TOWNSHEND — Leland & Gray Union High School has announced that 40 hours of community service will now be a graduation requirement for all students, beginning with the Class of 2019.
In a news release, Principal Bob Thibault said this is “an exciting new step for Leland & Gray. We are firm believers in community service as a worthwhile and potentially rewarding experience for young people.”
Addressing logistics, Thibault said that “given the rural location of our school, it has taken some time to commit to requiring community service. Collaboration with a number of local organizations, though, has yielded enough opportunities for students to complete the necessary hours.”
Students must perform their service with a nonprofit organization, Thibault said, “so this is an opportunity to expand students' connections with our area towns and to learn the value of contributing to their surrounding environment.”
Leland & Gray has assigned two Community Service Coordinators, Phoebe Connolly and Terry Davison-Berger, who both have backgrounds with non-profit organizations.
“We feel that invaluable learning can be accomplished through serving one's community and we're so eager to work this belief into the character of Leland & Gray,” Davison-Berger said.
On Dec. 19, Leland & Gray held a kickoff event for students. The new requirements were outlined and area organizations were invited to speak about the opportunities with their organizations for students to complete their community service requirements.