Your Service Hours

You've done service and you're ready to submit hours - great work!

Follow these steps to get your hours into your SchooLinks transcript.

Record your service

a. SchooLinks

SchooLinks is the official service tracking platform for ETHS. Logging your hours on SchooLinks is the recommended method for service tracking. View the graphic below to learn how to navigate SchooLinks for service.
Learn more about how to submit your hours fully online through SchooLinks here.

b. Make a copy of our online form

Create a copy of the form.
You can either fill it out online, or print it out to be filled out but either way the form must be signed by the adult supervising your service.
Once it is complete, turn it in to our office and we will input the service into SchooLinks.

c. Turn in a form from your service organization.

Some organizations have their own official forms you can turn in. As long as they detail what kind of service was done, how long it was done, and are signed by someone at the organization, our office will accept them and log them in SchooLinks for you. Here is an example:

2. Submit

If you used our online form, either print it and bring it in to our office in the Hub or email it to us at ethscommunityservice@eths202.org

If you used SchooLinks, make sure your form was submitted and wait for your supervisor to verify your hours. Once that's done, our office will verify the hours and record them in your transcript. If you submit more than 30 hours, our office will reach out for a breakdown to get a better idea of what you did during that time.

What If My Supervisor Isn't Approving My Hours on SchooLinks?

Reach out to your supervisor independently asking them to look for an email from SchooLinks in their inbox, trash, and spam. If they can't find it, reach out to our office and we can resend the verification link!

3. Make sure everything looks correct in your transcript

Your transcript is an online tool that you can access through Schoolinks on the Experience Tracking page. On this page you can submit experiences, view your past experiences, and download a PDF transcript.

It is important that you record your service hours in your transcript so that you can provide the transcript to future employers or admission counselors. Your transcript also helps you to keep track of the work you've done and will be required if you choose to become a part of any honor societies while you're at ETHS.

Have a question about honor societies? Find out more about them here.

Wondering what counts as service?

Service is work that is done voluntary (unpaid) for the benefit of others through an organization, club, or activity. There are four types of service:

Direct – such as working one-on-one as a tutor
Indirect – such as fundraising for a cause or organizing a food pantry
Awareness—such as educating preschool students about recycling
Advocacy—such as writing letters to local government official on behalf of an issue

Some types of service may seem obvious:

Serving at a soup kitchen
Cleaning up a local park
Helping with an event for the Community Service Club

But some things may not be as clear! Read on to learn about our approach to service and what our office looks for in service requests:

For-Profit Businesses

Our office does NOT accept service done for for-profit businesses, including small businesses. Work done for restaurants, companies, and other businesses should be compensated. Similarly, community service should be done in service of the community, not for a profit-earning entity.

We do accept service done for the following types of organizations:

Healthcare organizations i.e. physical therapy clinics, hospitals, veterinary offices, clinics
Youth service organizations i.e. preschools, daycares, sports organizations, arts organizations, summer camps

Religious Service

ETHS is a public school, but many students are active members in their churches, synagogues, or mosques. We encourage students to serve their faith communities and will approve hours that involve working with and for their places of worship.

Examples of religious service we've approved:

Teaching Sunday school lessons
Serving food at a church event
Filming religious services

Political Service

Being involved in elections is an important part of being an engaged citizen. Therefore, we approve service that involves phonebanking, canvassing, or supporting voting access. While we prefer students submit nonpartisan service, we will accept service that is done for a particular candidate as well.

Examples of political service we've approved:

Writing postcards to voters in Georgia encouraging them to vote (not for a particular candidate and so this is considered non-partisan)
Calling voters to inform them of their polling place (not for a particular candidate and so this is considered non-partisan)
Phonebanking for a Chicago mayoral candidate (this is for a particular candidate and so this is considered partisan)

Family Service

Everyone has responsibilities in their family, however some responsibilities prevent students from seeking out of school activities or other service opportunities. When a student serves a key role in the day-to-day function of their family by caring for siblings or elders, we want to recognize this work as service. We ask students to consider these questions before submitting family-related service:

Is a significant amount of my non-school time dedicated to caring for family member(s)? Is this done on a consistent basis (daily/weekly/biweekly)? If the answer is yes, then DO count this as service.
Is this part of my list of chores? If the answer is yes, then DO NOT count this as service.
Am I making a stretch in order to get sufficient hours for Honor Society? If the answer is yes, then DO NOT count this as service.

Examples of family service we've approved:

Caring for an elderly family member on a weekly basis
Tutoring a younger sibling on a daily basis
Providing transportation for family members to and from school/work on a daily basis

Conclusion

In an ideal world, we want all students to be doing service from a place of community care. However, we know that there are other reasons for volunteer work such as fulfilling a service requirement.

No matter your reason, we ask that you be open and genuine at any service site you decide to spend your time. It is a privilege to have the time and energy to care for our neighbors, but that is minimized when it is done carelessly.

Doing service is about building new community connections and skills, as well as activating your passion and activism. Ask yourself, are you growing your skills or passions? Are you doing service from a place of community care?

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