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Silver Cord Program Overview
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The Silver Cord Program began at Valley High School in the fall of 2001 as a graduation award which promotes volunteering and community engagement. The Silver Cord award is available to West Des Moines Community Schools (WDMCS) seniors who volunteer each year of high school starting in 9th grade. To earn a Silver Cord, students must volunteer a minimum of 50 hours a year at three or more non-profit organizations, events, or programs during all four years of high school.
WDMCS Community Education coordinates the Silver Cord program and each year over 1000 students from Valley, Valley Southwoods, and Walnut Creek Campus submit community service hours through the program. All WDMCS high school students are encouraged to participate!
Updates to Silver Cord during COVID-19 Closures
We are experiencing a challenging time, and we do not want Silver Cord requirements to add to your stress. For this reason, we are making temporary changes to Silver Cord guidelines to give you opportunities to serve your families and community while staying safe and healthy. We encourage you to practice social distancing and wear a mask, especially if you will be less than 6 feet away from others. As is always the case, if you have extenuating circumstances regarding your Silver Cord hours, you may contact Mrs. Bonus, Silver Cord coordinator, at bonusc@wdmcs.org.
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Contact Us
Cyndi Bonus
Silver Cord Coordinator
515-633-4365Shana Tow
Administrative Assistant
515-633-5006Silver Cord Office
Valley High School
3650 Woodland Avenue
West Des Moines, IA 50266
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Getting Started
Students can create a Silver Cord account by completing the online form at the link below.
All incoming ninth graders may begin participating in the Silver Cord program the summer following eighth grade. Please note: students may not start their service hours until June 1.
Silver Cord Login
Students can view hours, update their profile, submit hours for credit, and read important messages from the Silver Cord Coordinator at Silver Cord online.
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Completing Silver Cord Hours
For the 2020 -2021 school year, Silver Cord volunteers will need to complete 50 hours of service work for three different organizations by May 31, 2021.
We are operating under relaxed Silver Cord guidelines until further notice. In addition to volunteering for non-profit organizations in the community, you can now:
- Volunteer in your own home
- Volunteer for your family or someone else in need that is not an official non-profit organization
- Have a parent serve as the supervisor for a volunteer activity
Examples of this could include yard work, making a blanket for Children’s Cancer Connection, or assisting with a remote project for a non-profit. Visit the Volunteer Opportunities page for more information about volunteer opportunities to complete at home.
