The Drive for 75 and Beyond An Explanation of the Carroll County Public Schools Service Learning Requirement and Guidelines

Starfish An old man walked down to the beach and noticed a young man throwing starfish back into the ocean. Finally, catching up with the youth, he asked him why he was doing this. The answer was the stranded starfish would die if left until the morning sun. “But the beach goes on for miles and there are millions of starfish,” countered the other. “How can your effort make any difference?” The young man looked at the starfish in his hand and then threw it safely in the wave, “it makes a difference to this one,” he said.

Why Do Service-Learning Learn about and help your community Practice academic skills and learn about different careers Be active citizens

Service Learning can be... as simple as organizing a fundraiser or more involved such as working to advocate for social awareness (e.g. learning about a disability such as blindness).

Service Learning Preparation Action Direct Indirect Advocacy Reflection By definition includes:

Preparation for Service Teaches leadership and communication skills Explores specific issues related to a specific topic Develops skills needed to carry out the project Uses problem solving and organizational skills

Action: Direct Service Tutoring, Mentoring, Visiting the Elderly... Students learn: To be responsible for their own actions To be dependable To make a difference To solve problems

Action: Direct Service Tutoring, Mentoring, Visiting the Elderly... To care for another person To focus on the needs of others, and put one’s own problems in context To get along with other people different than yourself

Action: Indirect Service Students learn to: Work in a team & cooperate Play different roles in a group Take pride in an activity Organize people to get a job done Value working with others to solve problems Drives, collections, fund raisers, clean-ups, construction, environmental

Action: Advocacy Lobbying, speaking, performing... Students learn To appreciate the duties and privileges of citizenship To suggest solutions to problems To appreciate the political process

Reflection Students learn to: Explore the impact and importance of citizen service to the community Understand how to learn from experience

Reflection Students: Think about their service-learning project Write about how they have helped their community

What Counts Boy/girl scouts Soup kitchens School newspaper/ yearbook 4-H Food drives Fire hall carnivals School benefit concerts Band boosters SHOUT activities Setting up and tearing down school/community activities Examples of service-learning activities done by Carroll County students:

What Does NOT Count A general rule of thumb: Any activity that involves a business making a profit does NOT count You may NOT be paid for your service Providing a service to a relative or neighbor that they would ordinarily be able to do for themselves or pay someone to do

Examples: What Does NOT Count Babysitting: including family obligations Working for a for-profit business Helping neighbors who can provide for themselves When in doubt BEFORE beginning an activity, check with your school’s service- learning coordinator!!!

Beginning the Drive to 75 You are almost halfway there!! Complete your 6 th grade Outdoor School experience and earn 10 service-learning hours Earn 10 ADDITIONAL hours by completing an approved project at home Complete your 8 th grade FACS project and earn 15 hours Get involved in middle school clubs and activities

“Everyone can be great because everyone can serve” Martin Luther King