Civics
I.S. 230 Queens is the School for Civics in the Community. Because we want our students to be well-rounded citizens, we have expectations for all of our students in the area of service. Students attending our school are required to volunteer and perform community service for 15 hours over the course of the school year (5 hours each marking period). Students must submit the completed community service log to their teacher each marking period for community service credit which will be calculated as part of their civics grade.
Community Service deals with our interactions within our school, our neighborhoods, and our community. A service is something we volunteer to do: we don’t expect or accept financial payment for a service. When we give of ourselves, we benefit others. Remember, this is community service, not family service.
There are many ways you will be encouraged to help others while you are at I.S.230, School for Civics in the Community. First, Community Service should be a normal flow from the courses you take. For example, when you study the rain forest in science, you can write letters of support to our government leaders or clean up a forest or river. As you study animal habitats, you might be inspired to donate pet food at your local animal shelter. A short story from a language arts class might inspire you to help someone in your neighborhood... an elderly person, a mother with young children, a family new to our country.
Another way you will be encouraged to participate in Community Service is through clubs and organizations here at I.S. 230. Many clubs schedule a variety of activities that are considered community. Most of your teachers can use extra help in their classrooms. Frequently you will hear opportunities to volunteer as a group to help at area service organizations (e.g., the Food Bank, the Penny Drive, walkathons, etc.).
In addition, you may have already been busy helping others in the community. For example, your youth group in your place of worship or your scout troop may have performed some sort of community service. Your neighborhood may have a clean-up crew that you can help with... or you might want to start one! The following ideas are suggestions.
35 COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECT IDEAS
1. Collect food for a food bank.
2. Collect schools supplies for kids in need.
3. Collect blankets for a home shelter.
4. Participate in a coat collection for kids.
5. Assist with Toys for Tots.
6. Volunteer at the library or a museum.
7. Assist with a book drive.
8. Read and record books for the blind/sick/elderly.
9. Gather pet supplies for a local shelter.
10. Help the elderly.
11. Participate in a park or community cleanup.
12. Participate in the Jackson Heights Beautification Project.
13. Start a recycling project.
14. Make toiletry kits for the needy.
15. Help non-profits prepare and send out mailings.
16. Plant a neighborhood garden.
17. Collect stuffed animals for kids in a hospital.
18. Write a letter to the editor about a topic important to you.
19. Send cards to patients in the Veteran's Administration or Children's Hospital.
20. Write letters to military personnel overseas.
21. Build a habitat for wildlife.
22. Perform at a local retirement community.
23. Design an educational library exhibit.
24. Make quilts for people with terminal illness.
25. Collect items for organizations such as the Salvation Army.
26. Volunteer with a local sports group for kids.
27. Collect sports equipment for schools.
28. Clean up a sidewalk in your community.
29. Volunteer at a community garden.
30. Help out and/or attend PTA activities with your parents.
31. Assist a teacher during lunch.
32. Maintain the school’s Lost and Found area.
33. Visit Freerice.com to donate rice to poor countries.
34. Participate in a needy cause such as a walk-a-thon.
35. Research issues in the community and send them in to Community Board.
