What counts as service?
If you are serving people, animals, or planets in need, that counts! Be sure that you're helping people in need (kids, the elderly, the poor, and people with special needs are usually the recipients of our service.)
Here's a list of activities that we count towards service points:
Here's a list of activities that we count towards service points:
- Aiding the homeless (students often serve with Mobile Loaves and Fishes, Caritas, Community First, the ARCH, and with church organizations that sponsor breakfasts or special meals for the homeless)
- Mentoring kids (reading to pre-school or elementary-aged children, volunteering as a camp counselor, volunteering time in a pre-school or nursery, working at a VBS program, coaching younger students on swim team, etc.) Note: Working with kids is probably the most common way that students earn points. You may count all of these hours as long as you are not being paid for your work and if the activity is not a fundraiser for some other organization.
- Helping animals (Austin Pets Alive, Humane Society, etc.)
- Saving the (literal) world (creek clean-up, community garden installations, It's My Park Day, etc.)
- Participating in AGS service-learning opportunities (Heifer chores, Greengate Farms projects, Upcycle Auction, Costa Rica service work, TGPLAN, Capstone projects, etc.)
- "Double dipping" is allowed. For example, if you are on the Student Council or Volunteer Club, you may log points earned with another organization on campus, provided that you can demonstrate that you were helping people, animals, or planets in need.
What activities are capped?
Summer Service = cap of 30 points earned during summer months (typically June 1-August 20)
Runs/Athletic Event Fundraisers for Charity = cap of 5 points per event; this includes physical participation in the event as well as volunteer roles like working check-in tables, water booths, clean-up crew, etc.
Campaigns/Civic Engagement = cap of 5 points per year; includes volunteering for political leaders (either elected or campaigning), working as a capitol page, unpaid internships, documented participation in marches/demonstrations, volunteering a legal office (your work is indirectly benefitting those in need, but you don’t have face-to-face contact with people)
Volunteering for a School Organization = cap of 5 points per year; if you are volunteering your time to help out an Austin High School club/organization raise funds or run an event, you may earn up to 5 points per year (Examples: Monster Concert for orchestra, working at a camp for sports, theater, etc. that is designed to raise money to benefit you)
Fostering a pet= cap of 5 points per year, with required documentation of your hours spent caring for the pet. This is an adventure that usually involves the entire family, so it is difficult to track. If you have clear documentation of personal interaction with foster animals, you may appeal to your teaching team for number of points approved.
Runs/Athletic Event Fundraisers for Charity = cap of 5 points per event; this includes physical participation in the event as well as volunteer roles like working check-in tables, water booths, clean-up crew, etc.
Campaigns/Civic Engagement = cap of 5 points per year; includes volunteering for political leaders (either elected or campaigning), working as a capitol page, unpaid internships, documented participation in marches/demonstrations, volunteering a legal office (your work is indirectly benefitting those in need, but you don’t have face-to-face contact with people)
Volunteering for a School Organization = cap of 5 points per year; if you are volunteering your time to help out an Austin High School club/organization raise funds or run an event, you may earn up to 5 points per year (Examples: Monster Concert for orchestra, working at a camp for sports, theater, etc. that is designed to raise money to benefit you)
Fostering a pet= cap of 5 points per year, with required documentation of your hours spent caring for the pet. This is an adventure that usually involves the entire family, so it is difficult to track. If you have clear documentation of personal interaction with foster animals, you may appeal to your teaching team for number of points approved.
What does NOT count as service?
Donating personal items to Goodwill, Salvation Army, etc.: There is no way for us to track donation of goods outside of a school-sponsored drive.
Cash donations: While it is admirable of you to support causes in need, we do not associate service points with monetary donations.
Worship experiences: Activities such as singing in the church choir, playing music in the church band, being an acolyte, etc. do not count towards AGS service goals. While those are admirable ways to volunteer your time, they are part of worship. We do offer points for work that high school students do to support those in need (the elderly, children, etc.), so if your work involves direct interaction with a group in need, it will likely count for some points. See your teaching team if you need clarification.
Fundraisers benefiting you or your program: We do not offer points for selling items to raise money for a school organization.
Paid or Trade experiences: If you are being paid for your work, it is not counted as service. If you are receiving something in return for volunteering (entrance into a concert of festival in exchange for working at a t-shirt booth, for example), it is not counted as service.
Cash donations: While it is admirable of you to support causes in need, we do not associate service points with monetary donations.
Worship experiences: Activities such as singing in the church choir, playing music in the church band, being an acolyte, etc. do not count towards AGS service goals. While those are admirable ways to volunteer your time, they are part of worship. We do offer points for work that high school students do to support those in need (the elderly, children, etc.), so if your work involves direct interaction with a group in need, it will likely count for some points. See your teaching team if you need clarification.
Fundraisers benefiting you or your program: We do not offer points for selling items to raise money for a school organization.
Paid or Trade experiences: If you are being paid for your work, it is not counted as service. If you are receiving something in return for volunteering (entrance into a concert of festival in exchange for working at a t-shirt booth, for example), it is not counted as service.
