As the year winds down, some members of the Class of 2013 rush to finish their required learning through service hours.

Over four years, each student is required to complete of 80 hours of community service for a non-profit organization.

Luckily, administration is extremely helpful to those in a desperate need of hours. For the last six months, the guidance department has been sending out notices of the hours a student still needs, also having each student who are short of hours sign a contract saying they were going to meet their requirements.

If students did not have a set plan to finish LTS hours, a meeting was held to give the students opportunities to complete hours. The Waterford High School website  also offers plenty of organizations that are always willing to offer hours to volunteers, along with separate one-time events.

For those who are short of their required hours, administration is giving them a push to the finish. Recently, Mr. Macrino called a meeting during advisory to make sure seniors know the circumstances of getting the hours done. At a meeting of over 30 students who were short of their hours, Macrino made the rule clear; simply: if the hours are not finished, then students will not receive a diploma.

Senior Talia Rickerson, who is short of her hours, understands the circumstances. “The idea that you won’t graduate if you don’t have enough hours is scary. It really gives you a desire to finish strong, and make sure you get it done so you can graduate normally,” said Rickerson.

For students who will not make the April 30th deadline, all hope is not lost. Ms. Cairns, the one in charge of LTS, gives the student a slight cushion. If a student is able to give written detail of how they plan to complete their LTS hours as quickly as possible, then they are allowed an extention.

Senior Jordan Jones, who has finished his hours in the summer of his freshman year, is relieved to be done. “Seeing seniors rush and struggle to get hours done, it gives me a feeling of relief. I was able to finish my community service hours as a freshman, so I haven’t had to worry about any of that for all my whole high school years,” said Jones.

For anyone left with hours, there are plenty of opportunities still available daily. In New London, there is the New London Community Meal Center which is open every day. Little League and Babe Ruth baseball games are starting and they need volunteers to run the concession stand and operate the scoreboard. Local churches are accepting volunteers to do various activities.