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Students > Superlark Volunteer Cord Program > Program Overview

Grand Meadow High School Superlark Cord Program

Program
Purpose: The Superlark Cord Program is designed to recognize and encourage Grand Meadow High School students to develop character that results from volunteering service to our community. Students will not only benefit the community but will develop their own leadership and citizenship skills.

Advisors: Lisa Glynn ( ) & Leslie Hendrickson ( )

Overview: The Superlark Cord Program is a distinguished volunteer service award available to Grand Meadow High School students who perform community service/volunteering during every year of high school. Seniors completing all required hours will be recognized by wearing a white cord with their cap and gown and special mention in the Commencement program.

Requirements: Students who complete 160 hours of community service by April 30th of their graduation year will receive the Superlark Cord to wear at Graduation.

  • Students must complete the required paperwork on time for the volunteer hours to be counted.
  • Community service projects must be taken from the approved list of activities or approved by the committee/advisor to ensure that the work qualifies before it is initiated.

Hours Required:

• Each graduating senior would need 160 hours.

Service Hours

Hour requirements: It is strongly recommended that students earn 40 hours per year. Students will be allowed 60-hour maximum per year. Upon entering senior year, students must have a minimum of 100 hours to be eligible to receive the Superlark Cord and be recognized during Graduation.

Students will be able to receive a maximum of 20 hours for a single specific service activity per school year (i.e. teaching Sunday School/Religion for a total of 20 hours).

Students will need to turn in their completed hours based on the following schedule:

  • Summer Hours: Due September 15th
  • Quarter 1: Due at the End of 1st Quarter
  • Quarter 2: Due at the End of 2nd Quarter
  • Quarter 3: Due at the End of 3rd Quarter
  • Quarter 4: Due May 1st for seniors and the last week of school for 9-11th grade.

Forms must be turned in for approval on these due dates or they will not be accepted. Any hours performed before these check point dates and turned in after the due dates will not apply.

Acceptable Hours Ideas:

It is important to remember:

  • Volunteer work is an unpaid activity.
  • Not all good deeds are a community service.
  • Volunteer service cannot occur during a student's academic classes.
  • Hours begin to count the summer before your freshman year.
  • Hours can be used from other service programs such as National Honor Society (up to 1/2 of the total hours can apply to both programs).

Summer Service: Service hours earned during the summer after the academic year may be applied toward either the prior or following school year - student's choice. For example, the summer after sophomore year can apply toward either the sophomore or junior 40-hour requirement. Summer hours earned prior to freshman year will count as part of their freshman year. Students should keep completed forms until they return to school in the fall. Summer hours are due September 15th.

The following are ideas that would be acceptable to fulfill hours of service:

  • Volunteering for community service organizations (for example, the Lions Club)
  • Volunteering to help in the neighborhood
  • Helping at the Food Shelf
  • Volunteering at the Red Cross
  • Helping to improve the school, community, parks, etc.
  • Cleaning roadside ditches or other public areas around the community
  • Assisting at a daycare or nursing home
  • Volunteering at Blood Drives
  • Volunteering to help coach younger children in sports, officiating at youth sporting events or running clocks, etc.
  • Church related service
  • Volunteer camp counselor
  • Volunteer tutor for younger children
  • Helping at the Public Library
  • Working to promote and implement any town activities or celebrations (for example, GMEF's School Auction, the Carnival or Meadowfest)
  • Volunteering at the Humane Society
  • Working in concessions for different school activities
  • Fundraising for Post Prom, sports program/booster club, etc. can be used when there is documented time promoting and fundraising for the “good of the whole team”

**Students may propose additional ideas for service. If it is an item not listed, please ask one of the advisors for approval prior to completing the hours.

The following activities would not meet the requirements:

  • You may not receive money or other compensation for the task.
  • You must perform a service for someone other than family members. For example, if you are helping a sibling move to college, etc., this activity would NOT meet the requirements.
  • Chores at home or on the farm, as well as, babysitting younger siblings do not count.
  • Services may not be court ordered.
  • The task cannot be one that has been assigned as a disciplinary action.
  • May not be minor acts of kindness (holding a door open, etc.).
  • The volunteer activity must benefit a group as a whole, unless it’s for an individual in need.
  • The service may not include working for a PROFIT organization for free.
  • The service does not include any music or athletic practices.

Revised 05/15/2024