Service Learning

Instructor: Mrs. A. Sosely

Service Learning

We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. 
~Winston Churchill 



Reminder: All  summer service hours will be due on Friday, September 25th, to Mrs. Sosely. Please see her with any questions ro concerns you may have.
Mission Statement 

Bernards High School recognizes the need to develop, in all students, a sense of social responsibility, in addition to a commitment to their academic and co-curricular endeavors. By providing students with numerous opportunities for service to local and global communities, we believe that we will help students to achieve their full potential as active and productive members of society.

Graduation Requirement
Students are required to complete 10 hours of service each year for a total of 40 hours to graduate .  Each year that the hours meet the requirement an "S" for satisfactory will appear on his/her transcript.  If the hours are not completed a "U" for unsatisfactory will appear.

Students can complete more than 10 hours a year. However, the hours do not roll from year to year.  Therefore, a minimum of 10 hours must be submitted each year in compliance with the new guidelines and by the established deadlines.  If a student does not meet the 10 hour requirement, the following year the student must complete 20 hours in order to maintain an "S" for satisfactory on his/her transcripts.  Please see the full policy in the student handbook.

IMPORTANT UPDATE: Please note that for all students who attended BHS during the 2019-2020 school year, all service hours will be carried over from last year and applied to the 10 hours due for this school year due to Covid-19. Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to Ms. Sosely  at asosely@shsd.org.


DEADLINES
Last Friday in September: Documentation of service performed in the summer is due.

Friday before first semester exams begin: Documentation of service performed during the first semester is due.

Second Friday in June: Documentation of service performed during the second semester is due.

** If  you would like for your volunteer organization to be added to the Suggested List,  please contact me  via email- asosely@shsd.org .

Helpful Websites:

Teen Life:   https://www.teenlife.com/category/volunteer/
Volunteer Match:  https://www.volunteermatch.org/?l=New+Jersey&searchOpps=#


Check out our Service Directory for a full list of cooperating organizations that work with our volunteers. Click here for the full compilation.

Announcements:

Check out our NEW Service Directory, which has a comprehensive list of cooperating organizations we partner with to offer service opportunities to our students. Click HERE

NEW VIRTUAL OPPORTUNITIES!!!

https://docs.google.com/document/u/0/d/16RUKYpHyUkuOlRn-Pdc-1eSuaRUVT_rmb7K0qH-bFYQ/mobilebasic

BRIDGES OUTREACH

Bridges Center, in Summit, is currently collecting  toiletries and canned food donations to help assist those in need during this pandemic. For more information on how to donate or volunteer, please visit the Bridges website at https://www.bridgesoutreach.org/

NATIONAL MS SOCIETY 

The National Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Society, NJ Metro, is hosting a few events in our area during the spring and  are looking for volunteers. Some of the volunteer tasks include setting-up and/or breaking-down the site, as well as cheering on the participants along the route.  For more detailed information or to sign up, please see the links below:

Walk MS: Bridgewater (Saturday, April 25): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/walkmsbridgewater2020

Walk MS: Clark ((Saturday, April 25): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/walkmsclark2020

Walk MS: Roxbury  (Sunday, April 26): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/walkmsroxbury2020

Walk MS: West Orange (Sunday, April 26): https://www.signupgenius.com/go/walkmswestorange2020

Bridges Outreach, Summit 

Bridges provides food, clothing and other necessities to the homeless in Newark, Irvington, and Summit. High School students can join The Bridges Teens Tackle Homelessness Committee. 

W: http://www.bridgesoutreach.org/ E: volunteerbridges@gmail.com P: 908-273-0176

Color A Smile, Morristown 

“Color cheerful drawings for senior citizens, troops overseas, & anyone else in need of a smile.” 

W: http://colorasmile.org/ E: info@colorasmile.org P: 973-540-9222

Reeves-Reed Arboretum, Summit 

Ground Force volunteering for students 14 and up who love being outdoors. Volunteers ages 12-13 are welcome, but must be accompanied by an adult. 

W: https://www.reeves-reedarboretum.org/get-involved/volunteer/ E: l.martin@reeves-reedarboretum.org P: 908-273-8787 ext. 1313


Morris Habitat for Humanity, Randolph 

Students ages 12-18 can join Youth United for fundraising and leadership opportunities. 

W: http://www.morrishabitat.org/volunteer/youth-and-young-adults P: 973-891-1934

Mt. Pleasant Animal Shelter, E. Hanover The perfect volunteer opportunity for animal lovers! The Volunteer Program consists of Junior Volunteers (ages 10-15) and volunteer options for ages 16 and up. 

W: http://njshelter.org/volunteer/ 

E: info@njshelter.org P: (973) 386-059



JEWISH FAMILY SERVICE NEEDS VOLUNTEERS!

Jewish Family Service of Somerset, Hunterdon and Warren Counties is a non-profit (501(c)3), non-sectarian social service agency that has served the tri-county area since 1980.  The mission of JFS is “to preserve and strengthen the quality of individual, family and community life based on Jewish values.” Clients of JFS are from all religious, ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

 

For the past several years, we have been expanding our use of volunteers to improve the lives of older adults and others in the community and have developed several volunteer opportunities we thought ideal for students seeking meaningful community service hours.


Click here for the full flyer of information.

OLD FASHIONED COUNTRY FAIR

Sunday, October 13, 2019 

2121 Larger Cross Road, Gladstone NJ

Family friendly event celebrating Autumn in the country with Clydesdale's, goats, games, pumpkin painting, fly fishing demos, music, food, nature education demos, community art project and more. It takes many volunteers and all of our staff to make this event run smoothly. We’d love to have your help!

There are 4 hour shifts throughout the day starting at 8:30am and ending at 6:00pm
Help for a few hours or all day.
Please be certain of your availability before signing up!

We need help directing cars into the lot, painting pumpkins with little ones, face painting, helping with games and building scarecrows. We also need help setting up, decorating and with take down. 

Event volunteers will be given a t-shirt to wear and keep.
Please bring a refillable water bottle.
Snacks provided all day long.
To get the full list of volunteer positions and shift times, https://www.trackitforward.com/site/370717/event/486511

or email Trish at tmcguire@raritanheadwaters.org





LIBRARY FOUNDATION NEEDS VOLUNTEERS- SEPTEMBER 27th
The Bernardsville Library Foundation is hosting a Wine & Beer Tasting at the United States Equestrian Academy (1040 Pottersville Rd, Gladstone, NJ 07934) to support our library.  If interested in volunteering at the event, please e-mail your interest to: Patpme@yahoo.com 

PLUCKEMIN CHRUCH NEEDS VOLUNTEERS! OCT. 12

On Saturday, 10/12, the Pluckemin Presbyterian Church is looking for volunteers to unload their pumpkins for their pumpkin patch from 4- 6 p.m. All interested students can see Ms. Sosely for details and/or contact information.


INTERFAITH HOSPITALITY NETWORK
Consider volunteering through the Interfaith Hospitality Network of Somerset County, as they are currently in need of students to volunteer their time to support the homeless families  in our neighborhoods. While there are a range of ways in which you can assist, please do not hesitate to call them directly for more information: 908-704-1920.

CONSIDER JOINING THE PG FIRE DEPT!
Looking to get involved? Interested in serving your community and helping to save lives? If so, consider volunteering for the Peapack-Gladstone Fire Department.  There are many ways in which to volunteer.  If interested, please do not hesitate to see Ms. Sosely for contact information.

23rd ANNUAL Hunger Walk 2019

October 20th @ 1 p.m.
Walk starts at the 
Community Soup Kitchen
Morristown





 





Will you please help us? Summer is the season when donations drop off, but the need increases, as many children who don't have access to school lunches depend on us until September.

Consider volunteering and e-mail nancy@cskmorristown.org today.



TUTORS NEEDED FOR YOUNGER STUDENTS

 An after-school academic support program hosted by St. Bernard’s Church, in partnership with the Somerset Hills YMCA, is seeking additional volunteers to sign up this summer before the program resumes with the fall start of classes in the Somerset Hills School District.

The program, taught by high school students and adult volunteers, is free and offers homework help, academic support and computers with internet access to area students in grades K-8.

Adults and high school students wishing to volunteer are required to be registered as a volunteer through the YMCA, a simple and free procedure but one that can take a few weeks to process.

For high school students, the program can count toward community service hours. This is an opportunity for students to share their knowledge, gain leadership skills and give back to the community.

Additional volunteers will help ensure consistent coverage, ideally with one volunteer for every student. A larger pool of volunteers will also enable flexible scheduling so volunteers can come when available and won’t have to commit to a fixed schedule.

The program runs through the school year and is held in a classroom in St. Bernard’s Parish House on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

For young elementary children who do not have homework, the emphasis is on developing reading and math skills through the use of grade-appropriate workbooks and other learning materials. Students seeking academic help can just drop in - no appointments are necessary.

The Parish House, located at 88 Claremont Road, is within walking distance of Bedwell Elementary School, Bernardsville Middle School and the Bernards High School.

St. Bernard’s launched this satellite learning initiative as part of its community outreach efforts, with a particular focus on providing resources to local Latin American residents.

For more information, contact Jessica Bruno at the YMCA, (908) 766-7898 ext. 544, or Alison Davidson at St. Bernard’s Church at (908) 766-0602.

BERNARDSVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT NEEDS VOLUNTEERS

The Bernardsville Fire Department is looking for volunteers. If interested in becoming a part of the team, visit them at the firehouse on Monday nights from 7:00- 8:00 p.m. Also, you can go to join22fire@bernardsvillefire.org, as well, to get more information about membership.


VOLUNTEERS NEEDED FOR MANE STREAM

Join the team and help those with special needs.... If you have an interest in working closely with staff and other volunteers to form a successful team to support riders and their families, then we have  the opportunity for you! Volunteerism can range from 1-5 hours a week during the 6-12 week sessions throughout the year, or you may volunteer for the summer camp as well. You can go to www.manstreamnj.org or call Sarah at 908-439-9636 x 204 for more information.