Service-Learning

How to Earn An Exemplary Award or Diploma Through Service-Learning

Service-Learning Exemplary Award

Service-Learning Exemplary Award Requirements: The Service-Learning Exemplary Award is an honor GCS high school student may receive upon graduation. This award recognizes students who have devoted a minimum of 100 hours of service-learning experience in their community throughout their high school years.

While there is no set number of hours to be earned in any school year, as a time management tool, we recommend the following schedule as a guide to acquire the 100 hours of Service-Learning Exemplary Award.

Freshman Year: 25 hours
Sophomore Year: 25 hours
Junior Year: 25 hours
Senior Year: 25 hours

FOR BOTH SERVICE-LEARNING DIPLOMA AND SERVICE-LEARNING EXEMPLARY AWARD: Students may begin documenting hours beginning the first day of their ninth-grade year. Students may talk with their guidance counselors or school-based service learning coach with any questions.

What If I Have Questions?

If you have questions about how to earn the Service-Learning Exemplary Award or the Service-Learning Diploma, please reach out to Ms. Hudson or your high school counselor.

SERVICE-LEARNING DIPLOMA

Service-Learning Diploma Requirements: The Service-Learning Diploma is a locally developed, official recognition program designed to recognize high school students who are committed to serving their community. Students who complete a minimum of 200+ hours of service- learning experience over the course of their high school years will receive this certification upon graduation.

• The program is designed to recognize students who dedicate a significant amount of time to service- learning to address challenges and solve problems in the community.

• All students who complete this program will be awarded a GCS Service-Learning Diploma. Additionally, at graduation, these students will be distinguished by wearing a Service-Learning cord.

Hours must be submitted within the semester that they are completed.

Hours completed from June-December must be entered into x2vol by end of December.

Hours completed from January-May must be entered by the end of May.

SL Approval Forms must be submitted within the semester that service is started with the organization and should be submitted prior to beginning service.

**Students entering GCS at any time after their 9th grade year will still be required to complete a minimum of 200 service hours to be eligible for the Service-Learning Diploma. Documented and verifiable Service-Learning hours that meet the program criteria completed in school districts outside of Guilford County will count towards the Service-Learning Diploma and Service-Learning Exemplary Award.

WHAT IS SERVICE LEARNING, ANYWAY?

It is student-driven learning through participation in community engagement related to the content they have learned in the classroom using these steps--

Investigate

Plan/Prepare

Action

Demonstrate

Reflect

Watch this video created by SGHS students to understand more.

Click on the links below to start:&nbsp; <a href=&quot;/Page/93209&quot; target=&quot;&quot;>Getting Started Creating an Account</a> <a href=&quot;/Page/93206&quot; target=&quot;&quot;>Creating a personal project</a> <a target=&quot;&quot;>Personal Project Examples</a> <a href=&quot;/Page/93204&quot; target=&quot;&quot;>How to log hours in x2vol </a> <a href=&quot;/Page/93208&quot; target=&quot;&quot;>Ideas for places to do Service Learning</a> &nbsp;</div></fs_content><fs_content title=&quot;Content&quot; show_title=&quot;false&quot;><div>Service Learning Recognition: To receive a Service Learning Diploma and a cord to wear at graduation students must earn 200+ hours of service learning.&nbsp; &nbsp; To receive a Service Learning Exemplary Learning Award, students must earn 100-199 hours of service learning.&nbsp; &nbsp; *** CLASS OF 2025--- The due date for logging all hours is April 21. This date is determined by GCS.&nbsp; Watch the video demonstrating how to navigate x2vol to find school-sponsored opportunities, entering personal projects and logging hours.&nbsp;</div></fs_content><fs_content title=&quot;Content&quot; show_title=&quot;false&quot;><div>For more information about Service Learning or to access the Service Learning handbook, go to the <a href=&quot;https://nc01910393.schoolwires.net/families/beyond-the-classroom/service-learning&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noopener&quot; aria-invalid=&quot;true&quot;>GCS Service Learning website.</a> If you have specific questions, contact Mrs. Hudson <a href=&quot;mailto:hudsonk@gcsnc.com&quot;>hudsonk@gcsnc.com</a></div></fs_content> <fs_layout type=&quot;2 Column Wide Left Layout&quot;> <fs_column></fs_column> <fs_column></fs_column> </fs_layout>

Getting Started:

You will need to create an account on x2vol

If you don't know where to go to create an account, watch this short video.

&nbsp; * Hours need to be logged in the semester they were earned.&nbsp; We can not approve hours from previous school years.&nbsp; &nbsp;</div></fs_content>

How to Log Hours

Navigating x2vol: If you are looking for opportunities that were created by your teacher or staff member, log into x2vol and look under the Opportunities tab.

Once you find the opportunity you are looking for, you will click on it.
To add hours, go to the tab, my activities.
The video below also shows step by step how to do this.</li> </ul> &nbsp; Where do I log my hours?&nbsp;&nbsp; You need to log all your hours in <a href=&quot;https://www.x2vol.com/index.html&quot; target=&quot;_blank&quot; rel=&quot;noopener&quot;>x2vol</a> Things to remember: You MUST have the hours verified by the supervising person before hours will be approved.&nbsp;&nbsp; Hours can NOT be verified by a family member.&nbsp;&nbsp; Meaningful Reflections: An important part of Service Learning is reflecting upon the process.&nbsp; When you write a reflection in x2vol, it should not be a simple explanation or summary of what you did, but a reflection about the whole experience.&nbsp; In addition to stating what you did, explain why this work was important. Also--- Answer a few of these questions in your reflection: <ul> <li style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;>What skills and knowledge did you gain from this experience?&nbsp;</li> <li style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;>How did this work/project positively contribute to the common good?&nbsp;</li> <li style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;>What community need was addressed?&nbsp;</li> <li style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;>How did this experience help you better understand the ideas or lessons you were studying?&nbsp;</li> <li style=&quot;text-align: left;&quot;>How could this experience help you in situations in the future?&nbsp;</li> </ul></div></fs_content>

Creating a Personal Project

Create your own Project

This could be done with a community organization. It doesn't have to be something you start completely on your own--- but it DOES have to have the learning component.

But BEFORE you get started---

You MUST fill out this

Service Learning Pre-Approval Form

REMEMBER- Service Learning is NOT the same as volunteering or community service.

Service learning must include a LEARNING component and an action

You can do Service Learning at some places that operate for a profit, BUT make sure to get approval FIRST from Mrs. Hudson.

Service Learning can NOT be teaching or presenting information about a religious organization (ex. nursery worker at church, VBS, etc.)

Service Learning can NOT be for a political organization

Examples of Project Ideas

Here are some examples of classes that you might take and how you could possibly apply the content to service learning. Notice how the 4 steps of Service Learning are utilized.

Animal Science

Investigate: Research local animal shelters and the statistics of homeless animals.

Plan: Reach out to a shelter to arrange a visit

Action: tour a local animal shelter to learn about how the shelter works, what their needs are, etc. and volunteer some time

Demonstrate: Create a flier to share on social media giving statistics about the need for animal adoption

Visual Arts/Band

Investigate: Learn about the benefits of the arts for all age groups as well as the benefit of multigenerational interactions on good mental health

Plan: Partner with a retirement community that would enjoy multi-generational activities

Action: Create an art lesson to teach a group of the retirement folks and go share it with them or perform a small concert for the retirement community and then spend time talking to the residents afterward.

Demonstrate: Share photos of the event on social media or share about the event with the class

Carpentry

Investigate: research information about local habitat for humanity organizations, what their needs are, who they serve, etc.

Plan: sign up to volunteer

Action: volunteer to help at a job site or to do paperwork or whatever they need help with. Talk with the people in charge while you are there to find out more.

Demonstrate: Share with your class about the opportunity along with the statistics and facts you learned about the people who are served

Health

Investigate: study the effects of malnourishment on growing children. Find out statistics about our local community and food deserts.

Plan: Contact a local food organization and find out what their most pressing needs are for donations

Action: Organize a food drive

Demonstrate: Create informational posters to spread awareness about the organization and their needs which includes the facts about effects of malnourshment in children

Ideas for Places to Serve

While there may be some school sponsored service learning activities, at the high school level it is largely YOUR responsibility to find Service Learning Opportunities.

Each of these places/organizations could be a great place to research and see what connections could be made to your classes to perform a service learning project.

Remember, BEFORE you do a project that is not school sponsored, you MUST fill out a Service Learning Approval Form

*These are just suggestions and resources, and are not affiliated with Guilford County Schools.

e-Buddies

e-Buddies promotes social inclusion online for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. In e-Buddies, people with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities, such as autism and Down syndrome, come together online to form friendships and a community that celebrates their diversity of character and abilities.

dosomething.org

This site has lots of opportunities and ideas to start your own volunteer/advocacy projects.

guilford youth council

Contact them to find out about upcoming volunteer opportunities

Greensboro Parks and Rec.

There are various opportunities for teens to volunteer on this site

Greensboro History Museum

Greensboro Children's Museum

Horsepower: Engage the power of horses and help others

Volunteers for "side walkers" as well as Barn Help & Administrative tasks at HORSEPOWER, a camp for people with disabilities.

Breakfast 4 Our Friends

Encourage positive community engagement and foster a welcoming environment by Helping to serve breakfast to those who are in need.