Definition of Program:
Students may earn a Silver Service Cord to be worn on their gown at graduation, which indicates significant hours of volunteer service during their enrollment at West Branch High School.
Volunteer Information:
Information regarding volunteer opportunities is available in the Guidance Office and opportunities are announced when available. Accrued hours are documented, tracked and tabulated with Mrs. Milster in the Art room. All hours for seniors must be turned in prior to Awards Night on an announced deadline.
Silver Cord Volunteer Forms can be viewed
HERE and
HERE.
Silver Cord Guidelines:
Students may earn a Silver Cord to be worn on their gown at graduation, which indicate significant hours of community volunteer service during their enrollment at west Branch High School. From the time they enter high school until they graduate, students provide 100 hours of service to earn a cord. Students are encouraged to average about 25 hours of service per year. Opportunities are available in the Guidance Office. Accrued hours are documented, tracked and tabulated in the Guidance office. All hours for seniors must be turned in prior to Awards Night on an announced deadline.
Documentation:
Hours must be signed and documented by a supervisor or they will not be accepted. Hour sheets must be filled out and signed. If additional hours are listed, they must be stapled to the sheet. Hours will be maintained in the Guidance Office, but copies should be maintained by the student. Parents should NOT sign as documentation unless previously arranged. Hours must be turned in within SIX MONTHS of the activity.
What Counts:
Any service performed in Iowa City or West Branch Communities as listed in the opportunities sheet.
Volunteer work at church, volunteer work done during scouting, volunteer work done for 4-H or other non-school club.
Special events on school premises sponsored by local charities or businesses (examples: DeGowin blood drives, Toys for Tots, Hospice, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Crisis Center, etc.) with previous approval from the principal.
Staff supervised voluntary tutoring of other students for which credit is not earned or any other staff supervised voluntary service performed as a member of school activities such as National Honor Society, cheerleading, dance, drama, tech crew, band, choir, football, baseball, basketball, golf, track, softball, scorekeeping, cross country, FFA, speech, Student Council, Volleyball, wrestling, etc. WHEN SUCH SERVICE IS ARRANGED BETWEEN THE SUPERVISOR AND THE PRINCIPAL BY WRITTEN AGREEMENT.
Only TWENTY HOURS may be used toward either Boosters activities or any sporting events activities (ex: scorekeeping, coaching, etc. for West Branch schools, Iowa Rockets, etc.). You may use 20 hours for Boosters and 20 hours for athletics, separately. You must get approval to do any more than that. This is to give everyone a chance to volunteer.
What Does NOT Count:
Court-ordered community service hours, practicums/internships, job Shadows, any work done for credit at school, any work done for school activities in which the student may earn a letter, ribbon, medal, certificate, or any other award for a class, activity, club or team, any work done anywhere in the West Branch Community School District (includes elementary, middle school, high school, Central Office, custodial, concessions, etc.) unless the student has PRIOR APPROVAL.
No unsupervised hours. No undocumented work.
Work for relatives (examples: raking leaves for grandparents, babysitting for sister, etc.), work done for individuals such as neighbors (raking leaves, etc) unless done through an established group, any work done for pay.
Recording of Time:
Sheets turned in MUST list exact clock times of service (example – 3:30-5:30 p.m.). NO ESTIMATED, UNDOCUMENTED “BUNDLES” OF HOURS WILL BE ACCEPTED. Students are responsible for keeping track of their own hours (as well as copies of their hours).
Final Decisions:
Eligibility for hours are the final responsibility of the high school principal after consulting with the counselor, supervisor and student.
