Student Service Learning

       SSL Picture      Warrior Picture                                                 

    Mr. William Sartori

    SSL Coordinator, School Counselor
    William_L_Sartori@mcpsmd.org
    301-924-3210

    Student Service Learning (SSL) activites are intended to address a recognized need in the community and provide a learning experience for students.  SSL is required by the Maryland State Department of Education for graduation.  Hours are earned through upaid service with non-profit organizations, government agencies, school clubs, and through specific school courses.  There are only a few opportunities working directly with the school.

    SSL hours can be earned beginning in the summer after grade 5.  Students should aim to finish earning all their hours by the end of the first semester of their senior year to avoid potential problems at graduation.  Students should also consider trying to earn most of their hours before the fall of their junior year when coursework becomes heavy.

    SSL Hour Verification Form

    MCPS Student Service Learning Information

     

    SYSTEMWIDE STUDENT DOCUMENTATION TIMELINE  

    Time Frame of Service  

    Documentation Due Date  

    Service completed during the summer

    September 25, 2020

    Service completed during the summer and 1st semester

    January 8, 2021

    ***SENIORS****Service completed during the summer, 1st semester, and 2nd semester

    April 2, 2021

    Grades 9, 10, and 11 services completed during the summer, 1st semester, and 2nd semester.

    June 4, 2021

    Documentation that qualifies seniors for Certificates of Meritorious Service (Class of 2021- 240 hours)

    April 2, 2021
     

    Newly added SSL OPPORTUNITIES

     

    PRIDE Month Writer’s Contest – Deadline: June 23, 2021 – High school students are encouraged to participate in the 2021 Pride Month Youth Writing Competition hosted by Councilmember Evan Glass. Students may earn two SSL hours for a quality essay or poem submission that meets the contest criteria and reflects thoughtful, insightful, and meaningful work. Letters should be 250 words or less and must be submitted by Wednesday, June 23, 2021.

    • SMOB Town Hall - March 24, 2021 (7 PM - 8 PM) – The Student Member of the Board is hosting a one-hour student town hall meeting to share details about the upcoming return to school. School leaders will ask questions to MCPS staff to learn more about the daily operations, technology, instruction and learning, athletics and extracurricular activities, as well as mental health supports for students. Middle school and high school students may earn SSL hours for attending and participating in follow-up advocacy action.
    • SMOB Candidates Fireside Chat - April 14, 2021 (6 PM - 7:30 PM) – The Special Election Committee (SEC) is hosting a SMOB Candidates Fireside Chat Town Hall meeting to provide an opportunity for students to meet the two Student Member of the Board of Education (SMOB) finalists, hear them address questions shared by the audience, and become an informed voter for the SMOB election. Middle school and high school students may earn SSL hours for attending and participating in follow-up advocacy action.

    flyer

    Deadline: March 14, 2021

    This year students may earn 10 SSL hours for quality video submissions. Learn more

    – Ongoing –

    All nonprofit-hosted SSL opportunities can be found on the Montgomery County Volunteer Center (MCVC) website. These opportunities are tagged with the blue MCPS SSL banner and graduation cap icon. Students may also directly access nonprofit-hosted MCPS SSL opportunities at bit.ly/SSLOpportunities and bit.ly/VirtualSSL2020.

    Student-to-Student Extracurricular Series

    student leadership

    – Ongoing –

    We are 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.
    Learn more

    SSL OPPORTUNITIES

    Virtual/Remote MCPS SSL Opportunities (Click on link above for the newest and most up to date opportunities)

    Here are MCPS SSL opportunities that can be completed from home until schools return to normal status.
    Title
    Organization
    Description
    Additional Details
    Write Letters and Create Art for Isolated Older Adults
    Link Generations
    Volunteers are asked to write letters and draw pictures at home that can be delivered to Ring House residents at the Charles E. Smith Life Communities and Ingleside at King Farm. 
    Link Generations will review your letters and artwork and deliver them to isolated older adults.
    Student musicians wanted for weekly virtual concerts 
    The Lutheran Village at Miller’s Grant
    During the COVID-19 pandemic, come and join the UNMUTE student musician group in Maryland to share your love and music talents with senior residents in the Assisted Living facilities. 
    Parent/guardian must sign a Volunteer Release Permission and Waiver of Liability Agreement.
    Virtual Student Leadership Institute for Middle Schoolers
    Project Change
    Middle school students will plan and complete three service projects. The institute will be led via Zoom by an MCPS teacher for 2 hours per day for each 5-day session.
    Parent/guardian must sign a waiver authorizing permission/release.
    Teen Mentor Virtual Student Leadership Institute
    Project Change
    High school students will help develop and implement the curriculum for 2 week-long sessions of the virtual student leadership institute for middle schoolers. 
    Parent/guardian must sign a waiver authorizing permission/release.C
    Help the elderly by making handmade cards for them
    Small Things Matter
    Help us make non-religious greeting cards with kind messages to share with the elderly in our community.
    Small Things Matter will review your cards and deliver them to isolated older adults.
    Help the homeless by making sandwiches
    Small Things Matter
    Help us make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to share with the homeless in our community.
    Email a picture and log of the number of sandwiches made to the Long Branch Community Center.
    Music and Stories of Cheer for Seniors
    The Tacy Foundation
    Write letters/messages to seniors, record music video performances, share written testimonies/stories, etc. to benefit those who receive the uplifting music and messages. 
    Send to foundation and teen intern for approval and distribution. Parent/guardian must sign a waiver authorizing permission/release.
    The Soda Fund Virtual Campaign for a Cause 
    The Soda Fund
    Help our organization raise funds to help victims and survivors of domestic abuse safely escape and begin a new life. Create a flyer or social media post directing people to participate in our virtual community night. 
    Your flyer or social media post will need to be reviewed and approved by The Soda Fund. 
    Researching organizations to share resources for informed voting
    League of Women Voters of Montgomery County
    Help us increase access to our Voters’ Guide by researching major businesses and nonprofit organizations and identifying contact persons for these organizations. 
    Students will compile this information for our organization to use; students will not be directly contacting these organizations.
    Email/mail to reduce loneliness and social isolation
    Empowering the Ages
    Now is a more important time than ever to connect older and younger people with one another, to make sure everyone knows that someone cares.
    All correspondence goes through our organization, and student's confidentiality is ensured.
    Write Letters and Poems to Support Frontline Staff
    Catholic Charities
    Write a poem or letter to offer encouragement and gratitude to support our front-line staff.
    All correspondence goes through our organization, and student's confidentiality is ensured.
    Sew Face Coverings for Staff and Clients
    Catholic Charities
    We need help providing sewn cloth face coverings for our staff and clients.
    Place your finished face coverings directly in a box or envelope, seal with tape, and mail it to our center.
    Share from a Distance
    JCA Heyman Interages Center
    Make a difference in the lives of isolated older adults by sending warm, cheerful letters, messages, art, poetry and stories.
    All communication will be filtered through professional JCA staff. Only first names of participants will be shared. 
    Make baked goods for families in need
    Small Things Matter
    We are looking for volunteers to help us make cookies and other baked treats to share with food insecure families in our community that we serve. 
    No-contact drop off will be arranged. 
    Help feed families in need by making casseroles
    Small Things Matter
    We are looking for volunteers to help us make frozen casseroles to share with the homeless in our community. 
    No-contact drop off will be arranged.
    Thank you cards for First Responders
    The Soda Fund
    Make thank you cards on index cards honoring First Responders in Montgomery County that help rescue victims of domestic abuse and violence.
    Take a photo of your cards, and mail or drop off your cards at Sugo Restaurant at Parc Potomac.
    Making friendship bracelets
    Small Things Matter
    Help us make friendship bracelets for kids to help them cope with the new stresses brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.
    No-contact drop off at Small Things Matter 
    Inspiring Letter Writers for Cancer Patients
    Kits to Heart
    Write uplifting, inspiring messages in cards to bring joy to patients who need it the most. 
    Cards provided for pickup, and no-contact drop off of cards when finished
    Write postcards encouraging young voters to vote
    League of Women’s Voters
    Help the League of Women Voters of Montgomery County create postcards to encourage newly registered voters to cast their ballots for the November 3, 2020 General Election.
    Students who participate will not contact any voter directly.  
    Research minority-owned businesses to share voting resources 
    League of Women’s Voters
    Help us increase access to our Voters’ Guide by researching minority-owned businesses and organizations and identifying contact persons for these organizations. 
    Students will compile this information for our organization to use; students will not be directly contacting these organizations.
    Virtual Autism Speaks 5k
    Autism Speaks
    Volunteers can get involved virtually by being social media champions by creating 2 flyers/social media graphics that our organization can use after the race to thank our runners and sponsors for their support!
    Please do not include any pictures or images of yourself or any personal information in your flyer or social media graphic.
    Create non-partisan graphics and videos to encourage voting
    League of Women’s Voters
    Create graphics and video content for LWVMC’s Social Media Channels using applications such as Canva, InShot, Video Splitter, or the Adobe Creative Suite (Photoshop, Illustrator, After Effects and/or Premiere Pro). 
    Your creations must not use images of yourself or identify yourself to the public in any way except for your age and first name.
    Be a League Observer at Local Government Meetings
    League of Women’s Voters
    Serve as a member of the Observer Corps by attending live-streamed meetings, recording observations, and writing a brief report on the content of the meeting and observations about the process. 
    Students are expected to observe at least two consecutive meetings. 
    Beautiful Origami Crafting for Cancer Patients
    Kits to Heart
    In an effort to bring some joy to cancer patients, your origami will be included inside cancer care kits that are distributed to patients throughout Maryland.
    Students may ship or coordinate with the organization  to drop off finished origami.
    Cloth Face Masks for Cancer Patients
    Kits to Heart
    Your comfy cloth masks for pediatric or adult cancer patients will be included inside cancer care kits that are distributed to patients throughout Maryland.
    Students will coordinate with the organization  to drop off finished masks.
    Create masks for A Wider Circle’s clients
    A Wider Circle
    Check baby clothing donated to our organization for quality, and create bundles of clothing for various ages and genders that we are able to redistribute to families. 
    Schedule a time to pick up and drop off the items with A Wider Circle. 
    Assemble packages of baby clothes for families

    A Wider Circle

    Sew up a storm, and create masks for our neighbors without ready access to them.

    Schedule a time to drop off the items with A Wider Circle.