All high school students must complete at least 60 hours of community service, within the following guidelines.

1. Your sixty (60) hours of service outside the school and home is limited to no more than two locations. Twenty (20) hours must be completed before the start of junior year. Beginning with the Class of 2007, service (including paperwork) must be completed before the start of senior year. Appropriate service work should follow these guidelines:
   
   
   • The organization you choose should have a recognized history of demonstrated service.
   • Your work may not be done for pay.
   • You may not work directly under the supervision of a parent or close relative.
   • You will be expected to provide your own transportation to and from service work.
   • You are responsible to both the agency and to GDS in terms of meeting your commitments.
   • There must be a specific on-the-job supervisor with whom the GDS Community Service Director can communicate and who will be responsible for evaluating your work.
   • Because one of the goals of this program is to open up new horizons, you may not volunteer to work at a private camp, your church or synagogue, or your music or dance school, unless you wish to be involved in service outreach through that organization.
   • At least 30 hours of your project should offer you direct contact with the population you are serving. You may work for an advocacy or research orgainzation for a maximum of 30 hours.
   • You may not count clerical work; working in the office at a nursing home, for example, will not provide you with the same level of experience that you will gain by working directly with the residents.



2. We encourage you to consider working for an organization like those listed in the handbook and on this website. If you need help in determining your community service project, feel free to ask Community Service Director Vinita Ahuja for suggestions.



3. If you wish to propose an alternative service idea, make your request in writing and submit it to Vinita Ahuja for review. She may ask you additional questions about your proposed project before deciding whether or not to approve it.



4. Once you have had your project approved, telephone the agency to schedule an interview appointment. When arrangements have been made to start your service work, submit your completed Community Service Agreement, signed by your parents and your supervisor at the agency. You must have your project approved and a signed permission slip on file with Vinita Ahuja before you begin your service work.



5. While you are welcome to begin your community service work over the summer between eighth and ninth grades, plan to complete at least thirty (30) hours after you've entered the High School.



6. After concluding your community service project, you must fill out an evaluation form. This will include answering a set of questions devised to help you reflect meaningfully on your experience, either through a 3–5-page written essay or an oral presentation. You will not receive community service credit until you’ve handed in the completed evaluation form and had it approved by Vinita Ahuja.

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