Student Service Learning (SSL)

Please Submit All SSL Forms to Room 106

Eastern's SSL Coordinator is Mr. Nicholas Towson 

Any middle school student who has submitted documentation to show the completion of the 75-hour SSL graduation requirement (for the first time in middle school) by April 5th, 2024, will receive the Superintendent’s SSL Award.

SSL Resources

Student Engagement Letter

 SSL Opportunities

    • Monthly March SSL Opportunities 
    • March SSL Opportunities (for which students can earn up to 44.5 SSL hours!)Please share the information below with students still in need of SSL hours:
      • Montgomery County Public Schools Girls Summit (March 9, 2024, 9AM-1PM) - Session topics include healthy relationships/dating violence, social media use and mental health, identifying symptoms of depression and anxiety, Narcan training, and much more! 
        • Students may earn 4 SSL hours for attending and learning this important information so that they can help to spread awareness about these topics and participate in Narcan training to support in the case of an emergency. 
        • To learn more, please click here.
      • MCPS National History Day (March 9, 2024, 8:00am - 2:00pm) - For MCPS Students 18+ - MCPS is looking for HS students 18+, to judge student projects at the National History Day County Competition on March 9, 2024, at Loiederman Middle School!
      • Annual Youth Voice Roundtable (March 12, 2024, 6:30-8:30 PM) - The Montgomery County Commission on Children and Youth is hosting a virtual opportunity for middle and high school students to share their perspectives on the following issues: civic engagement, career readiness resources, and LGBTQIA+ support. 
        • Students may earn 2 SSL hours for participating in this dialogue with the council. 
        • To learn more, please click here.
      • The Keeping It Safe Student Video Contest (Deadline: March 31, 2024) is now open! Students may earn 5 SSL hours for quality video submissions. Interested students may view the contest rules and additional information at this link.
      • The Living Organ Donor Video Contest (Deadline: March 31, 2024) is now open! Students may earn 10 SSL hours for quality video submissions. Interested students may view the contest rules and additional information at this link.
      • C&O Canal and Potomac Riverside Cleanup - April 13, 2024 (9 AM - 12 PM) - Join us as we work together to clean up the Potomac River and its huge watershed area! Some of the many cleanup sites in our region are in your backyard! 
        • Students may earn 3 SSL hours for participating. 
        • Interested students may view additional details and sign up at the following link.
      • Earth Day SSL Opportunity (April 22, 2024, 9:30am - 2:00pm) - Build the first MCPS farm, and earn SSL hours while giving back to the Earth!
        • Students may earn 4.5 SSL hours for participating. Breakfast, lunch, and transportation will be provided.
        • To learn more, please click here.
      • Student-to-Student Extracurricular Series - 10 SSL hours -- VIRTUAL/REMOTE – MCPS is seeking students interested in developing a video presentation with either a leadership moment or extracurricular skill to inspire, teach, and share with their MCPS peers and the greater MCPS community. Students may earn 10 SSL hours for successful submission of all items identified in the Student-To-Student Extracurricular Series Form.
      • Additional March SSL Opportunities
 

MCPS SSL Website

The state of Maryland requires all students to complete 75 hours of Student Service Learning (SSL) in order to graduate. Students may begin working on this requirement as soon as they complete 5 th grade. Students earn some SSL hours through middle school and high school courses.

Grade 6: Science

Grade 7: English

Grade 8: US History

Parents should be aware that simply working as an unpaid volunteer does not necessarily qualify as SSL. The rules for where a student may earn SSL hours, how to receive credit for the hours earned, and other topics can be found on the MCPS website:

 https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/ssl/pages/overview.aspx  

It is very important that students check the MCPS website prior to undertaking any volunteer service. The website includes a link to the Montgomery County Volunteer Center's list of volunteer opportunities.

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/volunteercenter/

Those organizations marked with a graduation cap are pre-approved for SSL.

Students who wish to volunteer at an organization not on the list should submit an approval request to Eastern's SSL coordinator using MCPS form 560-51 prior to serving as a volunteer.

SSL service should be recorded on an MCPS form 560-50 that has been signed by an adult at the organization. Forms 560-50 are due at the end of each semester. No credit will be given for volunteer service in previous semesters.

Eastern's SSL Coordinator is Mr. Nicholas Towson.