Community Service Requirement
At Williamson high school, students must complete at least 20 hours of community service in order to graduate.
Listed below are some of the details of this requirement:
- The Community Service hours are expected to be completed by the end of the 3rd marking period of a student’s graduation year.
- Students are encouraged to begin working on their hours in ninth grade to avoid any last minute rush. Ninth grade officially begins on July 1st following the successful completion of the 8th grade year.
- A portion of the community service activities must occur outside of regular class hours.
- Building Administration will determine a student’s eligibility to participate in community service activities that take place during the school day.
- Students may not be compensated for the service, financially or otherwise.
- Community service must be performed at a minimum of two sites.
- Service may not be for any political party, lobbying or special interest group, or someone in the student’s immediate family. The term "immediate family member" is defined as the student's parents, grandparents, siblings, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
- For hours to be awarded, students must have the community service form verified with a signature by the site contact person and returned to the coordinator as soon as possible but no later than the end of the semester during which the activity was completed. The hours and activity reflection will be logged in to a student’s online career plans portfolio.
- Students are not required to complete their activities with specific agencies; however, information about agencies and volunteer experiences will be available through the school.
- Transportation to and from a service site will be the responsibility of the student. Some group projects may allow for district transportation with the approval of the Building Principal.
- While completing community service hours, students are expected to follow the WCSD Code of Conduct.
- Transfer students will be responsible for five hours of community service for each year of attendance at the Williamson High School.
- Exceptions will be considered for full time out-of-district placements and students transferring to WCSD late in their senior year. These exceptions will be determined by the Building Principal.
Tips for completing Community Service:
- This graduation requirement seems a little frightening, but with proper planning it can be accomplished and might even be fun.
- Start during the summer before your freshman year! Don’t procrastinate
- Manage your time efficiently. If you get 5 hours done every school year, the requirement seems a lot less overwhelming.
- Despite this previous fact, it is much easier on you if you complete all 20 hours before your senior year. Senioritis might keep you from finishing if you wait too long.
- Take advantage of opportunities that the school gives you.
- Take advantage of weekends and long breaks where you have nothing to do. Complete five hours for Thanksgiving, Christmas, February and Spring break and get all of your hours done in one year.
- Make sure that you get the signature from the contact person when you go on your verification form. You don’t want to have to hunt them down later.
- Get some friends to volunteer with you. Walking dogs for the Humane Society, cleaning up the Town Park, or bell ringing for the Salvation Army is a lot more fun when you have friends with you.
- Colleges LOVE to see community service on your résumé when you apply. Keep that in consideration when you're nervous about taking on a big service commitment!
- See Ms. O'Hara (our Pathways Counselor) with any questions about community service opportunities. She can be found in Room #44 at the High School, or you can email her at: tohara@williamsoncentral.org.