EHS Community Service Letter (9-12)

The Community Service Letter Schoology page is our main way of sharing program reminders and current volunteer opportunities with students. Join using our access code: 2FT8-ZGT8-5PS75

This means that at least 60 hours must be focused toward one central issue or cause. Some of the examples of social issues may be: the environment, homelessness, poverty, equity, literacy, animal welfare, etc. Students can choose to dedicate all 120 hours to their social issue, or they can spend the remaining 60 hours exploring other issues. Students are able to choose different social issues throughout their high school experience. 

EXAMPLES:

Social Issue: Closing the Achievement Gap
Community Service: Tutoring elementary grade school students

Social Issue: Disabilities and Inclusivity 
Community Service: Coaching a teen in Special Olympics

Social Issue: Youth Development
Community Service: Counseling at outdoor camp

As of the 2023 school year, service hours can be cumulative in a two-year spans (over two summers and two school years). Students can carry hours over to the next year if they exceed 120 hours or if they do not complete 120 hours in a given year. The same hours cannot be counted over multiple years' hours logs. 

Yes! Student begin counting their service hours after the last day of school as an 8th grader.

Yes! Students who meet the requirements each year can earn up to four service letters, one each school year in grades 9-12. Only one service letter is awarded per year.

Yes! A senior can put the Community Service Letter on college applications and resumes. It can be listed as "Prospective Community Service Letter Recipient, Spring 202x". 

Yes! Singing and performing in your fait community counts as community service. As of the 2023 school year, you can count up to 60 hours total of performance towards your service letter (practices and meetings do not count). 

Why this change? The vast majority of school districts in the United States and national nonprofits such as United Way do not allow singing in the church choir to be counted as community service. While there is great value to serving others through music, the Edina Community Ed Service Letter program defines service as outlined in Minnesota Statue 124D.19, which outlines services for the elderly, tutoring and mentoring, training for providing emergency services, services at extended day programs, and environmental services. 

They may count as long as the volunteer hours are optional. If the service hours are required for participation in a sport, academic class, or other activity then they cannot count for the Community Service Letter.

Please only count the hours you are actively doing the service work (not sleeping, food breaks, etc.). Most camps and service trips are 6-10 hours of volunteer work per day. Students cannot count more than 10 hours of service per day. 

Donating food, clothes, and money itself does not count toward Community Service Letter. However, students can organize a donation drive and then count those planning hours toward their Service Letter Hours. 

Fostering an animal does count toward Community Service Letter. Students can count up to two hours per day of fostering an animal. This includes active care time like feeding, grooming, walking, playing, etc. 

Only count the hours you are actively doing the service work (don't count sleeping, food breaks, etc.) Students can log up to 10 hours of volunteer work per day. 

If you participate in a school club, youth group, Scouts, etc. you may count hours spent at meetings organizing and implementing a service project. Only hours spent planning and participating in a service project will count toward Community Service Letter hours. 

Since the 2023 school year, managing a team sport at EHS does not count as service. Managing a team sport at an elementary, middle school, or nonprofit organization instead are great service opportunities. 

- Paid, mandatory or court-ordered community service

- Community service that gives you academic credit hours

- Volunteer hours that apply toward another Varsity Letter (ex. sports team managers, participants in theater or music performance). 

- Fundraising that benefits you

- Travel time to and from service activities

- Hours spent sleeping during overnight service trips or camps. 

- Unpaid internships with for-profit companies

- Hours spent in meetings or trainings UNLESS you were planning or participating in service activities

- Household chore or service to people living in your home