Community Service
Community Service Recognition Program
1
Students, this is step 1, please request approval for your community service IF it does not meet the guidelines below. Skip this step if it meets the guidelines.
2
Students, this is step 2, please complete this at the end of your service. If you completed multiple days, get a letter from the organization and only submit once with total.
Are you an organization looking for responsible students to volunteer at your event? Please complete the Community Request form to the right!
Requirements & Ideas For Service
Volunteer activities must meet the following requirements to earn the honor of wearing a cord during graduation:
All activities are completed outside of school hours.
You must perform a service for someone other than family members.
Activities done concurrently to your participation in clubs. Activities such as Boy Scouts, Girls Scouts, 4H, etc. (organizations that require service hours) may, with pre-approval, qualify for earning a cord.
160 total hours must be spread over 2-4 years of high school.
Approved Community Service
The following are ideas to fulfill hours of service. You do not need pre-approval for any of the ideas below; but the service may not occur during the academic school day. (Remember, an adult needs to be able to verify your participation!):
Clean up a park (pulling invasive weeds, completing a beautification project, etc.)
Volunteer at a food pantry
Volunteer for after-school events
Being a tutor in an AVID classroom or homework tutor, after school, (may not be during class time).
Volunteer for City of Indio events/festivals
Volunteer at a Humane Shelter or kennel
Volunteer to teach religious classes, like Sunday school
Volunteer at a nursing home or hospice
Volunteer to help the homeless or less fortunate, whether through a church or an organization
Volunteer at a library (shelving, reading to little kids, teaching, etc…)
Assist a teacher, in the summer, to get prepared for the school year (bulletin boards, organization)
Volunteer for the Red Cross
Volunteer for the Recreation Department (coach, supervise)
Volunteer for Little League (coach, referee)
Volunteer work for nonprofit organizations (Rotary, Salvation Army, Boys & Girls Club, etc…)
Volunteer at summer camps
Volunteer for a Chamber of Commerce event
Volunteer for a municipality (court, police, etc…)
Volunteer for Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts or 4H
Not Approved Community Service
If you receive compensation of money or in-kind services/gratuities (i.e. grades, awards)
Chores at home/farm and babysitting
Minor acts of kindness (holding a door open, etc.)
Working for a profit-based organization for free
Working for a political party or campaign
You may not include any hours from a Church service (serving, singing, playing music), preparing/cleaning related to a church service, church programs such as confirmation or church committees. However, if you volunteer through your church and perform service that is NOT expected to complete a particular program, this would count. You may not receive any other credit for the activity, without prior approval.
Additional Information
Success includes being a contributing member of the community. Shadow Hills High School has developed the Knights Service Program which gives students opportunities to develop to their fullest potential, continue to build character, and become valuable members of society.
Students will not only benefit the community, but will develop their own leadership and citizenship skills. To encourage and reward volunteerism and community service, the Knights Service Programs will recognize students who have made contributions to their community through service. Documentation of service to the community can help supplement an application to college and help students earn scholarships!
Seniors who have completed 160 hours (40 hours per year) of documented volunteer service during their high school career will be awarded a cord and be recognized at graduation. In order to graduate with a cord, it is required that seniors complete hours for verification (total of 160) by Friday, March 1, 2024.
Summer Service: Service hours earned during the summer after the academic year may be applied toward EITHER the prior or following school year. For example, hours earned the summer after sophomore year can apply toward either the sophomore or junior year 40 hour requirement.
Electronic verification forms must be completed for each activity for which a student volunteers. Students may only use the Google Form for documenting hours (form below).
Students may keep their own log for repeated volunteer work, but should transfer hours onto the official Google Form for verification. For purposes of documenting hours, students should round hours to the nearest .25 hour (.25 hours = 15 minutes). Unofficial logs/letters will not be accepted.