Students Ava, Asa and Michael go on a quest to earn Student Service Learning (SSL) hours and  learn everything they need to know to earn 5 SSL hours outside of class every year so they can complete the 75-hour SSL graduation requirement.

MCPS students can find SSL opportunities on the MCPS SSL website (www.mcps-ssl.org), the Montgomery County Volunteer Center website (www.montgomeryserves.org), or by contacting their school’s SSL Coordinator!

*The required deadline for all documentation that qualifies seniors for Certificates of Meritorious Service and middle school students for the Superintendent’s SSL Award is March 25, 2027. All SSL forms (MCPS Form 560-51: Student Service Learning Activity Verification) should be submitted to the school’s SSL coordinator by March 25, 2027, to be considered for these awards.

*Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, the required deadline for all SSL forms every school year was changed to the last Friday in May, to allow SSL Coordinators enough time to review and process all forms before the end of the school year.

Reminder: All SSL forms should be submitted to the school’s SSL coordinator when student return to school in the fall by the recommended due date of September 25, 2026, but no later than the required deadline of May 28, 2027. 

Students who wish to submit SSL forms from previous school years must write an appeal to the school’s principal outlining the circumstances for why the SSL form(s) were not turned in by the systemwide deadline. The school’s principal will consider the information presented and make a final decision about the appeal.

Arise and Flourish, is a nonprofit organization based in Montgomery County, Maryland that speaks to students in their health classes about substance abuse prevention by sharing stories from persons in long-term recovery. We bring together like-minded organizations and individuals to share ideas and information concerning the critical social needs created by alcohol and drug dependency in the Washington Metro area.  Arise Flourish advances specific solutions for those needs through prevention, education, fundraising, and issue awareness activities.  

Students will need to visit the Montgomery County Volunteer Center (https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/volunteercenter/) and in the red box “Find a Volunteer Opportunity”, type in Arise and Flourish. Students will find the volunteer opportunity for the cycle of addiction video review project.  This SSL opportunity has been approved by the MCPS SSL department. Please let the students know NOT to use their MCPS email address as we will not be able to respond to them.

Once students respond for the volunteer opportunity on the site, we will send the student/parent permission slip and detailed volunteer information. Please make sure the students do NOT use their MCPS email address as we will not be able to respond to them. Students will watch two video presentations provided by our organization. One video is our speakers who are people in recovery who share their personal experience. The second video is the presentation on the cycle of addiction which has information on how addiction happens. 

Students have the ability to earn the following for the quality completion of this project: 

1) Earn 1 SSL hour for watching one speaker video and the video for the cycle of addiction and completing one paper or artwork or;

2) Earn up to 4 SSL hours for watching up to 4 speaker videos along with the one video for the cycle of addiction and completing 4 papers or 4 artworks.

Students can watch anywhere from 1 - 4 speaker videos and the video for the cycle of addiction and completing one paper or artwork for EACH speaker video watched.

Design + Build at Blackrock Center for the Arts: The program will focus on developing a conservation landscape including native plants and trees at BlackRock Center for the Arts. Starting Oct. 3, high school students will spend six consecutive Saturdays designing and installing the project to help improve the Seneca Creek watershed. Students can earn up to 18 SSL hours. Apply. 

Link to view: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13rIUYX2rMQ0oUHSEm2Nge4VIS5P4eQIs58BMRkmEvdg/edit?usp=sharing 

Students are encouraged to join U.S. Congressman Jamie Raskin for a virtual Constitution Day webinar from 4:30-6 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 17. Students can earn up to two Service Learning hours (SSL) for participating. Spanish translation will be available. Register. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about rights, citizenship and democracy from a constitutional law scholar and former law professor. Students can submit questions for Congressman Raskin here. 

Learn more.

On October 18, 2026 the WOMEN’S BOARD SERVING MEDSTAR MONTGOMERY MEDICAL CENTER will be having our annual fall book sale from the Thrift Shop. The sale is from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. and located @ 17909 Prince Philip Drive, Olney, Md. We are looking for students to help with moving books and consolidating them as the sale goes on.

There will be two sessions that we need help with. One is to set up and keep the tables neat and that is from 8:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon. The second session is to consolidate the books and later take down and put away all the books and tables. That runs from 12:00 noon – 4:00 pm. If you are looking to help, please contact Judy Swanson @ judysswanson5@gmail.com.

Thanks so much for any help you can give us.

• There are many SO MANY SSL opportunities available to students during the month of April! 

  • The 2025-2026 MCPS Student Expectations Lessons are available on Canvas for students to access. Students must fully complete both modules to earn 3 SSL hours

• • Additional April 2026 SSL Opportunities

• The Division of Title 1 is excited to announce the return of student volunteers for the 2026 ELO Summer Programs.

• The program runs from July 7 to July 30, Monday through Thursday, for 5.5 hours per day.

  • Student volunteers are welcome to utilize MCPS bus transportation provided to program participants within each school’s normal catchment area, and volunteers will be provided breakfast and lunch daily, free of charge.

  • The window to register as a volunteer will be open from April 27 to June 5. Registration will take place on a first come, first served basis.

  • Student volunteers may only register for one location and must be available for at least 12 of the 15 days of the program.

·       Information regarding the application process for each school site can be found at this link.

To View Opportunities, Click Here

Click here to see the help guide.