FAQ

Do I have to intern?

Yes, the internship is a graduation requirement; students must complete 60 hours of service.

What counts as an internship?

Criterion for a valid placement is: local, with a non-profit or government agency, and a minimum of 30 hours per agency (with the exception that only 20 hours of credit will be awarded for on-campus service.) On-campus internships are determined on a case-by-case basis. Acceptance of any internship proposal is at the discretion of the Director of Service Learning.

What is the difference between internship and community service?

Paideia's internship is community service; the difference between our requirement and that of many other schools is that our students engage in long-term (30 or 60 hours or more) service with one or two agencies, rather than aggregate service hours from a host of volunteer events.

Can teaching Sunday school or volunteering with my house of worship count?

Yes, but a maximum of 30 hours will be awarded.

Are exceptions ever made for service done in other states or abroad?

Yes, on a case-by-case basis, usually with a 30-hour cap.

How do I set up an internship?

Internships are set up by the student with the help of the Director of Service Learning and Civic Involvement, Lisa Fierman, who must approve all proposals for internship credit. Proposals must be submitted prior to the start of service. Forms are available from Lisa and are downloadable from this website. Alternative to getting a sponsor signature on the proposal form, students may forward email confirmation from their internship to Lisa. The process of setting up an internship is part of the experience; students, rather than parents, should handle essential communication and coordinate details through Lisa.

When should I intern?

Students are encouraged to do one internship their 9th or 10th grade year and a second one in their 11th or 12th grade year. Students may explore completing internships after school, on weekends, in the summer, or during the short terms. No more than one class hour for a semester or eighty short-term class hours may be used for internships. Students who plan to do an internship on school time must follow the regular procedures for scheduling courses.

Besides the service, what do I need to do during my internship?

During the internship, students must keep a journal and time log of their experiences and communicate regularly with Lisa, either in conference or seminar, depending on the term. At the end of the internship, you must write a 2-page essay about the experience and have your supervisor complete an evaluation form.

What goes in my journal?

Journal entries must be recorded daily and will vary in length and detail, depending on what you did that day. They should describe your activity but not be limited to description; please also include some reflection about what the experience is like. Please also log hours in your journal and include a total.

What's the format for the essay?

The format for the paper is fairly flexible. It should be about 2 pages double-spaced, typed (please turn in a hard copy and email an electronic copy.) You may use first person. Reflect on the experience as a whole and any highlights. It shouldn't include too much description of what you did on a day to day basis, because that's in your journal. Some guiding questions:

• How did it compare to your expectations?
• Why did you choose this internship?
• What did you learn while interning?
• Looking forward, how might you draw upon this experience in the future?

For more information, contact:

Lisa Fierman,
Director of Service Learning and Civic Involvement
fierman.lisa@paideiaschool.org