A Guide to Community Service

 Are you currently a North Haven High School student? 

Then you must be aware that to graduate High School, you need to obtain 40 hours of community service. And students who aspire to join the National Honor Society are recommended to get 120! These numbers might feel overwhelming, but there are so many opportunities to get community service hours that you will wonder why you ever worried.

Why do North Haven students have to do community service in order to graduate?

Community service builds a person's character and positively benefits their local community. This can mean cleaning up trash at Peter’s Rock Park or helping run the yearly fall fair on the town green. It is a great way to teach students responsibility and how to benefit their local area.

So how do I find the opportunities to get my community service hours?

If you are soon entering High School or already in High School, consider joining Key Club, which is a club that notifies you when there are community service opportunities. Normally when you do your service, you have to fill out a paper form and turn it in to the main office at the High School, but any service you do through Key Club will automatically get put into the system. Keep in mind you can only join Key Club at the beginning of each school year. There is also a bulletin board outside of the High School cafeteria that shows upcoming community service opportunities.

Does the North Haven Memorial Library provide community service opportunities?

YES. The library has several programs for community service. All you have to do is search “North Haven Memorial Library Volunteer Programs,” to find several. This blog you are currently reading earned me 1 hour of community service. If you want to learn more about this, check out the North Haven Memorial Library's website.

If you have any remaining hours needed for graduation, use the information in this blog to find ways to get them. And don't make the mistake of waiting until the last quarter of Senior year to start racking up your hours. Start them as early as possible and get them done! If you have any further questions, you can ask your guidance counselor and they will help you with whatever you need related to community service.

- Parker G., 9th Grade