Required Volunteer Hours Reduced for Graduation
By Mariah Zaccheo
By Mariah Zaccheo
Pioneer High School has always been a volunteer-focused school, however for the past three years students lost many opportunities to volunteer due to the pandemic.
In previous years students needed 40 hours over their entire high school career to graduate, however in 2020 this mandate was removed. This meant that all students up to the class of 2025 would have zero required volunteer hours to graduate, however, as the state mandate changes these required hours can increase by 10 for each graduation year if the mandate is lifted.
The pandemic took a toll on everyone and made it difficult for students to do tasks and activities that were previously very accessible and easy to find. One of these activities was access to volunteering opportunities. According to Academic Counselor Nicole Pearson, the amount of required hours is dependent on state mandates.
“The district has reduced or completely eliminated them for the past two graduating classes, and depending on the different state guidelines there mandating the hours and reducing the hours according to that,” said Pearson.
Although this year’s seniors are off the hook, however, the volunteer requirement for the other grades is still unknown, until future state mandates are determined. Responses to the removal of volunteer hours have varied. Teachers and staff like Pearson, felt the removal of those hours was a positive change.
“I think it’s positive, because it takes stress off (students) and there haven’t been many places open because of COVID. A lot of places are not allowing outside people in, just not in the way that we would need it,” said Pearson.
The benefit of waived hours has taken the stress off many students. Assistant Principal Amy Hanna explained how waving the needed hours is meant to support students.
“Kids were worried on how to get their hours done to graduate but now with there being less, they are relieved and it has brought them a peace of mind,” said Hanna.
Although the pressure to complete hours is no longer a stress for graduation this year, a few students believe that the hours should be kept and are actually disappointed by the lack of mandated hours.
“The removal is definitely a negative thing since volunteering is all about bettering your community and helping those in need,” said Emily Nakashima, 12. “Having everyone do just a little volunteer work can have a big impact and brings awareness to prevalent issues that we face. I think it also builds skills like collaboration and problem solving, which can be used in all aspects of someone’s life.”
When the state updates the volunteer requirement for graduation, students will once again have more opportunities to learn about and help their community as well as develop skills. Until then, students in this year’s graduating class don’t have to worry about having a certain amount of volunteer hours in order to graduate.
In previous years students needed 40 hours over their entire high school career to graduate, however in 2020 this mandate was removed. This meant that all students up to the class of 2025 would have zero required volunteer hours to graduate, however, as the state mandate changes these required hours can increase by 10 for each graduation year if the mandate is lifted.
The pandemic took a toll on everyone and made it difficult for students to do tasks and activities that were previously very accessible and easy to find. One of these activities was access to volunteering opportunities. According to Academic Counselor Nicole Pearson, the amount of required hours is dependent on state mandates.
“The district has reduced or completely eliminated them for the past two graduating classes, and depending on the different state guidelines there mandating the hours and reducing the hours according to that,” said Pearson.
Although this year’s seniors are off the hook, however, the volunteer requirement for the other grades is still unknown, until future state mandates are determined. Responses to the removal of volunteer hours have varied. Teachers and staff like Pearson, felt the removal of those hours was a positive change.
“I think it’s positive, because it takes stress off (students) and there haven’t been many places open because of COVID. A lot of places are not allowing outside people in, just not in the way that we would need it,” said Pearson.
The benefit of waived hours has taken the stress off many students. Assistant Principal Amy Hanna explained how waving the needed hours is meant to support students.
“Kids were worried on how to get their hours done to graduate but now with there being less, they are relieved and it has brought them a peace of mind,” said Hanna.
Although the pressure to complete hours is no longer a stress for graduation this year, a few students believe that the hours should be kept and are actually disappointed by the lack of mandated hours.
“The removal is definitely a negative thing since volunteering is all about bettering your community and helping those in need,” said Emily Nakashima, 12. “Having everyone do just a little volunteer work can have a big impact and brings awareness to prevalent issues that we face. I think it also builds skills like collaboration and problem solving, which can be used in all aspects of someone’s life.”
When the state updates the volunteer requirement for graduation, students will once again have more opportunities to learn about and help their community as well as develop skills. Until then, students in this year’s graduating class don’t have to worry about having a certain amount of volunteer hours in order to graduate.