Graduation from IAB requires the successful completion of 26 course credits (as specified below), and completion of approved and documented Volunteer & Community Service.

I.          Course Requirements for Graduation                                                                        

Note:

*          Bible is required each year of attendance at IAB

**        PE/Health is required each year of attendance at IAB

***      For a credit in The Arts, students may choose Music, Art, or Drama

II.        Volunteer & Community Service (VCS) Requirements for Graduation                   

In order to qualify for an IAB High School Diploma, students must complete VCS each year of attendance at IAB beginning with the 2007-08 school year.   

9th and 10th grade students must complete 20 hours per year; 11th and 12th grade students must complete 25 hours per year.  At least 5 hours of VCS per year must be served outside of the IAB community.

Each VCS activity must be pre-approved by IAB, whenever possible, and documented by the student.  It is the student's responsibility to set up their service project.  The school can provide ideas, support, and contact information if necessary.

Guiding Principles of VCS:

• to provide opportunities for students:
  • to learn it is more blessed to give than to receive
  • to realize that there is joy and meaning in service
  • to learn they can make a difference in the lives of others
  • to gain perspective about their place in the world
  • to grow through serving others
• to help those who are less fortunate than themselves
• to serve in a way that benefits others, and does not directly benefit themselves,  their family or friends

Examples of service that qualify as VCS hours:

Service at IAB

• helping in the library
• assisting a teacher
• student buddy for new students
• assistance during school events (eg. set up, clean up, ushering, etc.)
• student council

Service in non profit organizations

• Sunday School teacher
• sound team, usher, worship team, set up, etc.
• visiting seniors or orphans
• teaching English
• raising funds to donate to a charitable organization

Examples of service that do not qualify for VCS hours:

• tutoring a friend or relative
• helping in a friend or relative's business/company/organization
• receiving any kind of monetary or personal benefits

Student Responsibilities:

1. Research an activity to participate in and present your plan to the VCS Coordinator.   Ask the activity leader (adult) who is in charge of the activity if he/she would be willing to sign a VCS form to verify your participation.
2. Once your activity has been approved, enjoy your participation, learn and contribute all you can.
3. Obtain an ‘IAB High School Volunteer & Community Service Report' from the VCS bulletin board, and complete one for each activity.  Ask the activity leader(s) to verify your participation.   Jot down some notes on the back of the form about what you liked/disliked/expected, etc. about the VCS activity.
4. Submit completed forms to the VCS Coordinator.  Keep track of your VCS hours, and make sure you are on track to complete the required hours each year.
5. Students will be required to write an end-of-year essay (minimum 300 words) reflecting on their participation in VCS.  They will be given their completed VCS forms and notes, and then asked to write on one of the following essay questions:
   1. Which volunteer experience has changed your thinking the most or had the most impact on you?  Explain why.
   2. Think about your volunteer experience(s) this year.  What were your expectations before you began?  Were things how you expected them to be?  If they were different than you expected, in what way were they different?
   3. Of all your volunteer experiences, which one did you like the most?  Which one did you like the least?  Explain why.
       
6. Students who do not complete the required hours by the end of the school year will be required to submit a written plan for fulfilling their VCS hours.  Students who do not complete their VCS hours will not be eligible for the IAB high school graduation diploma.