Silver Cord

Encouraging volunteerism and community service by youth

Mason City High School, in an effort to provide students with opportunities to develop to their fullest potential and to become valuable contributors to society, initiated the Silver Cord Service Program at the beginning of the 2004-05 school year.  It is our belief that students who interact positively within their community not only will benefit the community, but also will develop their own leadership and citizenship skills.  To encourage and reward volunteerism and community service, the Silver Cord program will recognize students each year who have made significant contributions to the community through their service. This is an optional program.

Seniors who have completed a minimum of 160 hours of approved volunteer service during their four years at MCHS will be awarded a silver cord and will be recognized at graduation exercises.  While it is suggested and highly encouraged that students complete 40 hours of approved service activities each year to reach the 160 total hours, students may accumulate their 160 hours in varying amounts during their four years of high school.  Additionally, underclassmen who attain a minimum of 40 hours of approved service during a school year will be awarded a certificate and will be honored at the annual spring recognition assembly. 

A log of student completion of approved service activities will be maintained for all students by their advisor.  A committee will review periodically those activities which constitute “approved” community service.  To constitute an “approved” area of service, the following criteria must be met:

• The approved service hours must be attained during non-school time. Service cannot be during a student’s scheduled school day, even if the student is excused from class.

• The approved service hours must be "above and beyond" a student's usual scope of involvement. 

• The approved service house must be completed and turned in during a single school year in order to count toward the total. 

• The approved service hours must be completed for “non-pay.”

• The approved service hours from any one project or area may not exceed 20 hours.

• The approved service hours must be approved by the advisor BEFORE being undertaken.

• The approved service hours cannot be supervised, facilitated or signed off on by a parent and/or guardian. 

• The approved service hours must be submitted to the advisor with appropriate documentation (see accompanying form) and then will be recorded by the advisor on the individual student’s service log sheet.

Any questions as to the approval of service hours will be referred to the oversight committee which will render a final decision about any issues. 

SILVER CORD SERVICE PROGRAM

Approvable service ideas

While it is impossible to foresee all opportunities for approved service by students, and while the listing below is and will be subject to continuous updating, the following guidelines are in place to assist advisors and students in understanding what will constitute “approved” (and not approved) areas for service as part of the Silver Cord Program.

Acceptable service areas:

• Volunteering with community service organizations 

• Reading to the elderly; assisting the elderly with household chores (shoveling, raking, etc.)

• Volunteering for special church projects

• Helping to improve the school buildings and grounds

• Youth Task Force activities (outside of school hours)

• Coaching younger children in a sport or other activity

• Working with a blood drive (outside of school hours)

• Tutoring other students before or after school

• Volunteering for school-sponsored activities (track meets, speech contest, etc)

• Working on a community beautification or clean up project

• Assisting with Special Olympics outside of school hours

• Serving as a counselor (non-paid) at a camp or special outing

• Assisting at a hospital, shelter, day-care, or nursing home

• Volunteering for special events such as Relay For Life, Cancer Telethon, etc.

• Community service which fulfills requirements for Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts (not to exceed a maximum of 10 hours)

• Working for a political party or campaign

• Fundraising for NON-PROFIT organizations (not to exceed 10 hours total)

Non-acceptable service areas:

• Performances and/or rehearsals as part of a team, group, ensemble or cast

• Doing chores at home or helping family members

• Walking the family dog or caring for family member's pets

• Attending church or Sunday school

• Attending a church "lock in" 

• Working on the family farm or within a family business

• Babysitting for siblings or relatives and friends

• Completing ANY task for which money is received

• Doing “extra credit” or special “chores” for a teacher at school

• Participating in extra-curricular activities (or doing a project “attached” to an activity, team, club, etc.)

• Travel time and/or sleeping hours during volunteer activity

• Court-ordered community service

• School-ordered community service

• If you are receiving service hours for another organization i.e. NHS or Student Senate, those hours do not apply to Silver Cord hours. 

As noted above, this list in no way encompasses ALL opportunities for service.  Students who have ideas for service undertakings that are not listed above should check with a school administrator BEFORE engaging in the activity to make sure that it is “approved.”      

Class of 2025 - 160 

Class of 2026 - 160 

Class of 2027 - 160

Class of 2028 - 160

All students are eligible to earn silver cord hours starting the summer before their freshman year and ending the April of their senior year. 

Starting in Fall 2024, students have 30 days from the date of volunteer service to submit hours. There is no requirement to earn a specific number of hours each  year. If you complete 40 volunteer hours in a single school year, you receive a certificate of recognition for your efforts. In order to receive a certificate, all hours must be completed and turned in by Friday, April 11, 2025. 

Ruby's Pop- Up Pantry

Ruby's Pop-up Pantry is held the 2nd Tuesday of the month at Rolling Acres Church in Mason City. 

If you are interested in volunteering, please call 641-424-1369 or email racrcrubyspantry@gmail.com

For more information, visit  www.facebook.com/RubysPantryMC

www.rubyspantry.org

The YMCA:
- Child Supervision
- Coaching Youth Sports
- Officiating Games
- Assisting Fitness Classes
- Building/Property Maintenance 

Other Places to Check for Volunteer Opportunities:
- The MCHS Activities Department
- Your church
- Your former elementary teachers
- Nursing homes
- Your neighbors & family friends (raking leaving, shoveling snow or cleaning)
- Salvation Army (ringing bells)
- The hospital - Fill out  an application & view volunteer opportunities!
- The library
- Daycares
- The Humane Society
- Elderbridge Agency on Aging
-MCHS Activities Department