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.