Community Service
WELCOME TO THE DISHS COMMUNITY SERVICE PAGE
In order to promote civic responsibility in our students along with developing meaningful connections to the community, DISHS requires 40-hours of community service for graduation. Below you will find information on the policies, guidelines, and opportunities involving community service along with a link to the community service form required to earn credit.
Community Service Guidelines:
To graduate from DISHS, a student must have 40 hours of documented community service from a variety of organizations. There is no set requirement as to the time frame for completing the hours. However, the hours do not count until the first day of a student’s freshmen year. All hours for a school year must be recorded by the last day of that particular school year. Should a student come to the high school after their freshman year, the following hours are required (no matter what time they enter DISHS during the school year):
Sophomore – 30
Junior – 20
Senior – 10
Generally, service is performed for a non-profit organization. (Exceptions: hospitals and nursing homes).
Activities that do not count include times when a student receives academic credit through activities such as independent studies, internships, job shadowing, service through co-curricular activities (i.e.. Student Council officer), service through the judicial system, service for an individual (should be performed under the umbrella of an organization).
Lastly, absences from school that are used in an attempt to complete community service hours will not be honored unless pre approval is granted. Students should complete their forty hours of community service by involving themselves in at least three different and separate activities to earn their hours.
Documentation:
Hours can be accumulated beginning with the student’s first day of their 9th grade year and can be acquired through the school year as well as during the summers. Hours should be accumulated from a variety of community organizations. Students have the responsibility for obtaining pre-approval for all hours attempted from their Advisor/Guidance Office prior to serving their hours.
In order to receive community service credit, community service hour log forms must have prior written approval from the student’s Advisor or Guidance Office and a signature from the supervisor of the activity. (Please see the link on the bottom of this page to download a PDF of the form.)
Once the hours are completed and the appropriate forms are signed, the earned hours are logged by Mrs. Siebert.
All student community service hours for the school year must be turned in and recorded prior to the last day of the school year. Prior to the end of the school year school administrators may pre-approve summer time community service hours. During the summer, the principal or guidance office should be contacted for pre-approval. Summertime hours can only be accrued by the incoming sophomores, juniors, and seniors.
Eligible Activities: |
Non-Eligible Activities: |
Spring/Fall clean up day |
Job shadowing and internships |
Fundraising for nonprofits |
Court-assigned service |
Roadside clean up |
Fundraising for a trip |
Coaching youth teams (unpaid) |
Service for individuals |
Animal shelter volunteer |
High school activities, ex: team sports, chorus, band, school play/theater |
Food drives |
Activities supervised by parent or relative |
Fire Department volunteer |
Babysitting |
Volunteer officiating of sporting events |
|
Helping out at The REACH, cleaning/organizing set materials, working non-school related functions |