Horseheads Intermediate School
Presidential Volunteer Service Award Information
Dear Parents,
Beginning in the summer and throughout the next school year, 5th and 6th students at the Intermediate School have the opportunity to participate in the President’s Volunteer Service Challenge. This is a program created by the Bush Administration in 1992, and continued by the current Administration, designed to encourage young people to become more involved in their communities. Additional information can be found at
Any student who completes 50-100 hours of community service in a 12-month period will receive a Volunteer Service Award from the White House. The Award includes a pin specially designed by the White House (gold for 100 hours, silver for 75 hours, or Bronze for 50 hours), and a presidential certificate.
One full year is allowed to meet the required number of hours to earn the award; In this case, hours accrued between July 1, 2018 and June 30, 2019 will count toward the award. If a student is to receive the award prior to the end of the 2018-2019 school year, service must be completed by early to mid-May of 2018. If the hour requirement has not been met by this date, the student has the option of continuing service through June 30, 2019 and submitting documentation by July 2, 2019. The award would then be given to the student in September of 2019.
Services that qualify for this award include volunteering with community or religious organizations, service through school or community service-learning projects, or individual efforts to help others and improve the local community. Many scouting activities would qualify. Services that do not qualify include any activity for which the student is paid money or receives other compensation, fundraising, lobbying, or proselytizing (converting others’ religious beliefs, political party, etc.). Possible volunteer activities and organizations include the following:
Intermediate School Make a Difference Day
American Cancer Society
Food Bank of the Southern Tier
American Red Cross
Arnot Health
Arctic League
YWCA
Big Flats Community Center
Science & Discovery Center
Cornell Cooperative Extension
Horseheads Youth Bureau
Libraries: Horseheads, Big Flats, Steele Memorial Library
Horseheads/Big Flats Legions
Other suggestions: church activities, posted suggestions from Health class. Please note: unacceptable volunteering would be: helping a neighbor with no pay, going to work with no pay, shoveling, mowing a lawn, working concession, anything that you are TOLD to do by another group.
Services that qualify for this award must take place outside the student’s family unit. For example, tutoring a younger brother or sister would not count. Planting a garden outside the student’s own home would not count; however, planting a tree in a park through a community organization would.
A volunteer service log sheet can be downloaded here or they are available in the main office. Please note that a signature is required for each activity the student completes. This signature should be a person from the organization where the service was performed. Students who choose to participate should turn in their log sheets to school each quarter (around the time of report cards) so the information can be transferred to the master list. You will find dates for quarterly log turn in the Intermediate School newsletter as each quarter is drawing to a close. All hour sheets should be submitted to your child’s classroom teacher.
Should you have any questions, please contact Mrs. Doubrava in the Intermediate School office at (607) 739-3636 or rdoubrava@horseheadsdistrict.com.
Thank you!