Community Service

Community Service is a graduation requirement at Steele Canyon.

We require 40 hours of verifiable service by the end of Senior Year. (Transfer students must complete 10 hours per year enrolled at SCHS.) At least half (20) of the required 40 hours must be completed via non-SCHS functions (off-campus activities). On-campus/school function volunteering can be counted for up to 20 hours of community service. Of course, time exceeding 20 hours is welcomed as it will help develop quality people and it may also be recognized by other entities.

We recommend students accrue at least 10 hours each year.

If you transferred to Steele Canyon in your

Senior year, you are responsible for 10 hours
Junior year, you are responsible for 20 hours
Sophomore year, you are responsible for 30 hours

Proof of Community Service:
You need a letter from your supervisor that details your experience and how many hours you completed. You will keep that letter and will upload it to your Senior Interview website later. (Tip: Upload it to your schscougars.org Google Drive for safekeeping until senior year)

ACCEPTABLE/UNACCEPTABLE COMMUNITY SERVICE

Please note, while we encourage helpfulness, not every “good deed” will count towards this graduation requirement.
Use the information below as a guide.

Acceptable

· Animal rescue

· Beach/city/park clean-up

· Working at races/walks for charity

· Referee/coach sports for children or disabled

· Donating time to a local school or library reading to children

· Donating time at a nursing home reading to residents, playing music, entertainment, or participating in activities

· Tutoring students after school, unpaid and supervised by school staff

· Peer tutoring (you can count up to 20 hours, as an on campus elective, when NOT earning course credit*)

· On campus volunteering for school functions outside of school hours such as Cougar Crew, Mat Stats, running the scoreboard at games… (up to 20 hours towards graduation requirement*)

· Interning or volunteering somewhere that serves the community (e.g. Noah Homes)

· Most volunteering through Key Club

Unacceptable

(While these are great ways to be a good citizen, they do not count towards the service requirement)

· Helping your neighbor catch her cat

· Pulling weeds at the playground on your own

· Pushing your friend’s wheelchair to his bus

· Reading to kids while babysitting

· Singing at the nursing home as part of a required activity for your choir; or reading to your grandmother at her nursing home.

· Tutoring for payment; or helping your brother or sister with homework

· Peer tutoring while earning course credit

· Internship or volunteering at a for-profit business

· Anything you received payment or compensation for (including school credit) or working for your family business.

On-Campus volunteering for school functions in excess of 20 hours. While participation is encouraged, you should still reach out to other areas of the community too!

Community Service Opportunities

Steele Canyon often receives community service opportunities from local organizations that we post on Naviance and email out to everyone. A list of local organizations with links to their volunteer pages can also be found on Naviance.

You may contact any of these organizations to inquire about volunteer opportunities. If you find one to participate in, please be sure to get a letter from your supervisor that details your experience and how many hours you completed. You will keep that letter and will upload it to you Senior Interview website later.

Volunteer Databases & Websites

Local Government & Politics

San Diego County Volunteer Opportunities

City of San Diego Volunteer Program

Democratic Party of San Diego

Republican Party of San Diego County

United Nations Association San Diego

Animals & the Environment