Why serve?
In the International Studies Schools Network, students are prepared to be active global citizens by engaging directly with local, national, and international communities to take action and solve problems. To be honest, though, most people who serve others say they learn the most about themselves in the process.
What is community service?
When you make a donation (of goods, time, or sweat) that benefits another person or organization, that’s community service. This category can include things that you do outside of school (volunteering at an assisted living center, offering free childcare at your church, making sandwiches for homeless people, volunteering at an animal shelter, caring for community gardens, participating in a holiday-related event like Thanksgiving with Caritas or “Coats for Kids,” etc.) and school-related activities (school-sanctioned canned food drives, planned service activities during our travel experiences, etc.).
What is service-learning?
This is a learning strategy that asks students to apply knowledge and skills from school to research, identify, and address community needs. This scenario focuses as much on the learner and the process as it does on the intended recipient. In service-learning, the student is often the designer/organizer of the experience. Service-learning refers to specific curriculum experiences such as the freshman food label or garden project, the sophomore TGPLAN (Think Globally, Problem-solve Locally, Act Neighborly) advocacy project, and the senior capstone experience.
Is service the same thing as volunteering? These words have a lot in common, but there is a subtle difference. When you are volunteering, you are giving your time because you choose to do so, and there is no expectation of anything in return. You might volunteer for a political cause, volunteer to babysit your little sister, volunteer through an internship, volunteer to pass out papers in class, volunteer to bring donuts to your friends, volunteer to help your club sponsor take tickets at the door of an event, or even volunteer as tribute. Those are all really nice things that may lead to great learning opportunities, and we encourage you to do them. For our graduation distinction, however, we are focusing on direct service to specific groups in need. This can include people in need (children, elderly, homeless, poor, victims of a recent tragedy, etc), animals in need (specifically shelter animals or animals used to help people), or planets in need (parks and river clean-up, community garden work, etc.)
So what’s expected of me? We want you to participate in community service and service-learning activities. Each year, students should strive to earn 30 points (for a total of 120 by May 1 of your senior year). Students who achieve that goal of earning 120 points or more will be honored at the Senior Salute and will receive the “Globie Award.” We know that some students, especially students who work or who are involved in time-consuming extra-curricular activities, will struggle to earn 120 points. If a student has completed all other endorsement requirements, and they have earned a minimum of 80 service points, they will be eligible for a full endorsement from AGS/ISSN and a graduation distinction in their senior year.
Click the document below to read the answers to Frequently Asked Questions
In the International Studies Schools Network, students are prepared to be active global citizens by engaging directly with local, national, and international communities to take action and solve problems. To be honest, though, most people who serve others say they learn the most about themselves in the process.
What is community service?
When you make a donation (of goods, time, or sweat) that benefits another person or organization, that’s community service. This category can include things that you do outside of school (volunteering at an assisted living center, offering free childcare at your church, making sandwiches for homeless people, volunteering at an animal shelter, caring for community gardens, participating in a holiday-related event like Thanksgiving with Caritas or “Coats for Kids,” etc.) and school-related activities (school-sanctioned canned food drives, planned service activities during our travel experiences, etc.).
What is service-learning?
This is a learning strategy that asks students to apply knowledge and skills from school to research, identify, and address community needs. This scenario focuses as much on the learner and the process as it does on the intended recipient. In service-learning, the student is often the designer/organizer of the experience. Service-learning refers to specific curriculum experiences such as the freshman food label or garden project, the sophomore TGPLAN (Think Globally, Problem-solve Locally, Act Neighborly) advocacy project, and the senior capstone experience.
Is service the same thing as volunteering? These words have a lot in common, but there is a subtle difference. When you are volunteering, you are giving your time because you choose to do so, and there is no expectation of anything in return. You might volunteer for a political cause, volunteer to babysit your little sister, volunteer through an internship, volunteer to pass out papers in class, volunteer to bring donuts to your friends, volunteer to help your club sponsor take tickets at the door of an event, or even volunteer as tribute. Those are all really nice things that may lead to great learning opportunities, and we encourage you to do them. For our graduation distinction, however, we are focusing on direct service to specific groups in need. This can include people in need (children, elderly, homeless, poor, victims of a recent tragedy, etc), animals in need (specifically shelter animals or animals used to help people), or planets in need (parks and river clean-up, community garden work, etc.)
So what’s expected of me? We want you to participate in community service and service-learning activities. Each year, students should strive to earn 30 points (for a total of 120 by May 1 of your senior year). Students who achieve that goal of earning 120 points or more will be honored at the Senior Salute and will receive the “Globie Award.” We know that some students, especially students who work or who are involved in time-consuming extra-curricular activities, will struggle to earn 120 points. If a student has completed all other endorsement requirements, and they have earned a minimum of 80 service points, they will be eligible for a full endorsement from AGS/ISSN and a graduation distinction in their senior year.
Click the document below to read the answers to Frequently Asked Questions
| ags_service_faq_updated_2013.doc |
