Wilton Silver Cord
The Wilton Silver Cord Program is a distinguished award available to all Wilton High School students. The purpose of the program is to recognize students who have volunteered for out-of-school service. Participation in the Wilton Silver Cord is voluntary for all Wilton High School students.
Students become eligible to participate in Wilton Silver Cord immediately following the end of their 8th grade school year.
All Wilton High School students are eligible to participate in this program.
Students who complete the required number of volunteer service hours will be recognized at their graduation by wearing a silver cord with their cap and gown and will receive special mention in the commencement program.
All students must have completed 100 hours (*recommended 25 hours for each year of high school) of approved and documented volunteer service by May 1st of their senior year.
*Note: The 2019 - 2020 school year is the first year for the Wilton Silver Cord Program so therefore the following pro-rated modifications are in place for the next three years:
Seniors graduating in May of 2021 must complete 50 hours of approved community service.
Seniors graduating in May of 2022 must complete 75 hours of approved community service.
All Seniors after 2022 must complete 100 hours of approved community service over the course of four years.
Participation Requirements:
Silver Cord participation will be approved by the High School Principal and will be monitored by the Silver Cord Adviser. Students must complete a Silver Cord documentation form in order to begin documentation of each qualifying volunteer activity. The form must be signed by the High School Principal and Volunteer Supervisor of the Group/Organization/Event at which the volunteer service is being conducted at before and after the volunteer service has been conducted.
This form must then be turned in to the Silver Cord Adviser (Miss Diemer).
Volunteer hours completed without a documentation form are not accepted toward Silver Cord.
Volunteer hours may not be completed during school hours. (Student may not miss school for volunteer hours counting toward silver cord)
Check with the principal, silver cord adviser, or silver cord mentors with questions you may have. Mentors are available to help participating students find places to volunteer service.
Silver Cord Sponsors:
Wilton High School National Honor Society
Silver Cord Advisers:
Miss Julia Diemer juliadiemer@wiltoncsd.org
Silver Cord Mentors:
Mr. Rick Beckley rickbeckley@wiltoncsd.org
Mrs. Nicole Hewitt nicolehewitt@wiltoncsd.org
Mr. Erik Grunder erikgrunder@wiltoncsd.org
Building Principal:
Mrs. Sue O'Donnell sueodonnell@wiltoncsd.org
Volunteer Categories:
Silver Cord volunteer hours must be for providing a service or meeting a clear need for the following categories: agency, church, school, park, charity program, community event, non-profit fundraiser, or for assisting with non-relative handicapped or elderly needs.
The service must be “above and beyond” one’s usual scope of involvement and should not be part of a required service for any program or as a part of your commitment to an organization as a member of that organization.
Examples of acceptable volunteer service include:
Serving in a nursing home or senior center, after school tutoring, volunteer for church projects, assisting with the elderly in their homes, beautify community or school property, assist at community blood drives, help fine arts/athletic contests, volunteer for special events such as Habitat for Humanity, work for political party, and other like activities.
Examples of not acceptable volunteer activities:
Following are examples of volunteer activities which are not accepted as Silver Cord activities: to satisfy a class or requirement/obligation for any agency, program or organization of which you are a member, for a relative, for pay or compensation of any kind, doing chores at home, court ordered community service, or like activities.
The intent of the approved volunteer activities is to promote students going beyond what would normally be expected in the area of volunteerism.