Bennington High School Badger Service Program
Student Guide
What is the Badger Service Program?
The purpose of the Bennington Badger Service Program is to instill within students the importance of community service, and encourage students to be accountable for investing in their own education and in their community on a regular basis during their school years.
The Badger Service Program recognizes students for their community service during their high school years. Students are recognized at 50, 100, and 150 hours. Students volunteering 150 hours by April 30th of their senior year will have the distinct honor of wearing a silver cord during their graduation ceremony.
How do I begin?
*The Badger Service Program starts May 1 of a student's eighth grade year and concludes April 30 of senior year.
*Consider volunteer work that will interest you. Check the Badger Service tab at the website to find activities that qualify for the program. Be certain those hours fit within the criteria below. Please feel free to be creative and develop your own ideas.
*Contact the volunteer organization to confirm your service activities. Remember that Badger Service hours must meet a clearly defined need from an agency, church, charity program, political agency, social service group, or community event. Other activities may apply as determined by the Badger Service faculty Advisory Team.
*Print a BHS Badger Service Award form form found on the BHS website.
*Complete your service.
*Turn in your completed Badger Service Award form, with all questions answered and all required signatures, into the Badger Service coordinator. Hours in question will be reviewed by the Badger Service faculty Advisory Team for approval.
*Choose to volunteer again! The more hours you volunteer, the closer you are to having the distinct honor of wearing a silver cord at graduation. However, the most important thing is giving something back to the community. Your service matters!
What about summer service?
Students should download Badger Service Forms during the summer months from the BHS web page. Students should keep completed award forms until they return to school in the fall. Summer service forms are due September 1st.
Can I count work done in previous years?
Hours completed after May 1st eighth grade year thru April 30 senior year will count toward the Badger Service goal of 150 hours. It is strongly suggested that students turn in their paperwork as soon as they are done serving for a volunteer event. You may only submit hours for the current school year. We do not accept retroactive hours. The Badger Service Faculty Advisory Team will review, on an individual basis, transfer student’s community service from previous schools and will determine the best way for the transfer student to earn his BHS Badger Service Hours.
Can I lose hours?
No. These are earned hours and cannot be taken away from a student.
What can I count for hours?
A student may count any volunteer activity that is above and beyond what is expected as a requirement or responsibility of a class or organization. For example, hours required for National Honor society membership may not be counted because they are required for NHS membership. Group service projects where participation is encouraged but is not required as in a football team project may provide hours toward a Badger Service with advisory board approval.
Students engaged in voluntary activities that fulfill other needs a club or team may have, such as team videographers, theater techs or needs within other clubs, are allowed to earn a maximum of 15 Badger Service hours during the program.
If an activity is required for completion of a program or participation/membership in a club, team or group, it cannot be counted for volunteer hours.
Important things to remember:
Students are recognized amongst their peers when they reach the following milestones:
50 hours – Student receives a “Badger Service” Window cling.
100 Hours – Students receive a Badger Service Certificate signed by the High School Principal.
150 Hours – Students are recognized at Honors night and given a letter signed by the Superintendent, High School Principal and Badger Service Coordinator. Students receive their silver cord to wear on graduation day. Students are allowed to keep their silver cord to remember the people they have served and the experiences gained as a Badger Service Participant.
Student Guide
What is the Badger Service Program?
The purpose of the Bennington Badger Service Program is to instill within students the importance of community service, and encourage students to be accountable for investing in their own education and in their community on a regular basis during their school years.
The Badger Service Program recognizes students for their community service during their high school years. Students are recognized at 50, 100, and 150 hours. Students volunteering 150 hours by April 30th of their senior year will have the distinct honor of wearing a silver cord during their graduation ceremony.
How do I begin?
*The Badger Service Program starts May 1 of a student's eighth grade year and concludes April 30 of senior year.
*Consider volunteer work that will interest you. Check the Badger Service tab at the website to find activities that qualify for the program. Be certain those hours fit within the criteria below. Please feel free to be creative and develop your own ideas.
*Contact the volunteer organization to confirm your service activities. Remember that Badger Service hours must meet a clearly defined need from an agency, church, charity program, political agency, social service group, or community event. Other activities may apply as determined by the Badger Service faculty Advisory Team.
*Print a BHS Badger Service Award form form found on the BHS website.
*Complete your service.
*Turn in your completed Badger Service Award form, with all questions answered and all required signatures, into the Badger Service coordinator. Hours in question will be reviewed by the Badger Service faculty Advisory Team for approval.
*Choose to volunteer again! The more hours you volunteer, the closer you are to having the distinct honor of wearing a silver cord at graduation. However, the most important thing is giving something back to the community. Your service matters!
What about summer service?
Students should download Badger Service Forms during the summer months from the BHS web page. Students should keep completed award forms until they return to school in the fall. Summer service forms are due September 1st.
Can I count work done in previous years?
Hours completed after May 1st eighth grade year thru April 30 senior year will count toward the Badger Service goal of 150 hours. It is strongly suggested that students turn in their paperwork as soon as they are done serving for a volunteer event. You may only submit hours for the current school year. We do not accept retroactive hours. The Badger Service Faculty Advisory Team will review, on an individual basis, transfer student’s community service from previous schools and will determine the best way for the transfer student to earn his BHS Badger Service Hours.
Can I lose hours?
No. These are earned hours and cannot be taken away from a student.
What can I count for hours?
A student may count any volunteer activity that is above and beyond what is expected as a requirement or responsibility of a class or organization. For example, hours required for National Honor society membership may not be counted because they are required for NHS membership. Group service projects where participation is encouraged but is not required as in a football team project may provide hours toward a Badger Service with advisory board approval.
Students engaged in voluntary activities that fulfill other needs a club or team may have, such as team videographers, theater techs or needs within other clubs, are allowed to earn a maximum of 15 Badger Service hours during the program.
If an activity is required for completion of a program or participation/membership in a club, team or group, it cannot be counted for volunteer hours.
Important things to remember:
- Volunteer work is an unpaid activity.
- Meeting attendance does not count as volunteer service.
- Volunteering for family members doesn’t count towards a Badger Service.
- Volunteer service cannot occur during a student’s academic day.
- There is a maximum of 8 volunteer hours allowed per day.
Students are recognized amongst their peers when they reach the following milestones:
50 hours – Student receives a “Badger Service” Window cling.
100 Hours – Students receive a Badger Service Certificate signed by the High School Principal.
150 Hours – Students are recognized at Honors night and given a letter signed by the Superintendent, High School Principal and Badger Service Coordinator. Students receive their silver cord to wear on graduation day. Students are allowed to keep their silver cord to remember the people they have served and the experiences gained as a Badger Service Participant.