Service Learning

Students and parents fill backpacks with supplies for foster youth at 'Huskies With Heart.' — Students and parents fill backpacks with supplies for foster youth at "Huskies With Heart."

Service-learning is an extremely important opportunity for each RHP and Renaissance student. Even in difficult times, it is important to give back and help those in the community. Unfortunately, due to the high-risk nature of service learning, the Schools will not require students to complete any service learning hours for the 2021-2022 academic year.

Websites with non-contact and socially distant options: LAWorks.com, Teensgive.org, and Points of Light. Make sure to check the minimum age and if a parent must be present.

Other opportunities:

Access Books: Sign up on the website https://www.accessbooks.net. If it says that the event is filled, email Lorranne Kampfner at [email protected], and she will add you to the list.

Friends of LA River: Participate in The Great LA River CleanUp events. See their website for information: https://folar.org/cleanup and sign up at https://www.eventbrite.com/o/friends-of-the-los-angeles-river-14963152973

Palos Verdes Peninsula Land Conservancy: Participate in Outdoor Volunteer Days. See this calendar for events: https://pvplc.org/calendar-for-volunteers/

Heal the Bay: Volunteer to help Heal the Bay. See their website for information: https://healthebay.org/ and sign up at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/new-volunteer-orientation-2021-virtual-event-tickets-131960648853?aff.

South Coast Botanical Gardens: Volunteer to help take care of the garden, assist with educational programs, and walk dogs. See this link for more information. https://southcoastbotanicgarden.org/volunteering/

Toberman Center: Help tutor and provide enrichment activities to children at the Toberman Academy After School program, both virtual until further notice. There are also opportunities with the Grab & Go Meal Program, the thrift store, the food pantry, special events and with administrative duties. Complete this Volunteer Interest Form and contact their Volunteer Coordinator at [email protected]

Los Angeles Public Library: Volunteer at one of the Los Angeles Public Libraries. See this link for more information. https://www.lapl.org/teens/volunteer. Opportunities vary at different locations. Contact the Young Adult Librarian or Senior Librarian at your nearest library about getting involved. Those who are selected to participate as volunteers or Teen Council members will need to complete a Teen Volunteer Intake Form and must also have their parent or guardian sign a Teen Volunteer Waiver Form. For more information, email them or call Volunteer Engagement at (213) 228-7490.

Rancho Palos Verdes Recreation and Parks Department: There are several opportunities at the Rancho Palos Verdes Recreation and Parks Department, including at the Native Plant Garden and conducting tours as a Los Serenos docent. See this page: https://www.rpvca.gov/864/Volunteer-with-Recreation-and-Parks-Depa for more information.

Food Finders: Food Finders has a mission to rescue food, reduce hunger, and improve nutrition. To become a volunteer, please fill out the volunteer application which can be found here, or reach out to the volunteer coordinator Sylvia Rosas at [email protected] There is no age restriction, although kids under 16 must be joined by a parent or guardian. https://foodfinders.org/volunteer/

Bolsa Chica: Volunteering at the Conservancy can be a unique opportunity to get involved with your local wetlands! There are many different volunteer positions ranging from one-time volunteer events to long-term volunteer positions. Because of the small size at Bolsa Chica, they have many different types of volunteer positions for all different skill sets. https://bolsachica.org/get-involved-2/volunteer/

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium: There are ongoing volunteer opportunities at the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium. Once accepted into the program, volunteers are registered with the City of Los Angeles. Volunteers, 14 years and older, must be fingerprinted. All volunteers under 18 years of age must have parent/legal guardian permission to volunteer. View the complete list of volunteer opportunities.

Beach Cities Health District: Get more information on upcoming events by filling out this form: https://app.smartsheet.com/b/form/90e7419918a74b37b492e595ffb73fd3.

If you are planning on volunteering with an upcoming event listed on the service-learning document, please check with the organization to see if it has been rescheduled or canceled.

Please note: service-learning logs must be turned in to Adriana Alejandre (e-mail: [email protected]) in the front office to be counted.

Service Learning Information

Rolling Hills Preparatory and Renaissance Schools ensure that our students are connected to their community through a variety of activities. Our service learning requirement is closely tied to our Sound Character pillar as students gain a sense of personal and social responsibility while developing their leadership, cooperation, and teamwork skills through community service.

Whether they find themselves giving back to the local community or around the world, Rolling Hills Prep and Renaissance students understand that there is an obligation to serve the greater good whenever you have the chance.

Requirements

All Upper School students are required to complete 30 hours of Service Learning 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. Seniors must present a reflection on their experiences to their advisory as part of their graduation requirement. They may present this in their junior or senior year.

Middle School students are required to complete 15 hours of Service Learning per year and present on their experience. Eighth grade student must present this during their eighth grade year.

All international students must complete at least 50% of their service learning requirements in the United States.

Options

The Rolling Hills Prep and Renaissance Schools Service Learning Program offers several ways for students to fulfill their requirements.

Through opportunities announced at school by staff or faculty, such as the Blue Butterfly Preserve Workday, the Huskies with Heart Backpack initiative, or the L.A. Food Bank project.
Pre-approved community service and service learning initiatives contained in this list.
Individual volunteer efforts that are previously approved by Rachel Rubin, Service Learning Coordinator and World Language Department Chair.

Approval and Recording

To fulfill their requirements, students can participate in events sponsored on campus and/or with other philanthropic organizations. We provide a list of pre-approved opportunities, and many events are announced throughout the year. Students who wish to volunteer for an event that is not pre-approved (i.e., it is not on the School Calendar, on this page, or with a partner organization listed on this page) must email Rachel Rubin at [email protected] IN ADVANCE with the name of the organization and a brief description of the proposed volunteer work.

Volunteer log forms for all service work must be filled out, signed by a supervisor (who is not related to the student) from the organization for which students are volunteering, and turned in to Adriana Alejandre for hours to be counted. Hours must be turned in before the end of the current trimester to be considered for the Service Learning Honor Roll. Volunteer log forms are available in the office or by downloading from this page.

Head of School Honor Roll

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, seven hours for Middle School) in one trimester. Students may complete the entire Honor Roll requirement (45 hours for Upper School, 21 hours for Middle School) during the summer or in one trimester and remain on the Honor Roll for the year.