Benton Community Silver Cord Program

          Volunteerism can be defined as the policy or practice of volunteering one's time or talents for charitable, educational, or other worthwhile activities, especially in one's community. Helping others can make a huge difference not only if the lives of people one is helping, but the student’s life. It will help develop their talents and a strong work ethic. Community involvement is something that students will take with them as they become adults.

“You make a living by what you get. You make a life by what you give”

-Winston Churchill

What is the Silver Cord program?

The Silver Cord program recognizes students for their community service and installs the importance of community service, character development, and a personal investment to the community’s future. It will promote community involvement and improvement. If students reach the required amount of hours, they will have the honor of wearing a Silver Cord at graduation to honor their achievements.

 How to start?

1.     The Silver Cord program will begin the summer before their freshman year and ends the first Friday in May of senior year.

2.     After each volunteer activity, fill out a service form.

3.     Turn in your completed form with all required information and signatures to the Silver Cord Advisor (Mrs. Laurie Donald)  within 30 days of service or fill out our online form. Any questions please contact Rob Arnold rarnold@benton.k12.ia.us

4.     All hours are subject to review and will be approved by the Silver Cord Advisor and committee. Students need to accumulate 120 hours over their four-year high school experience to receive the Silver Cord at graduation.

5.     Students are asked to keep track of their own hours. The advisor and committee will record approved hours for final consideration.

Summer Service?

Some summer hours will count toward the program, but not all. The goal is to promote continuous volunteer service throughout the year, not just one summer. Since some students are busy during the school year and cannot find enough time to volunteer, there will be a maximum of 30 hours per summer accepted for summer service. Students will keep forms until school starts the following year.

Does work done through school for an organization count?

Volunteering done through a school group, club, or team may count for the Silver Cord as long as no school credit or grade is given.

Things to remember:

●      NO compensation may be accepted from volunteering.

●      Students may not count hours volunteered for family members/relatives.

●      Volunteer hours cannot occur during the academic school day.

●       A maximum of 8 hours is allowed per day.

●      PARENTS CANNOT SIGN DOCUMENTATION UNLESS PREVIOUS ARRANGEMENTS HAVE BEEN MADE

What counts:

●      Any service completed in the Benton Community School District and surrounding counties.

●      School assistance outside of a class or outside of the school day- fine arts camp/athletic camps/refereeing sports.

●      Church activities- Teaching Vacation Bible School, teaching Sunday School, mission trips (Only hours of actual volunteer work will count).

●      Volunteer work done during scouting, 4-H, FFA, school activities, or church groups

●      Community groups/organizations- Meals on Wheels, Lions Club, Recreation Department.

●      Nursing homes/senior centers.

●      Charity work- cancer societies, shelters, blood drives, Special Olympics, hospitals.

●       Physical labor

●      Volunteering student time to parent organizations like Band Boosters, Athletic Boosters, PTO, or Post Prom

If you are questioning whether or not something counts, check with the Silver Cord Advisors AHEAD of time just to be safe!

What does NOT count:

●       Any work done for pay

●      Internships/job shadows

●      Any work done during the academic school day

●      Work done for school credit

●      Work for family members (raking for grandparents, babysitting)

●      No unsupervised hours. No undocumented work.

●      Work done for individuals such as neighbors, unless done through an established community group.

●       Any work done for a school activity where the student may earn a letter, ribbon, medal, certificate, or any other award for a class, activity, club, or team.

●      Court-ordered community service hours

●      Work done for a co-curricular activity that benefits that group or program (prom decorating, student council homecoming events, FFA fruit sales, band booster meals).

Benton Silver Cord Service Form

Silver Cord service forms are available online or printed from the school website and must be turned into the Silver Cord Advisor. The forms must be completely filled out and signed by the supervisor of the organization if you turn in a paper form or it will NOT be accepted. Forms should be turned in within 30 days of service. Students need to accumulate 120 hours over their four-year high school experience to receive the Silver Cord at graduation. For continuous volunteer activities performed on a regular basis, ONE form will be due every month. Recording time must be exact, no estimating or rounding up will be accepted. Parents cannot sign forms unless previously discussed and approved by the Silver Cord Advisor. Hours will be documented, tracked, and tabulated. Students are encouraged to keep track of their own hours as well.

This program is modeled after other programs around the state

Silver Cord Service Form