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Identifying
Meaningful Community Service Projects
To be meaningful, community service projects must address a real
need or problem found within the school or community. Students must
be given the opportunity to select a project that reflects both the
needs of the community and their personal interests and skills. In
addition, quality community service projects require an on-going
commitment on the part of students. Hastily planned, short-term projects
do little to foster the purpose of community service: to provide
service to the community and personal growth opportunities for students.
The following criteria should be considered when a student selects
a community service project:
- The
project addresses a real community need or problem.
- The
project provides the student with the opportunity to provide
meaningful and vital community service.
- The
project allows the student to gain a greater understanding
of the community need on which they are working.
- The
project reflects the student's interests, talents, and
abilities.
- The
project provides the student with the opportunity to grow
personally and academically.
- The
project provides the opportunity for continuity of service
and/or participation during the student's school experience.
The
organizations and agencies listed below typically welcome volunteers.
This list should help students generate ideas for community service
projects:
| United
Way Agencies/Charities |
Daycare
Centers |
| City/County
Governments |
School
Libraries |
| Civic
Organizations |
Parks
and Recreation Centers |
| Convalescent
homes / hospices / hospitals |
Political
Organizations |
| Cultural
Centers/Museums |
Religious
Organizations |
Prior
to beginning a community service project, students should contact
their counselor to insure their choice meets the appropriate
guidelines listed above. However, volunteering within a for-profit
business or organization does not meet the acceptable community service
guidelines and will not be accepted. The following list includes
examples of unacceptable places to do community service projects:
| Professional
Offices |
Industrial
Firms |
| Retail
Stores |
Restaurants |
| Motels/Hotels |
Realtors |
| Barber/Beauty
Shops |
Gas
Stations |
MEETING
THE REQUIREMENTS FOR GRADUATION
To
complete the community service graduation requirements for Miami
Dade County Public Schools, each student must complete a community
service project. The project may be completed at any time during
a student's high school year. No prescribed number of service hours
is required unless students are working toward the Superintendent's
Diploma of Distinction or for several scholarships awarded under
the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program where a minimum
of 75 hours of service would then be required.
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