Based on the National Youth Leadership Council's definition, service learning is “an approach to teaching and learning in which students use academic knowledge to address genuine community needs.” Service learning extends beyond volunteering or promotion of a cause. It involves the heart, the hands, and the head. It is a process of identifying a need, developing solutions to address that need, implementing a plan to put a solution into action, and reflecting on the results of that action.
The goals of service learning at The Greene School are:
To enhance the classroom experience by reinforcing existing course concepts and providing opportunities to make connections
To support the School’s Core Values–especially those of Kindness, Global Stewardship, and Social Empowerment–by encouraging critical thinking, civic responsibility, and engaged citizenship
To provide opportunities for students to interact with diverse populations and communities and develop a global mindset
To offer a means by which the school community can engage in reciprocal partnerships with organizations and agencies that serve the common good in the broader community and state
To hone leadership skills, encourage compassion and empathy, and instill responsibility and stewardship
At The Greene School, high school students are required to complete a minimum of 100 hours of community service to qualify for graduation. The School recommends that students complete at least 25 hours each year according to the following guidelines:
Community service activities must be pre-approved by the School’s service learning coordinator.
Community service activities must be unpaid volunteer experiences.
Community service activities should benefit a non-profit, educational, or civic organization in need.
Community service activities cannot be used to directly promote, support, fund, or advance a political cause or ideology, political party, politician, or candidate(s) running for office.
Community service cannot be used to directly promote, support, fund, or advance a religious or anti-religious organization, movement, ideology, clergyperson, or leader.
Service directly benefiting The Greene School, its students, and/or staff is considered school service, not community service, and cannot therefore be used as a substitute.
Students are ultimately responsible for identifying and completing their own community service activities, contacting supervisors for documentation, and submitting documentation to the school’s service learning coordinator.
Following is a list of links to suggested organizations in the local area students may contact to identify community service opportunities:
Catholic Charities Diocese of Palm Beach County
Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County
Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County
Peggy Adams Animal Rescue League
Students are encouraged to reference the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals as a framework for identifying areas in which appropriate service learning opportunities may be found.