Community Service

Beginning with the Class of 2012, Cullman County graduating seniors may have the Community Service Seal affixed to their diplomas if they have fulfilled the designated number of hours in service to their communities.  The purpose of this initiative is to encourage students to help others in their communities as well as to instill in them the desire to continue this service for a lifetime.

The number of hours required for this recognition will be phased in according to class placement:   Class of 2015 (and all classes thereafter) 100 hours

 Students must participate in service activities in a variety of settings with students volunteering in at least three different organizations (examples include schools, hospitals, religious organizations, registered non-profit organizations, etc.).
All community service activities must be documented on the Community Service Activity Log and must be signed by the adult supervising member of the organization.  The title and contact information for the supervisor should also be listed for verification purposes.  Supervisors may not be members of the student’s immediate family.

           Types of activities that meet the criteria of community service learning (examples, not an exhaustive list):

  • Alzheimer’s Support Group

  • American Cancer Society

  • American Heart Association

  • American Red Cross

  • Assisted living organizations

  • Cullman area churches

  • Cullman area nursing homes

  • Cullman County Center for Developmentally Disabled

  • Cullman County Food Bank

  • Cullman Regional Medical Center

  • Empty Bowls

  • Folsom Center

  • Good Samaritan Health Clinic

  • Habitat for Humanity

  • Hospice Care

  • Lions Club

  • Military enlistment prior to graduation date

  • Pilot Club

  • Rotary Club

  • Sheppard’s Care Food Bank

  • United Way

  • Volunteer Fire Department or Rapid Responders

  • Other activities approved by the principal

 Types of activities that do not meet the criteria of community service learning:

  • Any activities that are tied to a grade or required for a class (ex., musical performances with school groups to places such as nursing homes will not count if the activity is tied to a grade in the music class)

  • Any credit-bearing course

  • Any paid activity or hours

  • Any court-ordered service to the community

  • Membership in a service organization without participation in service activities

  • Attendance (only) in an activity

 If there is a question about whether or not an activity or an organization is appropriate for community service learning, please verify this with the school principal before participating in any activities.  The principal reserves the right to approve or deny community service credit for any activity.

Time frame for accumulation of hours:
A student may begin documenting hours on the first day of school in ninth grade and may continue to accumulate hours until the ending date designated by the local school in the spring of the student’s senior year.

Students should turn in log forms each semester to the Guidance Office.  Activity log forms are available in the Guidance Office or can be printed from the attached document below.