Student Service Learning
All 2nd semester hours are due by June 1.
New to SSL?
SSL stands for Student Service Learning. Students in the State of Maryland are required to earn 75 hours in order to graduate from high school.Service Learning must be done with non-profit, tax-exempt organizations, it must be non-religious in nature, occur in a public place, and be open to the greater community. All hours must be pre-approved by MCPS or the School SSL Coordinator.
Watch the eleven minute SSL tutorial for more important information about Student Service Learning.Want a printable version of the SSL basics? Click here to admit "I'm New to SSL"and find all the nitty gritty details to have you totally "in the know."
Due Dates:
Although you have until the end of 12th grade to earn 75 hours, the hours have to be turned in in a timely manner. You really should turn them in as you go so they don't get lost or forgotten. The SSL Coordinator, Ms. Rice, will always accept them early. Here are the due dates for the 2011-2012 school year.
- All SSL hours earned during the summer are due by Friday, September 30, 2011.
- All SSL hours earned during first semester are due by Friday, January 6, 2012.
- All SSL hours earned during second semester are due by Friday, June 1, 2012.
Please note that these due dates are county wide and late forms will not be accepted.
Pre-Approval and Verification Forms:
All service learning must be pre-approved by Montgomery County Public Schools. All pre-approved organizations have been through the MCPS SSL Training and know the MCPS SSL standards. In return, we know that the organizations are appropriate places for your children to work. Pre-approved opportunities can be found on the Montgomery County Volunteer Center website.
If you want to earn hours by working with an organization that is non-profit, tax-exempt, and secular in nature, but is not already pre-approved, you can Request a Pre-Approval from Ms. Rice, the school SSL Coordinator. Complete the Pre-Approval form and turn it in to Ms. Rice at least two weeks before the date of service.
All service hours must be documented on the Verification form. It is important that Verification forms are complete before they are turned in, including a written reflection touching on each of the four questions asked and a signature from a supervisor. Please note that family members cannot supervise SSL activities.Verification forms must be turned in by the due dates listed above.
Opportunities:
All student service learning must be pre-approved. The Montgomery County Volunteer Center keeps a wonderful website of volunteer activities. Any activity tagged "MCPS SSL Approved" or "Approved SSL MCPS" is a great one to get involved in. If you want to do an activity that is not pre-approved, see the Pre-Approval and Verification Form section above.
Here are some other activities that are posted on the SSL Board at North Bethesda.(These will be updated frequently. Check the SSL Board or check here if you hear something on the morning announcements you are interested in.) The activities posted on the NB Webpage will always be MCPS SSL Approved unless otherwise noted.
May 20 - Community Outreach for AWLMC Spay/Neuter Program - Rockville. The AWLMC needs volunteers to distribute flyers to educate pet owners on the advantages of spaying/neutering their pets at the MCPD Animal Services Division Rabies Clinics. Clinics are held on the third Sunday of the month from April to September at the Montgomery County Animal Shelter in Rockville, MD.
Contact Jeanne App at (301) 740-2511 www.awlmc.org
May 28 - Race Volunteers for Jeremy's Run - Olney. Energetic volunteers needed to help set up, clean up, hand water to the runners, help at the registration tables. We also need parking attendants. Jeremy's Run is in memory of Jeremy Glass and the purpose of this event is to raise awareness to the dangers of substance abuse. We hope to dispell the negative stigma that is attached to this horrible disease. Prescription drug abuse has taken more young lives in the past couple of years than automobile accidents! Contact Cyndi Glass at (240) 498-8479 http://www.jeremysrun.com
June 3 - Autism Speaks Triathalon - Poolesville. Volunteers are needed on race day 6:00 AM to 11:00 AM to set up and assist athletes along the course and through transitions. Sign up online and call or email for more information.
Contact Christina Markus at (202) 955-3111 www.autismspeakstri.org
June 18-22 - Teen Volunteers (13+) WANTED at Camp Starlight to be camp counselors, unit leaders, and program presenters at a community outreach girl scout day camp, June 18-22, 2012 -- 9 am-3pm in Silver Spring/Ashton area, bus transportation offered. Students would help lead and teach camp programs for girls in our Maryland community ages 5-11. This is a wonderful five days of fun and learning at a local site, serving 160 young girls in our community (not already girl scouts) to give them a camp experience. Camp training and planning sessions will be given. Campers also wanted (ages 5-11). All Interested: Contact Christina Blue at cblue@gscnc.org or 202-534-3798 for more information. Additional information and sign-up sheets are available in the Counseling Office.
Summer Opportunity - Montgomery County Department of Recreation’s Summer Leadership Challenge (this replaces the old CIT program with MoCo Rec camps) – a service learning program for teens who enjoy helping children learn and have fun in a safe environment. Participate in fun, interactive workshops, games and activities designed to prepare you to volunteer and/or work in a camp environment. Transportation is not available but there are opportunities as close as Ashburton. You must pre-register for this program and space is limited. Check out the flyer on the SSL Board, visit http://montgomerycountymd.gov/rec, or call 240-777-6870 for more information.
ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES Gardener Assistant - Work with professional horticulture staff in planting and care of a wide variety of ornamental plants, including weeding, pruning, watering, grooming, mulching and general clean-up. Learn landscaping and garden maintenance practices, including safe use of tools and equipment.
Contact Nancy Traubitz, 301-962-1429. Website: www.montgomeryparks.org/brookside
Social Media Marketing Experts - The Circle of Hope Therapeutic Riding program, based in Barnesville, MD, is seeking individuals with expertise in Facebook, Twitter, Constant Contact, YouTube and other social media tools to help spread the word about the program and those it serves. Students must work in public place under supervision. Experience with the various social media channels, mentioned above, is required. Minimum age is 15 with parent's permission.
Contact Lesley Shear, 301-916-2040.
Website: www.CHTR.org
Sports Management Trainee - The Big Train seeks students to perform major roles in conducting the operations of the Big Train baseball season. The Student Leadership Committee is designed as a beginning sports management training program. The leaders participate in a variety of tasks, including instructing younger volunteers in their game night jobs, and directly performing roles like reporting on games, announcing, leading the stunts during the game, and ushering. Games are scheduled about 3 times per week in June, July, and August. Student leaders should begin pre-season work around March. Junior or senior in high school, with solid academic and sports background. Student leaders are selected via an application process. Contact Adam Dantus, general manager, at 301-983-1006 for more information. Visit the website: http://www.bigtrain.org
The Village at Rockville Game Night, 6:30pm in Lang Hall. Do you enjoy Scrabble, Trivial Pursuit, Jenga, Sorry, Stratego and other games? This is a great opportunity for you to interact with residents in the village, play games, and earn SSL hours. Students must be at least 13 or accompanied by an adult and must sign up ahead of time. Contact Felicia Brown at 301-354-8447 or FBROWN@THEVILLAGEATROCKVILLE.ORG if you’re interested.
Compassion Over Killing - As an office assistant, you will prepare important mailings such as materials for activists nationwide to use at special events and informational brochures and vegetarian starter guides requested online. Depending on organization needs, special events, and/or the candidate's abilities and interests, light research, office organization, assistance at outreach events at local venues, or other important office administrative and operations tasks may be involved. It is highly recommended that volunteers be interested in vegetarianism or veganism, though adherence to either diet is not required. Contact Sean Conner, Office Manager at 301-891-2458. Visit the website at http://www.cok.net/ ArtStream- Attention Theater lovers!
ArtStream has a fantastic SSL opportunity at our Silver Spring Location. We are looking for folks who like to sing,dance,act or work backstage in our Inclusive Acting company. This is a six month position and it is wonderful to be alongside adults with disabilities helping them to be the best that they can be on stage. This creative and rewarding position looks terrific on college applications! Great opportunity for groups!
Maryland Soccer Foundation - Office Assistant.
Would you like to help plan for and promote a state of the art sports facility and park? The 24 field, 162 acre SoccerPlex with 2 field multi-sport indoor facility is the place to do it. As Office Assistant you will learn many aspects of running a successful recreation complex through telephone contact, data entry, assisting with mailings, help with correspondence and special projects. Explore public relations by getting the word out to the community regarding special events and opportunities at the SoccerPlex through mailings, press releases, fliers, etc. and assist with indoor complex operations.
Mid-County United Ministries (MUM) - Food Storage Assistant.
Help move large amounts of nonperishable food delivered to MUM's long-term storage unit in Wheaton. Also relocate large amounts of food from storage unit to delivery truck for stocking at MUM food pantry in Wheaton. Work is supervised by adult at storage facility and pantry. Hours for work are flexible and are set by food storage coordinator.
Marian Assisted Living - Activities Assistant.
Experience the reward of contributing to the lives of senior citizens. Play board games, help seniors stay fit with armchair exercises. Bring musical entertainment, call Bingo, visit with our residents. Marian Assisted Living offers a safe home for as many as 40 elderly citizens who can no longer live on their own.
Montgomery County Recreation - Adapted Aquatics.
Everybody into the pool with this water adjustment/learn-to-swim program for children ages 4 to 15 who have special needs. The program is limited to eight participants and meets Saturday mornings at 9:45am and 10:35am. Volunteers are needed to work one-on-one with children participating in the program. Volunteers should be able to swim but no particular swim abilities are required.
Montgomery County Public Schools also has a link to Student Service Learning on their website. This is a great tool with a lot of good information. There are links to downloadable forms, additional tutorial videos, and a link to the Montgomery County Volunteer Center website. If you remember one web address it should be this: www.mcpsssl.org.
The best source of information about the Student Service Learning requirements for all students in Montgomery County is the county website starting with the Program Overview .
The Getting Started page has a Step by Step list to follow.
Do you have questions? The MCPS page has a Frequently Asked Questions section .
Contact:
With questions and for pre-approvals: Ms. Ashley Rice, North Bethesda Student Service Learning Coordinator