The sophomore service learning requirement has been reinstated and reduced from 40 to 30 hours.

The change was made in an attempt to allow students to acclimate to in-person learning, according to Katie Clendenning, the high school service learning coordinator.

“It’s been a weird year-and-a-half, coming back into school in person and figuring out how to get settled into that,” Ms. Clendenning said. 

The decision also reflects a change in community partners’ availability. Ms. Clendenning said many volunteer locations were negatively impacted by COVID-19 and may not be able to accommodate students.

The reduction in hours may be temporary, but Ms. Clendenning believes service is important for the high school experience. 

“The big thing is the power of service to open up your mind,” Ms. Clendenning said. “It’s about being able to expand the worldview and see things differently.”