Pardeeville High School students who complete the required amount of community service hours will be eligible to wear a Community Service Honor Cord at Graduation that signifies this outstanding achievement. Community service work is that which benefits others in the school, the neighborhood, and/or the broader community. In order to qualify, service work cannot be paid, court-ordered, graded or for credit, or part of general household chores. The hours can be completed over the course of the student’s high school career, beginning the summer prior to 9th grade (maximum of 8 hours), through April 1st of their Senior Year.
COMMUNITY SERVICE HONOR CORD GUIDELINES
Providing Documentation
The community service hours and the documentation of the hours must be completed and submitted to the High School Administrative Assistant on or before May 15 each year for grades 9, 10 and 11. During a student’s senior year, the hours and documentation must be submitted by December 20th and again on or before April 1st.
No hours or documentation will be accepted after those dates.
- Seniors will receive an email with their total hours after the December 20th deadline, so they will be able to determine how many additional hours they will need to complete before the April 1st deadline to meet the 200 hour requirement.
- The student must keep their own log of service hours using the school provided template each year. The name and signature of the supervisor of the community service activity will be required, along with a brief description of the work completed and the date(s) it was completed. Parents should not sign for hours their student performs.
- The documentation form can be found HERE
- The High School Principal will have the final discretion in approving any community service hours if there is a question about the activity. That decision is final and not open to appeal.
General Guidelines
- The student must complete 200 hours of service to the community during his/her 4 years of high school. If a student transfers to Pardeeville, the hours may be prorated.
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No single activity can count for more than 25 hours each year. For example, if a student goes on a week-long mission trip each year, only 25 hours per year would count (not the whole time the student is on the trip).
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There will be no limit on the number of hours a student can complete per organization or club IF the activities completed vary. For example, if a student completes 4 different activities for the FFA, then each individual activity would follow the 25 hour max stated above. But if the 4 activities are similar, they will be combined as one activity per the 25 hour max rule stated above.
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In addition, doing fundraisers for clubs and organizations will only count if that fundraiser does not directly benefit the student. For example, working concessions for Spanish Club to earn money to pay for the student’s own trip would not count, but working concessions for Spanish Club, to raise money for that club would count.
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High School students involved in the music program have the opportunity to count up to ten (10) hours of community service in choir and up to fifteen (15) hours of community service in band for events outside of concerts and other required performances. These hours need to be recorded by the student and have signatures from the appropriate music instructor. When in doubt, ask the music instructor.
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Volunteering only counts for NON-PROFIT organizations. For example, working in a restaurant, store, hair salon, etc. will NOT count as community service. Additionally, service performed for the student’s own family or for profit-making organizations (exceptions include hospitals, veterinary clinics, nursing homes, etc.) may not be counted for hours.
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Students may not receive academic credit or be personally paid for service rendered.
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Service performed as a result of disciplinary action cannot be counted, including court required community service.
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Participation in school sponsored athletics does not constitute volunteer service in this program.
Reminder - Student is responsible for:
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Locating a volunteer site/service. A list of community service opportunities will be developed and kept on the school’s website.
- Validating the service with the High School Principal if there is a question about the validity of the event.
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Documenting their time, obtaining signatures from their supervisors and submitting time sheets before the deadline each year.
Failure to follow these guidelines may result in the invalidation of hours. When in doubt, ask!
Hour Requirements
In order to earn the community service honor cord at graduation, students are required to have completed at least 200 hours of community service as prescribed above.
Students will also receive a certificate stating they have completed 200+ hours of community service. The exact number of hours will not be documented on the certificate.
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