Frequently Asked Questions
Do we have to do this?
Yes. If you want to earn the endorsement for completing the ISSN (International Studies Schools Network) graduation requirements. If you earn fewer than the minimum points expected, you will receive a participation endorsement rather than a completion endorsement from AGS.
What if I bring in 90 cans of food? Am I finished for the year?
No. We want your service points to represent a variety of activities. Nice try.
What if I did tons of service during the summer?
Good for you! We will count your work towards half of your points if you have verification of your service, but at least 15 service points must be earned during the school year. Final hour verifications will happen in May each year. During your senior year, all hours are due by May 1.
I babysit my little sister all the time. Does that count?
Nope. That’s a nice thing to do to “serve” your family, but that doesn’t require you to become involved in your community. Unloading the dishwasher doesn’t count, either. What if I babysit for the kids next door? Does that count as the community? That depends. Are you getting paid? If “yes,” then it’s not community service. Service should be something you offer to others without being asked, and without being compensated for your work.
What about donating goods – is that service?
When AGS or AHS sponsors some kind of drive, we do think you’re helping out your community, and we will award points. Outside of school, though, it is not possible for us to track the clothing items you donate to Goodwill or similar good deeds. If you want to design a project that involves collecting goods for an organization, you can get credit for the hours you spend working.
What about volunteering during special events like ACL or SXSW?
It depends on what you’re doing. There are certainly opportunities during special events that benefit our community, but if you are being compensated for your time (you get in for free if you work at a t-shirt booth, for example), then you are not volunteering your time for free. The Service Committee will make the final call on whether or not points are awarded.
What if I already do service for StuCo or my church?
Double dipping is allowed. It counts. Just bring in a completed Site Visit Verification Form to your English teacher to store in the service binder. Fundraising for a club or organization (such as selling cookie dough for basketball or working at a carnival booth for band) is a great thing to do, but does not earn service points. If the debate team decides to build a house for Habitat for Humanity, then you can count that as service to our community.
Who can sign off on my service hours?
Anyone in a supervisory position may sign off that you have completed hours of service, but we don’t accept signatures from moms/dads unless there are extenuating circumstances. (If your parent is organizing a service event, then they would be in a supervisory position. But if they give you a ride to the animal shelter, they may not sign off that you did the work.)
How often will you check my log?
Three times a year. Once in September (to log any summer hours), once in January (to check your progress), and once in May (to electronically verify hours earned for the year). You are encouraged, however, to bring in Site Visit Verification Forms as soon as you have them completed, so that they can be stored in the service binder and not misplaced.
Where do all of the points go?
Do I need to keep my log at the end of each year? Each January and May, English teachers will verify your total “points so far” and verify your points in an online database so that all AGS teachers can access your data.
How does this affect my grade?
Sometimes academic work will be linked to service, like writing a required journal entry that reflects on service or participating in a service-learning activity like water conservation in math. Some of the learning expeditions are also tied to community service or service learning.
What if I don’t have time?
Consider designing a service project that you can do during lunch. You can also earn service points by researching an opportunity and completing an entry for the Service Opportunity Directory kept in your English teachers’ room.
What if I have more questions?
Talk to your teachers; we’ll solve big questions in Service Committee meetings.