Community Service

What is expected

In addition to the excellent academic preparation Wallenberg provides, we also strive to give our students real-life experiences that link them to their communities and prepare them for successful futures.  To this end, Wallenberg has a longstanding tradition of requiring that our students perform at least 100 hours of community service during their four years of high school prior to graduation.

In light of the disruptions associated with the Covid-19 pandemic, we are reducing the hours requirements for the Classes of 2023, 2024 and 2025  (current seniors, juniors and sophomores).  Beginning with the Class of 2026, however, Wallenberg will return to its customary requirement of at least 100 hours of community service prior to graduation.

More specifically:   

  • Members of the Class of 2023 are required to complete 50 hours of community service not later than January 3, 2023.
     
  • Members of the Classes of 2024 and 2025 are required to complete 75 hours of community service by the end of Winter Break of their senior year.
     
  • Members of the Class of 2026, and all students thereafter, are required to complete 100 hours of community service over the 4 years they are at Wallenberg.
     
  • Students may complete their hours through community-service-oriented positions in the community (whether paid or unpaid), as well as volunteer work on campus with prior approval by the counselors or the administrator of the community-service program (currently Mr. Bromfield).  A list of on-campus activities that qualify for community service credit is set forth below.
     
  • Students are responsible for keeping track of their community-service hours and for providing documentation of their service hours by obtaining a letter or email from their supervisor.  Letters should be signed and on the organization’s letterhead.  Emails should bear the name, title and contact information of the supervisor.  If a student seeks credit for performing community service for multiple organizations, they should obtain documentation from each.
     
  • At the beginning of the spring semester of their senior year, students will share their experiences with their classmates by giving short presentations in their American Democracy or AP Government class.  Students are also required to write a two-page paper describing their experience and what they learned.  These are graded assignments.
     
  • Students who do not meet their hours requirement, and who have not made substantial, good-faith progress towards meeting their hours requirement, may be precluded from participating in senior graduation ceremonies.  Exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
     
  • Students who significantly exceed their hours requirement will receive special recognition during senior graduation ceremonies. 
     
  • Additional details are available from Ms. Baillie and Mr. Bromfield.

 

On-campus activities that qualify for community service credit

  • Student Government (ASB and Class officers)  
  • Blue & White Club
  • Senior Prom Coordinating Committee  
  • Tutoring through the WAGS (Wallenberg Achieving Greater Success) program and other peer tutoring programs
  • Gardening Club
  • Ms. Dale’s Composting Program  
  • Managing a Sports Team (players do not receive community service credit)
  • After-school clubs whose primary purpose is community service (e.g., Bring Change to Mind Club; Heart in Motion Club; ARK Club)
  • Bulldog Bulletin (school newspaper)

This page was last updated on June 1, 2023