Many schools require students to participate in community
service projects, but Rancho Community School has taken the effort
to a new level.
Almost every class at the preschool through 11th-grade campus at
Rancho Community Church in Temecula is participating in some kind
of service project.
From efforts as simple as assisting families with an ill parent
to food drives, making Valentines for veterans and trips to Mexican
orphanages, community service has become a major component of life
at the Christian school.
"The goal is to make (service) a way of life for them," said
teacher Chelsey Harlan, who coordinates the program. "We try to
train them to do ongoing service projects ... so they will do it on
their own time as well as when they grow up."
It seems that most of the school's 420 students are enjoying the
"It's fun to help others," said seventh-grader Amanda Gisi,
But it's not simple, added classmate Amanda Ketchum, 13.
"It's a lot of responsibility," she said. "But at the end, it
brings so much joy in helping others. You're making a difference in
Service is even written into the curriculum, Harlan said.
Members of the high school writing class are writing children's
books and reading them to younger students.
Fifth- and sixth-graders are writing to pen pals in Hungary,
while Spanish students have pen pals in a Mexican orphanage whom
they plan to visit and bring shoes donated by elementary school
Other students are writing letters to government leaders
expressing concerns about environmental issues.
The entire student body assists at the Temecula-Murrieta Rescue
Mission operated by the church, where they help to pass out
A group of students helped distribute gifts this week as part of
the Christmas Angels program.
"If I become aware of a need, I get it out to teachers and
teachers tell students," Harlan said.
While the school does have a community service requirement, the
hope is that students do more than just put in their hours.
"We want it to become easy for them," Harlan said. "They can do
something they love so even when they're done with the hours, they
keep doing it."
Students said what could be seen as drudgery has become fun.
"Once you start serving, you can't stop," said Graecyn Boyd, a
13-year-old eighth-grader. "It's like opening that first Christmas
present. You keep on going and want to accomplish more. It's not
really work. If you enjoy it, you're going to want to keep doing
it. It's not a chore for us."
Others students say they get as much out of giving as the people
they are helping.
"When you get to help people, you feel good inside because
you're giving to them and not yourself," said Zac Salomen, 12, a
Dillon Hall, 12, said giving has helped him better appreciate
everything he has.
Before he was in student government, he said, "I never served. I
just wanted people to give to me. Now that I get to serve, I like
giving to other people."