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to the Paly/Gunn Summer Volunteer Opportunities page! |
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Wrong info? Something missing? You clicked on something, but it doesn't work? Please let us know!
Write to eNews@paloaltopta.org, THANKS! |
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Community Service at Paly and Gunn is part of the curriculum (in the required Living Skills class), and also an important & rewarding extracurricular activity for many students.
The benefits are many -- raised self-esteem, rewarding work, a sense of accomplishment, new skills, better connection to the community, new friends, & lots of fun! In addition, Paly & Gunn are proud to recognize the efforts of high-school volunteers through Transcript Recognition & Service Awards.
Summer is a great time for high-school students (including incoming
freshmen) to experience the rewards of community service & at the
same time earn community service hours for their transcripts.
In the right-hand column is a list of opportunities with well-known local nonprofits who welcome student volunteers. All you have to do is make the call! Most groups are
pretty flexible about matching your schedule &
talents to their needs. Just be upfront about what you're interested
in & what time you have available, & see what can be worked out.
You'll be glad you did! |
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PALY & GUNN ARE PROUD TO RECOGNIZE YOUR EFFORTS |
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through Transcript Recognition & Service Awards: |
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Transcript Recognition |
President's Service Award |
| Benefits |
Raised self-esteem, rewarding work, sense of accomplishment, new skills, better connection to the community, new friends, & fun! |
Hours &
time frame |
100+ hours between 8th-grade promotion & completing high school. |
100+ hours in any 12-month period during high school. |
Types of
service |
Non-profit, civic engagement, & political service, etc. (but not faith-based service). |
Non-profit, civic engagement, political service, & faith-based service. |
Type of
recognition |
Total number of volunteer hours is printed on transcript. |
Certificate of achievement, & note of congratulations from US President. A nationally-recognized award. |
| How to apply |
Document your hours; bring forms to Registrar's Office. [ details] |
| More info |
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Visit Registrar's Office. |
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Contact YCS, 617-8960. |
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KEEPING TRACK |
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Your volunteer hours on behalf of nonprofit agencies can be documented on your transcript as long as at least 100 hours are completed prior to graduation. And if you complete 100 hours during any 12-month period, you are eligible to receive a President’s Service Award (not currently available at Gunn). Documenting your hours can be valuable in applying to colleges. To document your hours: |
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Print a "Verification Form" for [Paly], or get one in the College & Career Center (C&CC) at Paly or Gunn. Take it with you to the volunteer work site. (At Paly PTSA-sponsored Community Service events, forms are handed out at the site.) |
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Please fill lin the entire form, record all your hours, and have the form signed by a supervisor at the site. At Paly, please use a separate form for each agency. |
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You (the student) are responsible for using these forms to record your volunteer hours, obtaining the necessary signatures, & maintaining the forms in your own files at home. |
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FOR TRANSCRIPT RECOGNITION |
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When you've recorded 100+ hours of service, take your forms to
in the Guidance Office, for approval & to have the hours noted on your transcript. To be certain colleges get the info, please try to do this by the end of your junior year. |
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FOR THE PRESIDENT'S SERVICE AWARD. |
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For this award, you must have 100+ hours within any consecutive 12-month period. Print an award application form (Paly only), or get one in the Guidance Office (Paly or Gunn). Submit the completed application to
Note: some activities that don't qualify for transcript recognition may qualify for the President's award. Example: the teaching of religion.
Info about this award & what qualifies as service:
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WHAT QUALIFIES AS COMMUNITY SERVICE? |
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Many things! The rule of thumb is that the work must be done on behalf of a nonprofit agency, and it must be volunteer (unpaid). Examples: |
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Volunteer work at your school (e.g., unpaid tutoring in the Academic Resource Center, or helping out with history re-enactments); |
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Community service opportunities organized by the PTSA or by student clubs at your school, or announced in the Paly Link or Gunn Connection; |
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Volunteer work for the PTSA itself (e.g., helping with mailings or events, or serving on the PTSA's Executive Board); |
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Volunteer work at any local nonprofit agency, working with the elderly, tutoring kids at local schools, working at Jordan's Homework Center, coaching an AYSO or YMCA sports team. |
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Community organizing, including voter registration & political campaigns, may count as community service. |
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Community service assignments in Living Skills or another Paly or Gunn class. |
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Summer service opportunities (a great time to do community service work!). Check out "Summer of Service" at YCS. The C&CC also maintains a file of summer opportunities, including community service opportunities. |
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WHAT DOESN'T QUALIFY? |
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Time spent teaching religion (e.g., in a church, temple, synagogue, or mosque) is not eligible for transcipt recognition, but may qualify for the President's Service Award. |
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QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT QUALIFIES? |
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When in doubt, ask!
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SOME LOCAL NONPROFIT AGENCIES |
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YES READING PROGRAM |
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at Belle Haven School in East Menlo Park. An innovative literacy organization that recruits and trains community
volunteers to provide one-on-one tutoring for at-risk students. Volunteers go through a 2-hour training, & then receive ongoing support from an on-site YES Reading staff member. Summer program runs Jun 25-Aug 3, on Mons, Tues, Weds & Fridays, 9:00-noon. Minimum time commitment, 45 minutes per week.
Contact: Belle Haven Site Director Lia Martinez, 326-0996. |
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PALO ALTO ART CENTER: |
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For art enthusiasts! Assist teachers in children's vacation art camps & Sunday family days. Be an art gallery greeter, or work in the art gallery shop. Help with data entry and mailings. Help with art materials preparation. Hours flexible.
Contact: Volunteer Coordinator Janette Herceg, 329-2370. |
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PENINSULA HABITAT FOR HUMANITY |
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helps low-income families build & buy their own homes. Volunteers can help build houses, work in the office, help with newsletter, or assist with children's activities. (You must be 16+ to work at a construction site.)
Contact: Jamin Sartor, 650-568-7342. |
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STANFORD BLOOD CENTER: |
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Be a part of the Stanford Blood Center team!
Most of our volunteer positions involve interaction with blood donors & medical personnel. All our volunteer positions help us achieve our goal of providing blood products to patients in need. Volunteers may choose among positions at our donor centers (in Palo Alto & Mountain View), or at blood drives located throughout the Peninsula & South Bay at companies, schools, community organizations, etc.
Contact: Tessa Moore, 650-723-6795. |
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SECOND HARVEST FOOD BANK |
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needs volunteers to help sort food for our low-income families & seniors. Each month, Second Harvest Food Bank provides food to more than 42,000 low-income families & seniors in San Mateo County.
Contact: Rita Guntern, 650-610-0800 x415. |
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INNVISION PENINSULA PROGRAMS: |
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There are many ways to assist us in our mission to provide food, housing & self-sufficiency for the homeless & very poor in our area. Help the downtown Food Closet distribute bags of groceries, volunteer at the Opportunity Service Center (help with mail distribution, food preparation, greeting clients), help with the daily Breaking Bread Hot Meals program, help sort donated clothing at the Clothes Closet, & more!
Contact: Trina Lovercheck, 853-7076 x205. |
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LYTTON GARDENS: |
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Change a life with a smile! Lytton Gardens (in downtown
Palo Alto) is home to a diverse population of over 500 low-income seniors who have amazing stories to share. Lytton welcomes friendly volunteers who want to connect with residents & brighten their days. Very flexible hours. Ways to get involved: going for walks or playing games with a senior, bringing your pet to visit, taking a senior out
for ice cream, helping a senior with his or her computer, hosting Bingo or crafts projects, etc.
To join the Caring Connections Volunteer Program, contact Volunteer Director Alisa Dichter, 650-617-7367. |
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ACTERRA: |
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Help preserve the environment by volunteering for Acterra in Palo Alto --
Work at the Pearson-Arastradero Preserve (removing invasive plants, installing, watering and monitoring native plants, etc.) on the 2nd & 4th Saturday mornings of each month (9:00-1:00), or help combat weeds on Wednesday evenings May-Sept (6 to 8 p.m.). RSVP is necessary. Contact Preserve Steward Miriam Sachs Martin, or leave message at 650-962-9876 x315.
You can also volunteer at the Native Plants Nursery next to Foothills Park in Palo Alto, Mondays & Thursdays (11:00-3:00). Contact Deanna Giuliano, 650-949-3158. |
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HIDDEN VILLA: |
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Come work at Hidden Villa's farm & wilderness preserve in Los Altos Hills. Volunteers can work in the organic vegetable garden (Wednesdays 9:30-12:30, followed by optional potluck lunch) or in the ornamental gardens (Fridays 9:30-12:30 and some Saturdays 10:00-1:00). No experience necessary. Commitment can be one-time or ongoing.
Contact: Nayna Patel
650-949-8655. |
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YOUTH COMMUNITY SERVICE |
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is a local organization co-sponsored by the Palo Alto Unified School District to promote youth volunteer service. For more ideas about volunteer opportunities in our area, please visit the YCS website, or contact Krystal Gaumont, 650-617-8960. YCS and other agencies also post their volunteer opportunities at www.volunteermatch.org; you can search this site by interest & location. |
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