COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS- Community Service Guidelines

Saints Community Connections

(SCC) is the Interlake High School’s PTSA community service recognition program. Community service activities are those which students perform to benefit at least one other unrelated person and for which they receive no compensation, academic credit, or other award. In most cases, students will be working under an organization - city government, school, non-profit organization, hospital, nursing home, or newspaper. Services to benefit profit-making businesses are NOT accepted.
Community service may be performed at any time during the students' high school careers, from the summer before freshman year until June 1 of senior year. Services may include long-term, short-term, or one-time-only commitments. Certificates are presented during the Saints Community Connections Assembly. Each student may receive up to three awards - one award for each of the following completed categories.

100 hours receives the Saints Community Connections award

300 hours receives the Silver Saints Community Connections award.

500 hours or more receives the Golden Saints Community Connections award.

A maximum of 14 hours is accepted in any given day and only time spent volunteering is counted – travel time is NOT counted.

Service for academic credit. Community service for which students receive academic credit is NOT applied toward the SCC award. This includes activities performed through independent studies and the community service course.

Bellevue School District (BSD) requirement. The 40-hours required by BSD for graduation are NOT automatically counted toward the SCC program. However, the BSD hours CAN be included by completing both forms (SCC and BSD). The extra step is necessary when hours are counted for both programs.

Service for IB program credit. Community service for which the student receives the IB certificate is NOT applied toward the SCC award.

Service through the judicial system. Community service which is court-assigned is NOT applied toward the SCC award.

Organization-based service. In general, services performed for profit-making organizations are NOT applicable, with the exception of hospitals, nursing homes, and newspapers. Services ARE accepted if performed for individuals under the umbrella of an organization (e.g., tutoring a student through a school, helping the elderly through the Council on Aging). Services for individuals outside of an organization ARE accepted if deemed necessary for quality of life.

Service through religious organizations. Community service for which students support a specific religion or religious institution through participation in a service or activity (e.g., educational, religious, or non-religious) that benefit the religious community or the community at large ARE applicable. Examples of applicable service activities include but are not limited to:

Teaching Sunday school or CCD or baby-sitting during religious services

Painting church or synagogue buildings and classrooms

Clothing drives and Work in shelters

Participation in church mission trips (Maximum 14 hrs/day & Travel Time is Not counted)

Participation as officers in religious youth groups

Selling Christmas trees/wreaths or helping with church or synagogue rummage sales

Traditional school-sponsored activities. Activities performed which are traditional after-school activities are NOT applicable. This category includes managing athletic teams and participation (officers or members) in student government, band, Honor Society, clubs and teams. However, if these groups are organizing or performing specific community service, those hours ARE applicable. For example, hours spent in Spanish club are NOT applicable but, if Spanish Club organizes a food drive for the community, hours spent on the food drive ARE applicable.

Eagle Scout activities. Hours accumulated toward a scout’s project are NOT applicable toward SCC awards because that scout receives an award for that project. However, the hours accumulated by a scout assisting another scout with their project ARE accepted.

Summer Camps. If other community service guidelines (related to compensation & type of organization) are met, counselor-in-training (CIT) hours spent in the actual organization and performance of specific community service activities ARE applicable.

Activities Not Eligible for Service Credit (Recap)

Service for which academic credit, money, or an award is earned. Court-ordered service.

Service at for-profit businesses (e.g., law firms, landscape companies). Traditional after-school activities, unless community service is performed. Community service hours accepted by the IB program. Time spent traveling to and from the community service site.

Documenting your hours. To receive SCC credit, a completed SCC Community Service Record form (signed by the supervisor) MUST be turned in to the SCC box in the Counseling Center or to the Community Service Representative, preferably within 2 months of completion of service. The 40 hours required for graduation can be added to your SCC hours but you MUST complete the SCC form. Forms are available in the Counseling Center and on the websites for Interlake PTSA www.interlakeptsa.org.

Exceptions to guidelines. Any exceptions to the definitions and guidelines can only be made with the knowledge and approval of the Community Service Coordinator.

How to Get Started

1.Decide in which area of community service you would like to participate. For ideas, check the Volunteer Opportunities bulletin board in the Counseling Center.

2.Contact the organization to make volunteer arrangements.

3.After each activity, complete the SCC Community Service Record form, have it signed by your supervisor, and deliver it to the SCC box in the Career Center or the SCC rep. on the 3rd Tues of the month at lunch.

What are the Benefits?

Receive recognition of SCC Award(s) at Saints Community Connections Assembly in May. Acquire valuable work-related skills like dependability, communications, self-direction, leadership, organization, and responsibility. Improve the likelihood of attaining college scholarships and college admittance. Provides an opportunity to learn about a career you are considering. Gain a sense of pride and self-esteem as you see the need and value of your volunteer time. Improve teen image by helping the community and showing your positive attributes. Demonstrate commitment to a cause or belief. Meet new people, possibly make new friends, and have Fun!

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