Silver Cord

NPHS Silver Cord Program

Rationale: Leadership is a multi-faceted and important characteristic we want to promote at Nashua-Plainfield schools. We believe service is an underemphasized aspect of leadership. As such, we want to encourage students to lead by example through volunteer service. The Silver Cord Program is an established avenue toward accomplishing this objective which we believe, when implemented well, would benefit Nashua-Plainfield Schools and the broader community.

Silver Cord Guidelines and Requirements:

1. 200 hours of volunteer service are needed to earn a silver cord designation at graduation.

● 50 hours/year
● no opportunity to “make up” hours.

2. The first three years we will offer graduated requirements. Students who are sophomores the year the program is initiated will need 150 hours for a silver cord;; juniors 100;; and seniors 50. After this period of time, only students who transfer into NPHS will be eligible for graduated requirements to earn their Silver Cord.

3. Approved Service Activities:
● Unpaid volunteer or community service (court ordered community service is not allowed)
● Service done as part of an organization may be counted only if that service is

OPTIONAL and not required as part of membership.
● Volunteer hours earned for National Honor Society membership MAY be applied to silver cord requirements.
● Volunteer hours cannot be part of a class requirement or done for a grade; class time cannot be missed for the completion of community service
● Service activities may be completed during study hall or senior release time.
● No more than 50% of the required silver cord hours each year may come from one organization or activity (ex. Joe tutored students at the elementary for a total of 100 hours this year. He can only count 25 of his hours toward the 50 needed for his one year Silver Cord requirement).
● Students may begin accumulating hours in the summer prior to their Freshman year. Each year’s Silver Cord log sheet must be turned in no later than September 1 of the following year in order to receive credit for earned service hours. Thus, summer hours may count for either the previous or upcoming Silver Cord year. Exception: Seniors must turn in their Silver Cord logs by April 15 of their Senior Year in order to earn the Silver Cord designation at graduation.
● No more than 50% of the yearly required silver cord hours may be earned during the summer.
● All hours must be documented on the Silver Cord Log Sheet, which must be signed by the supervisor of each activity. Supervisors must be non-school age adults and may not be family members.

Examples of Approved Service Activities

Food drives

Blood drives

Park/road cleanup

Tutoring

Nursing home visits

Volunteer youth coaching

Youth tournament worker

Teaching Bible school

Concession stand worker

Church/community choir/band

Church/Org. meal server

Teacher assistant

Technology assistant

Custodial assistant

Coat drives

After-school programs

Public library assistant

Community celebration helper

Back pack program

Christmas store helper

Summer rec assistant

Hospital volunteer

Community group presenter

Youth mentoring (Buddies)

Memorial Day Band performance

TAPS for funeral

National Anthem singer (1⁄2 hour)

*This is not a complete list of possible service activities. If your prospective service activity is not on this list, see a Silver Cord Committee member for pre-approval. Failure to obtain pre-approval may result in later denial of the service hours. When in doubt, check!