• Volunteer

     

    Community Service Awards

    The AHS Service Award Program recognizes students who make positive impacts on their communities through volunteer efforts. The program is managed and funded by the Acalanes Parents Club (APC) with support from school administrators who ensure AHS is accredited as a Presidential Volunteer Service Certifying Organization.

     

    Student Awards

    The current award calendar runs from April 20, 2024, to April 18, 2025. Volunteer hours completed by students (including incoming freshmen) during this period will count towards the awards. Students can qualify for one annual award (either Acalanes or Presidential) per year of high school and one Excellence in Community Service Award over the course of their high school career.

    1. Acalanes High School Volunteer Service Award: This award honors students who contribute significantly to the community by completing a minimum of 30 hours of qualifying service.

    2. Presidential Volunteer Service Award (PVSA): This national award recognizes students for outstanding community service. The award level depends on the total number of qualifying service hours and the student’s age. Hours completed before a student’s 16th birthday count towards the teen category.

    3. Excellence in Community Service Award: This special award is granted once during high school to students who either complete a minimum of 300 qualifying hours over four years or earn three PVSA awards (at any level). Recipients are honored with an honor cord to wear at graduation, symbolizing their exceptional dedication to community service.

     

     

    Annual Awards

    April 20, 2024 - April 18, 2025

    One-time High School Award

    AHS

    PVSA Bronze

    PVSA Silver

    PVSA Gold

    Excellence 

    Teen (13-15)

    30 hours

    50 - 74 hours

    75 - 99 hours

    100+ hours

    300 hours over 4 years or 3 PVSA Awards

    Young Adult (16+)

    100 - 174 hours

    175 - 249 hours

    250+ hours

     

    Helper Helper Volunteer App

    Students use the Helper Helper app to log their service hours, which are necessary to qualify for awards. The app also allows students to find and sign up for volunteer opportunities. For assistance with adding and tracking volunteer entries, please refer to the App Instructions.

    To create a Helper Helper account, students should email their First and Last Name, Birthdate and AHS email address to communityservice@acalanesparentsclub.com.  Expect a response within 1-3 days.

     

    Qualifying for Awards

    To qualify for an award, student service hours must follow the Award Guidelines. It’s important to read the guidelines as not all unpaid work qualifies, and there are new limits on certain categories of service. Entries must be logged within one month of service, with all submissions finalized by April 18th, 2025.

     

    Granting and Distribution of Awards 

    APC parent volunteers review all student entries and give final approval. Students can track their approved hours in Helper Helper to monitor their progress toward awards. In May, award recipients will receive an email with details about their award and the date of a lunchtime distribution event. APC covers the cost of all award certificates, so students do not need to purchase them.

     

    Questions and Support

    Upon signing up for Helper Helper, students receive award guidelines and app instructions. For any questions related to awards or the Helper Helper app, students can contact the APC Community Service Team. We’re here to help!