Gage Park High School

SERVICE LEARNING

Coach: Dr. Bobbiette Turner (Room 328)
(773) 535-9230 X 146
bturner@cps.k12.il.us

What is Service Learning?

Service Learning is a teaching and learning methodology that connects classroom curriculum with identified community issues and needs. Service Learning engages students in projects that serve the community and build their social and academic capacities.

Service Learning is a strategy, not an outcome. Service Learning is an opportunity for students to learn critical skills through project development, implementation, and reflection. By participating in high quality Service Learning experiences students learn the invaluable skill of being able to organize information, resources, and people in order to improve the community.

How many hours do you need?

All students must complete a total of 40 hours. Beginning with the 2006-07 academic year, all sophomores will be required to complete 20 service hours in order to be promoted to junior status.

All AVID students, in keeping with the small schools� policy, are required to complete 100 Service Learning hours.

Beginning with the year 2006-2007, all students will be required to complete 100 Service Learning hours.

What do you need to get your hours?

Before anything else, remember to get your project approved by the Coach. You cannot earn any hours without prior approval.

In order to qualify for Service Learning hours, the service experience must include the following components:

Preparation - learn about the issue and/or organization and plan your project;
Act - perform the service; and
Reflection - What did you learn? How did you grow? What changed? Present your experience. You may use this link for a better understanding of reflection. http://www.servicelearning.cps.k12.il.us/pdf/postservice.pdf

How can you earn these hours?

No individual service learning time sheet will be accepted unless it has been pre-approved.

In-school or school-related projects (designed by a teacher or a staff member):

http://www.servicelearning.cps.k12.il.us/pdf/documentation.pdf

Off-site project (individual):

Hours will be earned only when:

You turn in a project plan and the Service Learning Coach approves it. Use the form here http://www.servicelearning.cps.k12.il.us/pdf/preservice.pdf
You have parental permission for this project
You have written permission from the site- co coordinator. Use this link to get the required form.
http://www.servicelearning.cps.k12.il.us/pdf/studentForm.pdf

Once you have completed the service, turn in your individual service time sheet along with your reflection sheet. You cannot earn any hours without approval and reflection.

Students may earn Service Learning hours through the following:

Classroom projects that are tied to curriculum and meet a community need
After school projects that meet a community need and have a clear academic objective
Individual service activities with non-profit community organizations where students receive preparation for the work and produce a reflection/analysis of their work.

What should you not do?

Students may not earn Service Learning hours through the following:

Work with for-profit businesses and corporations
Religious organizations if the service involves proselytizing
Volunteer work where no academic objective is addressed
Work that is financially reimbursed

Students may also not earn hours for the following specific activities:

Volunteer work with a political campaign without the mediation of an approved community organization or classroom instructor
Participation in a sports team or other extra-curricular activity unless that group designs a Service Learning project that contains the components listed above
Assisting a teacher (i.e. correcting papers, cleaning the classroom) unless tied to a teacher preparation program (Future Teachers of Illinois/Chicago)
Artistic performances unless students are involved in creating a project that includes a performance as an outcome of the project
Attending training or other educational event unless that training leads directly to a service project.

The school will definitely try to see to it that several Service Learning opportunities are made available for the students to earn these hours. Students, try to convince your teachers to plan a Service Learning project for you.

Teachers, we need your help!!! Please turn in some project ideas for your students. Please use the CPS link below or try this one to start designing some projects. http://www.servicelearning.cps.k12.il.us/pdf/documentation.pdf

Please check the Chicago Public Schools Service Learning web-site at: http://www.servicelearning.cps.k12.il.us/Guidelines.html

Please visit this site periodically to find out ways by which you can earn Service Learning hours at Gage Park High School.

Once again,

Seniors: Remember to get your 40 hours as soon as possible. Don�t wait for the last minute.

Sophomores: Remember to get your 20 hours so you can become a junior next year.

If you have any questions, come see me during division or the 8th period in room 321 or e-mail me at the address at the top.

Click to download the timesheet: doc | pdf

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