Service Learning
About
Definition
Service-Learning is a teaching method that combines meaningful service to the community with curriculum-based learning. Students improve their academic skills by applying what they learn in school to the real world; they then reflect on their experience to reinforce the link between their service and their learning. Service-Learning includes; preparation, identifying projects and learning skills; and action. Students can meet the needs of the community three ways:
Direct Service: Students have face-to-face contact with the service recipients, such as serving meals at a homeless shelter or volunteering at a nursing home.
Indirect Service: Students perform a service without having face-to-face contact with the recipient, such as participating in food and clothing drives and fundraising.
Advocacy: Students educate others about a particular issue, such as writing letters to legislators or editors and displaying posters to targeted audiences.
Purpose
Service-learning is an instructional strategy that combines meaningful service to the community with curriculum-based learning. Students improve their academic and civic skills by applying what they learn in school to the real world. Students then reflect on their experiences to reinforce the link between their service and their learning.
Service-learning is a form of civic education that provides the student with opportunities to explore what it means to be an active, engaged citizen
Mission
Best Practices
-
Meet a recognized need in the community
-
Achieve curricular objectives through service-learning
-
Reflect throughout the service-learning experience
-
Develop student responsibility
-
Establish community partnerships
-
Plan ahead for service-learning
-
Equip students with knowledge and skills needed for service.
Guidelines
1. Students, parents, and individuals/organizations who accept student volunteers are hereby advised that the fact that Service-Learning is mandated is not a sufficient basis for attaching liability to the Carroll County Public Schools. The Board of Education of Carroll County does not provide general liability insurance for individuals or organizations for whom students may perform student service. Parents or guardians of student and individuals or organizations that accept student volunteers should verify the adequacy of their own insurance coverage.
2. The Carroll County Program will meet or exceed the minimum number of hours (75) of Service-Learning as required by the State of Maryland. Students may count a maximum of 20% of total practice and preparation time for a service learning activity, unless pre-approved by the school’s Service-Learning Coordinator.
3. Students may meet the Service-Learning Graduation Requirement by completing the Course-Related Option or by completing the Exemplary Service Award Option.
4. Students may accumulate service hours beginning the summer after the completion of grade 5 through grade 12; and, may complete the requirement any time during that period. Students must complete a minimum of 55 Service-Learning hours by the end of the eleventh grade in order to be promoted to senior status.
5. Service-Learning hours will be pro-rated for students transferring into Carroll County Schools from private or out-of- state schools after the completion of their freshman year. For those students transferring into CCPS after the freshman year, the hours are pro-rated as follows: Sophomores are required to complete 40 hours; junior year 30 hours; first semester of the senior year; 10 hours; second semester of senior year 5 hours.
6. Service-Learning activities will be approved by the school principal or student service coordinator. Students shall not be paid for their service and shall not earn hours for service to a for-profit business. Students shall not earn hours for service in preparation for or during religious services; not earn hours for assisting family members with tasks such as cutting the lawn or babysitting; not be excused from school to earn Service-Learning hours. Check with the school coordinator for clarification.
7. Students choosing the Exemplary Service Option must document Service-Learning hours on the Service-Learning Reflection Form (form on front).
8. Service-Learning reflection forms submitted by students will be approved by the school-based coordinators on a quarterly basis unless specific circumstances require a more immediate response.
Home School/Private School Students
Carroll County homeschooled and/or private school students may document their service-learning hours utilizing the Carroll County Service-Learning Reflection Form in the event that they enroll in public schools prior to graduation. Activities must comply with the Carroll County Service-Learning Guidelines. To receive credit for the hours, forms should be submitted to the public school Guidance Office upon enrollment.
Courses
Students may fulfill the Service-Learning Graduation Requirement by successfully completing courses that contain a Service-Learning component. Students must earn the minimum of 75 Service-Learning hours to satisfy the Service-Learning requirement. The number of hours each course provides is listed below.
- Middle School Courses Providing Hours
- High School Courses Providing 5-15-30 Hours
- High School Courses Providing 10 Hours
Middle School Courses Providing Hours
- 6th grade Outdoor School (10 hours)*
- 8th grade Family & Consumer Sciences (15 hours)
- Learning for Independence Job Readiness (15 hours)
*Students may earn an additional 10 Service-Learning hours by completing an approved environmental project after the completion of Outdoor School. Students will learn about this opportunity while attending Outdoor School.
High School Courses Providing 5-15-30 Hours
High School Courses Providing 10 Hours
- Academic Department Assistant+
- Advanced Cosmetology: Theory & Application
- Applied Art
- Auto Service Technology I, II
- Building Maintenance
- Culinary Arts 1 and II
- Electrical Construction I, II
- Honors International Studies
- Independent Study – Student Service Learning+
- Issues in American Society
- Mastery of Cosmetology
- Newspaper Production/Honors Newspaper Production+
- Peer Facilitating+
- Principles & Practices of Cosmetology
- Science Research I, II, III/ Honors Science Research I, II, III
- Textiles and Fashion Careers I, II
- US History/Honors US History
- Video Production
- Yearbook Production/Honors Yearbook Production+
Forms
Once you have completed your service, fill out the Service-Learning Reflection Form (digital or paper) and submit for approval within one-year.
Online Service Learning Hours Entry
Service-Learning Form
Transfer Students
Project Suggestions
- Gate House Museum & Special Olympics
- Indirect Service Projects
- Direct Service Project Locations
- Events
- Scholarships
- Outdoor School
Gate House Museum & Special Olympics
Adrienne Smith, Curator: gatehouse@sykesville.net
Special Olympics Carroll CountyLaurie Brewer: lbrewer10@verizon.net
410-236-1571
I am so pleased that the Gate House has had so much interest and inquiry about our fall Student Service Learning opportunities! Some extra details regarding upcoming timing opportunities and procedures are below. All students will need to have a permission slip and emergency form filled out prior to the start of their volunteer work. Students are responsible for updating a hard-copy service learning hour sheet on-site for our records at the museum, as well as submitting their hours to CCPS through the online platform designated by their school. Student volunteers must be scheduled with the museum in advance for each individual day of student service learning. We are a small museum built in a 1904 house which is full to the brim of furniture and breakable objects, and have extremely low indoor occupancy. While we would love to take every volunteer that wants to help, we are sometimes unable to accommodate additional students due to these space limitations.
We have upcoming summer historical speaker events on September 5th and 12th, for which we still are in need of a few students and/or adults to help set up, run a welcome table, monitor museum space, and tear down at the end. Students would need to arrive by approximately 1pm and be picked up by 4:30. The events themselves are scheduled from 2-4. September 5th speaker is regarding Francis Baldwin, the architect behind Baldwin's Station and others nearby, and September 12th is about the start of Springfield Hospital's School of Mental Healthcare Nursing in the early 1900s. Students would not be required to know anything specific about these subjects, but would be trained to guide people through additional photos and artifacts related to these topics, as well as assisting in the event facilitation that makes these public education events possible.
The student learning projects (rather than just helping at events) will begin in October, after our speaker events. In October, the museum will be running an art and history pop up/take home program. In November, we will be working on a detailed VR tour of the building and its grounds. In December, we will begin working on 3-d imaging some artifacts in our archives. The digital archival programs in November and December are designed to be especially for our student volunteers. Below is a little more information about each:
The Art and History pop up events after school on Wednesdays in October, will be a visual arts craft outreach project aimed at children but essentially "for" anyone. Prior to these events, we will need help preparing and creating examples of the projects and take-home kits (an alternative for individuals uncomfortable attending in-person events during COVID or for whatever reason) as well as helping/encouraging/answering questions about these activities.
The VR tour students will help create in November (on Sunday afternoons) is based on increasing accessibility to our facilities. The Gate House was built in 1904, and therefore has extremely limited access to individuals with mobility impairment. Furthermore, with COVID cancelling most field trips, our foot traffic since the beginning of the pandemic has been lessened. This tour, created through Google software, will be the first step in making sure more people can experience the Gate House and learn about the history of Sykesville without worrying about narrow doorways or troublesome steps. The second piece of this project will aspirationally end up integrated with that tour.
To build from the VR tour, students will learn how to 3-d scan objects in the museum collection. These scans will be used in conjunction with MERGE cubes and VR glasses in order for off-site visitors to, in a slightly more tangible way, interact with some of the pieces in the collection. This project will begin in December, on Fridays after school. However, because of overwhelming interest in this part of our project, we will definitely re-run this student program at some point in the spring. Again, because of space limitations, for work done in our archive space, we can only take a maximum of four students at a time to work on this project.
Everyone should be given the opportunity to interact with history, and I hope that the variety of types of activities and days of offer make it possible for everyone who wants to participate in our student service learning to be able to do so in a meaningful way. The Gate House will keep CCPS up to speed on what is planned for spring, but if you have ideas of other ways the Gate House can help engage students or the community, we are willing and eager to hear them! Potential spring plans include: a spring history speaker series, a Civil War Living History Event, more arts outreach, planning for summer camps, and possibly a Pennyfarthing bike race. Stay tuned!
Thank you for your interest in the Gate House and we hope to see you soon!
Indirect Service Projects
Direct Service Project Locations
Events
Make A Difference Day
National and Global Youth Service Day - April 23-25
Seasons of Service (MLK Day, National Youth Service Day, National Volunteer Week, Join Hands Day, Make a Difference Day)
Scholarships
Outdoor School
Every sixth grader in Carroll County has the opportunity to attend Outdoor School at Camp Hashawha, Carroll County’s residential environmental school. The mission of Outdoor School is to empower students to act upon their environmental knowledge and skills. Students learn about different aspects of the environment and then have the opportunity to put their knowledge in to action by participating in a service project such as tree planting to improve the riparian buffers, maintaining habitat plantings, building bird nesting boxes and feeders and other worthwhile projects. Upon successfully completing Outdoor School, students receive 10 service-learning hours. Students have the opportunity to earn 10 additional service-learning hours after returning home from Outdoor School. Students must complete their project (project ideas) and the Outdoor School Reflection Form by October 31st of their 7th grade year.
Outdoor School: Service Learning Ideas
Below please find a list of ideas for the “additional” service-learning project to be completed at home. Students must complete this project by October 31st of their 7th grade year in order to receive 10 service-learning hours. This project must be documented on the Outdoor School Service-Learning Reflection Form found in the Student Journal and on this web site. The ideas listed below are ONLY suggestions. It is appropriate for a student to develop their own project based upon interest, expertise, parental involvement, home location, and need.
- Re-vegetation/tree shrub or planting
- Grass planting on erosion areas
- Placement of erosion bars
- Butterfly/hummingbird garden or meadows
- Evaluating and implementing water conservation techniques
- Re-vegetation along a stream or pond
- Survey of household pollutants and implementing alternatives
- Survey of household water use and water drainage
- Development and implementation of compost pile or vermiscomposter
- Stream/pond clean up
- Planning and modifying energy usage at home
- Letter writing campaign to support/reject legislation. Many important environmental laws are being revised by state and federal legislatures.
- Install conservation devices to reduce water flow in sinks and toilets
- Survey school year habitat features
- Construct and place a bird house in a park or environmental center (with permission)
- Write an environmental letter to the newspaper editor
- Interview a long-time Carroll County resident to find out how Carroll County’s environment has changed throughout the years.
Ecology
Students enrolled in Ecology Class throughout Carroll County are involved in the reforestation efforts of the American Chestnut Tree. Many high schools are involved in growing chestnut seedlings in mini-orchards on school grounds. Students track their growth, test trees for blight resistance, study soil composition, and compile data for the American Chestnut Foundation. This project provides the opportunity for students to utilize the skills learned in Ecology by putting them in to action to support this important environmental effort.
Newsletter
Coordinators
School-Based Service-Learning Coordinators 2021-2022
Carroll County Career & Tech Center
Claire Linfield ClaireLinfield@carrollk12.org 410-751-3669
1229 Washington Road, Westminster, MD 21157
Century High School
Lyndsay Fraser LyndsayFraser@carrollk12.org 410-386-4400
355 Ronsdale Road, Eldersburg, MD 21784
East Middle School
Tressa Kolk TressaKolk@carrollk12.org 410-751-3656
121 Longwell Avenue, Westminster, MD 21157
Francis Scott Key High School
Tyler Workman TylerWorkman@carrollk12.org 410-751-3320
3825 Bark Hill Road, Union Bridge, MD 21791
Gateway School
Karen Murchie KarenMurchie@carrollk12.org 410-751-3691
45 Kate Wagner Road, Westminster, MD 21157
Liberty High School
Sandra Platt SandraPlatt@carrollk12.org 410-751-3560
5855 Bartholow Road, Sykesville, MD 21784
Manchester Valley High School
Wendy Reitz WendyReitz@carrollk12.org 410-386-1673
3300 Maple Grove Road, Manchester, MD 21102
Mt. Airy Middle School
Lindsay Chenoweth LindsayChenoweth@carrollk12.org
102 Watersville Road, Mt. Airy, MD 21771 410-751-3355
North Carroll Middle School
Cristie Valentine CristieValentine@carrollk12.org 410-751-3440
2401 Hanover Pike Hampstead, MD 21074
Northwest Middle School
Amy Paylor AmyPaylor@carrollk12.org 410-751-3270
99 Kings Drive, Taneytown, MD 21787
Oklahoma Road Middle School
Meredith Veilleux MeredithVeilleux@carrollk12.org 410-751-3600
6300 Oklahoma Rd. Sykesville, MD 21784
Shiloh Middle School
Robert Daily RobertDaily@carrollk12.org 410-751-4570
3675 Willow Road, Hampstead, MD 21074
South Carroll High School
Matthew Schwarzenburg MatthewSchwarzenburg@carrollk12.org
1300 West Old Liberty Road, Sykesville, MD 21784 410-751-3575
Sykesville Middle School
Tracy Baker TracyBaker@carrollk12.org 410-751-3545
7301 Springfield Avenue, Sykesville, MD 21784
West Middle School
Deniece Schaeffer DenieceSchaeffer@carrollk12.org 410-751-3661
60 Monroe Street, Westminster, MD 21157
Winters Mill High School
Sheri Hobson SheriHobson@carrollk12.org 410-386-1500
560 Gorsuch Road, Westminster, MD 21157
Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What to Do
-
Work for non-profit agencies such as Human Services Program, senior citizen centers, Shepherd's Staff, soup kitchens, the ARC, Salvation Army etc.
-
Become involved in service through extra/co-curricular clubs such as Builder's Club, Key Club, VICA, Shout, etc.
-
Get involved in community based organizations such as 4-H, Scouting, and recreation programs.
-
Explore a career through service-learning such as nursing, teaching, social work, physical therapy, government services, child care, police and fire services, etc.
What Not to Do
-
Work for a for-profit business such as a fast food restaurant or retail store to earn your service hours.
-
Count hours for family obligations such as babysitting a brother or sister, or favors for neighbors such as cutting the grass, shoveling snow or walking the dog.
-
Get paid for your service submit hours for service in preparation for or during a religious service. (mission trips, church work days, church dinners etc. are acceptable)
Resources
Do Something
Maryland Service Learning
NYLC
Volunteer Match
Brochure
Places to Call
- Appalachian Outreach Mission Store
- 410-549-6054
- Bear Branch Nature Center
- 410-386-3580
- Blue Star Mothers
- 410-590-9619
- Brethren Service Center
- 410-635-8710
- Carroll Co. Equestrian Council
- 410-386-2103
- Carroll County Farm Museum
- 410-386-3880
- Carroll County Food Sunday
- 410-857-7926
- Carroll County Health Dept.
- 410-876-2152
- Carroll County Landfill
- 410-386-4550
- Carroll County Public Library
- 410-386-4488
- Carroll Lutheran Village
- 410-848-0090
- Civil Air Patrol-Carroll Composite Squadron
- 443-508-8017
- Copper Ridge
- 410-795-8808
- First Fruits Farm
- 410-343-2507
- Golden Crest Asst. Living
- 443-605-7306
- Longview Nursing Home
- 410-239-7139
- MD Society for Sight
- 410-243-2020
- NESAP (Northeast Social Action Committee)
- 410-239-6216
- Piney Run Nature Center
- 410-795-6043
- Piney Run Park
- 410-795-3274
- Rita's Closet
- 410-984-8466
- Shepherd's Staff
- 410-857-5944
- Special Olympics
- 443-340-3276
- Sykesville Rec. & Parks
- 410-795-6390
- Little Sykesville Railroad Park
- 410-795-8959
- Therapeutic Rec. Council
- 410-386-2103
- Washington Road Community Trail
- 410-386-4415
- Westminster Fallfest
- 410-848-6962
- Westminster Nursing Home
- 410-848-0700
Please contact the organization directly for more information and to verify any age restrictions.
Students, parents and individuals/organizations who accept student volunteers are hereby advised that the fact that Service-Learning is mandated is not a sufficient basis for attaching liability to the Carroll County Public Schools. The Board of Education of Carroll County does not provide general liability insurance for individuals or organizations for whom students may perform student service activities. Parents or guardians of students and individuals or organizations that accept student volunteers should verify the adequacy of their own insurance coverage.