not be bothering them.

Perhaps. But after seeing two kids through this process, I would direct the new parent somewhere other than Alex, surprise her in person, or email/call and expect to wait, wait, wait.

Additionally, as has been implied on this string, the determination of what SFS accepts for service house seems to be somewhat at the whim of the staff.

Sidwell parent here (of a recent graduate and a current junior) and I agree 1000%. We are about 3 years post covid and this process is still confusing, unorganized, murky and frustrating. So many mandatory particulars just to create the illusion that the kids are "giving back" to their community. IMO, it's in large part so much of a farce, that letting the kids choose their own way to serve would be just as good.

What did your kids end up doing? What were the things they wanted to do or did do that didn’t count?

Anonymous wrote:For community service, did the kids help find new homes for the nursing home residents that Sidwell kicked to the curb, so they could sit on a vacant building for a decade?

They wouldn't need to since the Washington Home did that for those who had options and for those who didn't, they stayed in the building until the passed on.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend posing this question to your summer welcoming pod families. If they don't have personal examples, they will probably give you much more accurate/helpful info than you will get on this forum (where most people replying don't have a child at the school and others would prefer having this conversation outside of a public forum).

Hope this is helpful for you

The OP has gotten at least two people replying who are Sidwell parents. I'm one of them and I have replied many times. There is a direct contact provided who will absolutely answer questions on the current scenario. Both Sidwell parents have noted that the scenario changes often so contacting the person provided is honestly the best resource. You will not be bothering them.

Perhaps. But after seeing two kids through this process, I would direct the new parent somewhere other than Alex, surprise her in person, or email/call and expect to wait, wait, wait.

Additionally, as has been implied on this string, the determination of what SFS accepts for service house seems to be somewhat at the whim of the staff.

Sidwell parent here (of a recent graduate and a current junior) and I agree 1000%. We are about 3 years post covid and this process is still confusing, unorganized, murky and frustrating. So many mandatory particulars just to create the illusion that the kids are "giving back" to their community. IMO, it's in large part so much of a farce, that letting the kids choose their own way to serve would be just as good.

Anonymous wrote:For community service, did the kids help find new homes for the nursing home residents that Sidwell kicked to the curb, so they could sit on a vacant building for a decade?

I never got the sense that Sidwell did anything but join in among potential buyers when the nursing home decided to close down and sell the property. I.E. it was the management company that made the decision to shut down the home.

For community service, did the kids help find new homes for the nursing home residents that Sidwell kicked to the curb, so they could sit on a vacant building for a decade?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend posing this question to your summer welcoming pod families. If they don't have personal examples, they will probably give you much more accurate/helpful info than you will get on this forum (where most people replying don't have a child at the school and others would prefer having this conversation outside of a public forum).

Hope this is helpful for you

The OP has gotten at least two people replying who are Sidwell parents. I'm one of them and I have replied many times. There is a direct contact provided who will absolutely answer questions on the current scenario. Both Sidwell parents have noted that the scenario changes often so contacting the person provided is honestly the best resource. You will not be bothering them.

Perhaps. But after seeing two kids through this process, I would direct the new parent somewhere other than Alex, surprise her in person, or email/call and expect to wait, wait, wait.

Additionally, as has been implied on this string, the determination of what SFS accepts for service house seems to be somewhat at the whim of the staff.

But Alex IS the staff who makes the decision.....so why would you rely on parent and not her?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend posing this question to your summer welcoming pod families. If they don't have personal examples, they will probably give you much more accurate/helpful info than you will get on this forum (where most people replying don't have a child at the school and others would prefer having this conversation outside of a public forum).

Hope this is helpful for you

The OP has gotten at least two people replying who are Sidwell parents. I'm one of them and I have replied many times. There is a direct contact provided who will absolutely answer questions on the current scenario. Both Sidwell parents have noted that the scenario changes often so contacting the person provided is honestly the best resource. You will not be bothering them.

Perhaps. But after seeing two kids through this process, I would direct the new parent somewhere other than Alex, surprise her in person, or email/call and expect to wait, wait, wait.

Additionally, as has been implied on this string, the determination of what SFS accepts for service house seems to be somewhat at the whim of the staff.

One of my kids did a lot of work with a local volunteer organization, like hundreds of hours per year, because they truly enjoyed it.

The school generally prefers engagement within a community, where actual people are directly and positively impacted. Think tutoring kids at risk or that sort of thing. Interning at a non-profit where one is stuffing envelopes is not what they will approve.

PS - other than my own post, every useful post (ones not being snarky or dismissive) seem to be from a Sidwell parent or the OP. Honestly OP, just use the Sidwell email structure to contact the person listed earlier. It's summer so maybe you won't get a speedy reply (seems like you are okay with that) - but you WILL be in contact with the person who is in charge of the program and approvals and the system to track hours. This was all meant to be helpful - asking other parents isn't going to do you any more good than contacting the person in charge.

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend posing this question to your summer welcoming pod families. If they don't have personal examples, they will probably give you much more accurate/helpful info than you will get on this forum (where most people replying don't have a child at the school and others would prefer having this conversation outside of a public forum).

Hope this is helpful for you

The OP has gotten at least two people replying who are Sidwell parents. I'm one of them and I have replied many times. There is a direct contact provided who will absolutely answer questions on the current scenario. Both Sidwell parents have noted that the scenario changes often so contacting the person provided is honestly the best resource. You will not be bothering them.

I would recommend posing this question to your summer welcoming pod families. If they don't have personal examples, they will probably give you much more accurate/helpful info than you will get on this forum (where most people replying don't have a child at the school and others would prefer having this conversation outside of a public forum).

Hope this is helpful for you

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.

PS - I'd contact now - in case your child could possible start now. I wouldn't wait until 10th if DC is interested in getting started.