The Drive for 75 and The Drive for 75 and BeyondBeyond

An Explanation of the Carroll County Public Schools Service Learning Requirement and

Guidelines

StarfishStarfishAn 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-Why Do Service-LearningLearning

Learn about and help your community

Practice academic skills and learn about different careers

Be active citizens

Service Learning can be 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 LearningService Learning

Preparation

Action•Direct•Indirect•Advocacy

Reflection

By definition includes:

Preparation for ServicePreparation 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 ServiceAction: 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 ServiceAction: Direct Service

Tutoring, Mentoring, Visiting the Elderly . . .

• To care for another person• To focus on the needs of

others, and put one’s ownproblems in context

• To get along with other people different than yourself

Action: Indirect Action: Indirect ServiceService

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: Action: AdvocacyAdvocacy

Lobbying, speaking, performing . . .

Students learn• To appreciate the duties and

privileges of citizenship• To suggest solutions to problems• To appreciate the political process

ReflectionReflection

Students learn to:

• Explore the impact and importance of citizen service to the community

• Understand how to learn from experience

ReflectionReflection

Students:

• Think about their service-learning project

• Write about how they have helped their community

What CountsWhat 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 What Does NOT CountCount

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: Examples: What Does NOT What Does NOT

CountCount• 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 Beginning the Drive to 7575

You are almost halfway there!!

• Complete your 6th grade Outdoor School experience and earn 10 service-learning hours

• Earn 10 ADDITIONAL hours by completing an approved project at home

• Complete your 8th grade FACS project and earn 15 hours

• Get involved in middle school clubs and activities

““Everyone can be great Everyone can be great because everyone can because everyone can

serve”serve”

Martin Luther Martin Luther KingKing