The Community Service Program grows out of Brooklyn Friends School's mission and philosophy. As a Quaker school, we incorporate ethical and social values into the curriculum from Preschool until Upper School graduation. Our purpose is to support students in becoming lifelong leaders committed to social justice and to serving others. The program is also designed to expand each student's concept of community and its inherent values.
The Community Service Program is designed and implemented on a division-wide level. Each division has one to two faculty or administrative members who serve as Community Service Coordinators or Clerks. The Preschool, Lower and Middle Schools provide developmentally appropriate in- and out-of school opportunities or projects, which are used as springboards for reflection and community service learning. Faculty engage students in one to three projects per year that center on different themes like homelessness, the elderly, the environment, hunger, health, and literacy. Many of these projects are division-wide, while others are implemented across divisions.
Criteria for Community Service
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Meets a real need in the community
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Promotes each student's awareness of being part of a community
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Is age-appropriate
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Has student and/or group goals
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Is age-appropriately student-driven
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Includes reflection on the experience (before, during, and after)
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Is linked to the school's curriculum and values
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Includes assessment-reflection in regard to goals
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Acknowledges students for community service work done
Community Service/Creativity, Action and Service in the Upper School
The Creativity, Action and Service Program (CAS) is a core component of and central to the Upper School curriculum. This service-based program encourages students to share their energies and special talents while developing awareness, concern and the ability to work with others within the BFS community and in various agencies in the wider community. Students are encouraged to build relationships and become involved in projects that allow them to share their talents and energies while at the same time reflecting on the experience. A prescribed number of participation hours are required for each student, as well as the establishment of a CAS portfolio. The portfolio will allow the students to document service hours and reflect on experiences.
Students in the ninth and tenth grades are introduced to the CAS Program by learning the basic fundamentals of and becoming aware of the importance of service learning. Students are encouraged to participate in projects in-school and out-of-school. Students are encouraged to begin their service projects and volunteerism as soon as possible. Students should complete 50 hours of service by the end of the tenth grade.
Eleventh and twelfth grade students will participate fully in the CAS program. Students will complete a minimum total of 150 hours of in-school and out-of-school projects, beginning the fall semester of eleventh grade. Projects will be evenly distributed over the arts, athletics and various forms of service and social entrepreneurship. CAS hours may be spent on individual or collaborative projects designed to benefit the school community or projects of local, national and global importance.
Joan Rappaport, the Upper School Service/CAS Coordinator, works closely with students and advisors to raise awareness of the program, as well as guiding students in formulating projects.