Rolling Hills Preparatory School works in partnership with parents to develop in their college-bound students disciplined minds, sound character, healthy bodies, and creative spirits, through proven teaching methods within a supportive and stimulating academic environment.

Within the framework of this mission, the school specifies the following learning expectations as they relate to Sound Character:

• To develop skills of leadership, cooperation, and teamwork
• To demonstrate a sense of personal and social responsibility
• To develop cross-cultural appreciation and understanding
• To develop a positive and healthy appreciation of self.

All upper school students are required to complete 30 hours of service learning (community service) per year. Upper School students may complete additional hours in their freshman and sophomore years and bank them toward their obligation for their junior and senior years. Middle School students are required to complete 15 hours of service learning per year.

The RHP and Renaissance Service Learning Program offers three ways students can fulfill their requirements:

1. Through specific projects conceived, organized and carried out by one or more Advisory Groups. Projects include habitat restoration at Machado Lake, tutoring at the partner schools, or planning and carrying out other opportunities.

2. By participating in one of the volunteer programs at one of our partner organizations. The RHP and Renaissance partner organizations for the 2009-2010 year are:

• Machado Lake/Harbor Park (helping with cleanup, organizing events, doing restoration, working with the City of L.A. on planning for park uses; special work day on September 19th)
• Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy (working in plant nursery, Saturday planting and trail work days, special RHP planting day on February 6th)
• Taper Avenue Elementary School (helping with events, possible tutoring, TBD when school resumes)
• Toberman Neighborhood Center (tutoring, cooking and serving dinner one day per month, athletic coaching, special events)

3. Individual volunteer efforts:

• Participating in any of the numerous opportunities that will be posted on the Calendar on the RHP website
• Volunteering for any project at any of the approved partner organizations
• Working on an approved project to benefit the school (For more information click here)
• Other volunteering that has been approved in advance by the school

Students will be placed on the Head of School Service Learning Honor Roll when they complete a minimum number of hours of volunteer time (15 hours for Upper School, 7 hours for Middle School) in one trimester and present a short report at one of their advisory meetings at the end of each semester. Students may complete the entire commitment (45 hours for Upper School, 21 hours for Middle School) during the summer or in one semester and remain on the Honor Roll for the year.