Community Service
Community Service Guidelines
Community Service Coordinators,
Patricia Bellahrossi and Victoria Perez
Email: AHSCommunityService@arlington.k12.ma.us
UPDATED November 2, 2022
General Information
Community Service Graduation Requirement
All Students must complete 40 hours (10 for each year) of Community Service, with a federally recognized 501(c)3 organization, as a Graduation Requirement.
Students are encouraged:
To complete some hours of service with the Arlington High School Community
Set a goal and create a plan for how you will earn these hours over time vs. waiting until the last minute.
To continue their community service and to log them into x2Vol beyond the required 40 hours.
When can students earn their hours?
From the summer before their 9th grade year and May of their graduation year.
Each spring administrators set a final deadline for Seniors to get hours completed and logged according to the year’s school calendar.
What is the Student’s responsibility?
Seeking out and/or creating a personal project for their Community Service
Obtaining prior approval from, AHSCommunityService@arlington.k12.ma.us, if you are unsure if a project or will count
Asking and insuring that an organization is a 501(c)3
Obtaining contact information, Name, telephone number, and email address, of the project supervisor
Tracking and Completing their required 40 hours
Logging hours in a timely manner into x2Vol
Asking questions if you do not understand
Logging and Tracking Community Service Hours
How are community service hours tracked at AHS?
At Arlington High School we track community service hours through a website called x2Vol.
Please note that entering 9th graders need to keep a log of any hours earned until they have access to x2Vol. An email will be sent out when that access is available.
The x2Vol Process
You perform community service hours and get the contact information for the supervisor.
You log your hours into x2Vol, including the contact information of the supervisor.
x2Vol, sends an email to the supervisor for them to Verify that you did indeed complete the community service as you logged it.
The AHS Community Service Coordinators log into x2Vol and Approve that they meet the AHS Criteria.
The hours are then listed as Approved in your personal Community Service File
If your hours are Denied, please be sure to read the note in the email as to why they were Denied, you may be able to re-submit with more information.
Should I keep a backup file of Community Service hours?
Yes! We advise all students to keep a file folder with hard copies of evidence for your community service.
Backup hard copy files have proven to be very helpful if there are any questions regarding a student's community service hours.
It could be a printed email from the organization or a signed log of hours served at an organization or event.
One way of keeping a hard copy is to complete this Community Service Certification Letter. Please make sure to read the top, this letter DOES NOT GET TURNED IN. This is for your records and if you take a picture and upload it to x2Vol, if there is a supervisor signature it can serve as evidence. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1rwGNVPqiPYg5vHEs2wEVMK5m7KBj8JFMvO2PaXZU5cc/copy
How do I log my hours into x2Vol?
Go to x2VOL.com & click “LOGIN” at the top of the web page.
If you have never made an account, click “JOIN” at the top of the web page.
Select “My school instructed me” option and complete registration.
Click “Add Hours” at the top of the web page.
Click “Create New” under Personal Project.
Input activity & contact information.
Double-check that the email address is spelled correctly!
You could also upload evidence confirming your hours (e.g., certificate, photo of signed hourly log, email from supervisor) to expedite the approval process.
Write your own reflection!
For “Goal,” make sure to select Arlington High School Graduation Requirement (or applicable goal if you are a transfer student)!
Email ahscommunityservice@arlington.k12.ma.us if you have any questions!
If you regularly volunteer with an organization...
PLEASE save yourself and us time by grouping your hours by month, quarter, and/or semester.
For example, you volunteer 2 days a week at a 501(c)3. Instead of logging 2 hours per week, Group them together and log once per month as 8 hours or once per quarter as 15 or 20 hours.
What Does and Doesn’t Qualify for Community Service
What qualifies as community service?
Volunteer work performed at a local, state, or federal non-profit, 501(c)3 organization.
Some examples in Arlington are, but are not limited to, volunteering at Town Hall, Fidelity House, The Boys and Girls Club, ACMI, or Arlington Community Education)
Working on a school service project, individually or with a team, club.
For example, tutoring, helping out in the Media Center, helping out in the culinary labs, assisting the custodians, working as a teacher assistant for community service hours instead of a grade, helping provide building tours associated with a school event, or assisting the administration.
We strongly suggest you obtain prior approval at ahscommunityservice@arlington.k12.ma.us
Participating in an event for a cause with a 501(c)3
For example, The Relay for Life, The Walk for Hunger, or Autism Speaks Walk
Assisting in political education efforts (tax exempt under section 501(c)3 but not organizing for a political candidate or party.
Volunteering at a Summer Camp or with a Summer Program that is considered a 501(c)3
For example, Arlington Community Education’s Summer Fun Program, YMCA Summer Camp, or Boys and Girls Club Summer Programming
Community service conducted with a religious organization
A local church group is participating in a service activity to benefit the community, as opposed to missionary work or religious observance.
Acting as an ASSISTANT in a religious education program, NOT the teacher.
What DOES NOT qualify as Community Service?
Activities you do to assist a family member, friend, or neighbor is kind and helpful, but are considered being a good neighbor.
Activities performed at or for a for-profit business do not qualify, even if you don’t get paid.
It needs to be a non-profit under section 501(c)3 of the tax code
Businesses, Stores, Dance Studios, Yoga Studios, and Gyms do not qualify as tax exempt under 501(c)3.
Activities for which you are receiving academic credit.
For example, an independent study, internship, or community service course.
Activities performed as a result of a court-assigned service,
You are performing community service to fulfill a requirement for the court system.
Participation in a political campaign or to promote a specific person running for an office.
Our reason is that 501(c)3 organizations are prohibited from participating in any activities that directly or indirectly participates in, or intervenes in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office. (https://www.irs.gov/charities-and-nonprofits)
Religious activities that are part of a religious organization’s practice, observance, or missionary work, including TEACHING Sunday School, which promotes a specific religious doctrine, do not count.
These are part of personal religious practices and, while valuable, are not general community service.
x2vol.com (For Logging Community Service)