Community Service

The Paramount Unified School District believes that community service plays an important role in education. This type of service connects students to their community and promotes the value of making a contribution to a broader cause. Paramount Unified School District will continue to support this experience with the presentation of a Community Service Cord at graduation.

What is the purpose of the community service?

The purpose of Community service is to provide students the opportunity to have a positive impact on our local community. Volunteer work for high school students can be a life-changing experience, one that allows teens to expand their horizons and foster meaningful relationships. Students are also able to build their resume and skills, which they can include in their college and scholarship applications/interviews.

What qualifies as community service?

Community service hours must be completed at a non-profit organization.
A student may volunteer for a single organization or at a variety of organizations.
Students are encouraged to complete their hours in areas related to their personal interests.
Paid experiences do not qualify.
Working without pay at your job or for a family business does not qualify.
Students cannot earn hours for donating items or money...only their time.

How do I prove my community service hours?

Students must submit a PHS Community Service Hours Log via Google Form.
A supervisor's contact info is required on each form as they may be contacted for verification purposes.
An immediate family member may not be the supervisor for a student.

Community Service Graduation Cord

Students who have earned 100 hours or more of service will be awarded with an honor cord that they are able to wear during the graduation ceremony.

Volunteer Opportunites & Ideas

City of Paramount:

STAR After school Program. Become an elementary or middle school volunteer and assist schools with their after school events. Pick up an application in the Counseling Office and submit to the Recreation Office, located at 15300 Downey Ave. Paramount, CA 90723 or contact Recreation Department at 562-220-2121.

Become a tutor for The Paramount Petroleum Community Learning Center at Spane Park. Application is required. You can pick up application at the site located on 14400 Gundry Ave. For more information call 562-220-2250.

Paramount Library:

Application and interview required. Pick up application at 16254 Colorado Ave., or call

562-630-3171

Compton Initiative—Just Do It:

Compton Initiative is a long-term commitment to bring restoration and hope to the community of Compton. Community clean up days are posted online. Sign up online at www.justdogood.org or call 562-817-0822

City of Downey:

- Trying to find a way to give back to your community?

- Looking to receive volunteer hours required for school?

- Want to gain skills and leadership experience?

If you answered yes to any of those questions and you are at least in middle school, then the Volunteer Program is for you! The opportunities are endless within City Hall's various departments such as: Planning, Engineering, Human Resources, Fire Prevention, and Finance. You could also be assigned to work at the youth programs at various park sites, city wide special events, summer day camps, or an ASPIRE Afterschool site. There is a $15 entry fee and/or $10 renewal fee each year and occasional meetings throughout the year. Please read the Volunteer Interest Form for additional requirements. Information or questions please call (562) 904-8145 or (562) 904-7238.

High School Students are able to participate as Volunteers at ASPIRE program sites (School sites include: Ward, Williams, Alameda, Price, Lewis, Unsworth, Gauldin, Carpenter, Old River, Stauffer, Griffiths, or Sussman), assist at City Hall, Summer Day Camps as a C.I.T., Safe Place to Play and Let's Go Play Programs, and/or all city-wide special events.

Visit website for orientation dates and Volunteer Interest form: www.downeyca.org/services/cs/volunteer.asp

PATHWAYS VOLUNTEER PROGRAM

Are you at least 16 years old? Do you want to volunteer at a hospital? This is a great program to do during the summer!

Contact Volunteer Coordinator Meg Fisch if you have any questions. She can be reached at 562-531-3031 or meg@pathwayshospice.org.

Attachments:

Pathways Volunteer Sign-Up

NATIONAL AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS SEEKING VOLUNTEERS

Habitat for Humanity- www.habitatla.org

The Salvation Army- www.salvationarmyusa.org

YMCA- www.lbymca.org

City of Bellflower- www.bellflower.org/resources/community/volunteer.asp

City of Long Beach- www.longbeach.gov/park/recreation/volunteer_opportunities.asp