Philosophy

Community service at Colegio Maya is an extension of our mission to foster students' intellectual, social, emotional, and physical growth thereby enhancing our commitment to the development of the whole individual. We believe that community service can stimulate and enhance the educational experience and that it will, hopefully, encourage a lifelong service ethic.

OUR THEME: UNDERSTANDING OURSELVES AND OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH SERVICE

Ten Steps to a Successful Service Project:

1. Research your project.
2. Form a team.
3. Find a sponsor.
4. Make a plan.
5. Consider the recipient.
6. Decide how and where you will perform your service.
7. Get any permission you need to proceed.
8. Advertise.
9. Fundraise.
10. Reflection and evaluation regarding the project and participants' personal growth.

Topics of Projects:

A. Level Sponsored Projects

Description: Projects that are sponsored by any level within the school. Example: Elementary, MS, HS, Upper Elementary, etc.

Guidelines:

• Must be approved by all the advisors at that level and the administrator in charge.
• The service provided should make a meaningful contribution to the community, be recognized by the school and those served and connect the school to the community in positive ways.
• Should be a project in which all the classes within that level can actively participate as well as all the individual students within each class.
• Students should have some direct contact with the people within the project.
• The project should have a level sponsor (s) and it should be registered in the form available in the Elementary and Secondary Offices.
  
  

B. Class Sponsored Projects

Description: Projects that are sponsored by a specific class. Example: 9th grade, 12th grade, etc.

Guidelines:

• Must be approved by the class sponsor and the advisors of the class and by the majority of the students who are members of the class.
• The service provided should make a meaningful contribution to the community, be recognized by the school and those served and connect the school to the community in positive ways.
• Should be a project in which all the students within the class can actively participate.
• Students should have direct contact with the people within the project.
• The project should have a class sponsor (s) and it should be registered in the form available in the Elementary and Secondary Offices.
• Is it recommended that the class continue to work in this project until they graduate from Colegio Maya.

C. School Organizations/Club Sponsored Projects

Description: Projects that are sponsored by the various organizations or clubs in school. Examples: NHS, NJHS, Community Service Club, Carpentry Club, etc.

Guidelines:

• Must be approved by the organization or club sponsor and by the majority of the students who are members of the organization or club.
• The service provided should make a meaningful contribution to the community, be recognized by the school and those served and connect the school to the community in positive ways.
• Should be a project in which all the students within the club/organization can actively participate.
• Students should have direct contact with the people within the project.
• The project should have a sponsor (s) and it should be registered in the form available in the Elementary and Secondary Offices.

D. Independent Sponsored Projects

Description: Projects that are sponsored by individual teachers or students. Examples: Habitat for Humanity, Heart Surgery Support, etc.

Guidelines:

• Must be approved by administration and it must be sponsored by a teacher or a member of our school community.
• The service provided should make a meaningful contribution to the community, be recognized by the school and those served and connect the school to the community in positive ways.
• Should be a project in which all the students who commit themselves to this project can actively participate.
• Students should have direct contact with the people within the project.
• The project should have a sponsor (s) and it should be registered in the form available in the Elementary and Secondary Offices.

E. Ten Hour HS Requirement

Description: This is a requirement that has been phased in with each graduating class beginning the 1999-2000 school year. Students do ten hours of community service each academic year.

Guidelines:

• Class Advisors give each student the Community Service Ten Hours Form each time they are ready for a verification signature.
• The hours of service need to be signed by the staff member supervising the activity.
• The service provided should make a meaningful contribution to the community, be recognized by the school and those served and connect the school to the community in positive ways.
• It should be a service that requires direct contact with the people within the project/activity they are serving.
  · Examples:
  1. Working with the elementary students (reading, math, writing stories, etc.).
  2. Peer tutoring Elementary, MS or HS students.
  3. Library aids.
  4. Hospital work or entertainment for kids in hospitals.
  5. Visiting homes for elders and writing their stories for them, individual advisors.
  6. In any of the project options mentioned above.