Community Service
The purpose of a Community Service Program
is to nurture and develop in the individual a sense of commitment to a
lifetime of caring and compassion and, as a result, to improve the
quality of life for all. Pingree's stated purpose is to develop the
unique talents and potential of each student and, by its concern for
the education of the whole person, to prepare its students for
responsible citizenship in a democratic society in a rapidly changing
world. Through providing opportunities for service, we hope to
encourage and build on the altruistic tendencies that many young people
have. While helping others, they themselves benefit by broadening their
range of experiences and enhancing their self-esteem. In many instances
they find that what they are learning in the classroom has
applicability in the outside world, which in turn gives meaning and
substance to their academic work. They also discover the joy that comes
from being able to make a difference in someone else's life.
Community
Service is not seen as a separate, extracurricular activity tacked on
to an already busy school schedule. Rather it is viewed as an attitude
and a way of life which permeates the entire school ethos from the
curriculum to after-school activities to class projects. For this
reason, there are a wide variety of programs and activities that fall
under the umbrella of the Community Service Program.
Each student is required to fulfill a requirement of 50 hours of community service work as part of the graduation requirement.
Embracing
the importance of service learning, the student-led Social Concerns
Group meets weekly. The goal of the Social Concerns Group is to provide
students and faculty with sufficient information and educational
opportunities to permit a caring and aware response to critical social
issues. This Group offers numerous service opportunities to the entire
Pingree community including: American Red Cross Blood Drive, Christmas
in April, HAWC Holiday Party, Habitat for Humanity, City Year
Serve-A-Thon, Coastal Sweep and Conservation Works.
The Director
of Community Service works with students to guide them through the
process of earning 50 hours of community service work by graduation.
Students who transfer to Pingree as sophomores will be expected to
complete the full 50 hours; incoming juniors 30; and seniors 20.
For more information, please contact:
Katy Gibbs
Director of Community Service
(978) 468-4415 ext 229
kgibbs@pingree.org
