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Mrs. Latasha Kelly
Mrs. Latasha Kelly
Student Service Learning (SSL) Coordinator
240-740-9935
ALL SSL FORMS SHOULD BE SUBMITTED WITH ORIGINAL COPY
NO ELECTRONIC COPIES WILL BE ACCEPTED
The Student Service Learning (SSL) program in MCPS promotes a culture of student involvement and student responsibility through civic engagement. Service learning is a graduation requirement in Maryland. MCPS students must complete a minimum of 75 service-learning hours to graduate. They may begin fulfilling this requirement in the summer after Grade 5 and continue to accrue SSL hours through high school.
Students who earn 240 or more SSL hours receive a Certificate of Meritorious Service at the time of graduation. Preparation, action, and reflection are the three phases of service learning that distinguish SSL from traditional volunteering and community-service efforts. Service learning hours are earned through the following:
• School Courses - Successful completion of specific courses identified in this course bulletin where the three phases of SSL achieve curricular objectives.
• School Clubs - Fully participating and completing the three phases of service learning in activities promoted by school-sponsored clubs and organizations.
• Community Organizations and Opportunities (must meet MCPS SSL guidelines) - Fully participating in opportunities with community organizations following the MCPS SSL guidelines listed on the MCPS SSL website, found at www.mcps-ssl.org. MCPS SSL opportunities are identified on the Montgomery County Volunteer Center (MCVC) web page with the MCPS SSL icon, found at www.montgomeryserves.org. Students also may seek approval for other types of service learning by submitting MCPS Form 560-50, Individual Student Service Learning Request.
All activities for which SSL hours are desired must occur in a public place, be secular in nature, and be supervised by an adult representative from a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization. Parents/guardians and relatives may not supervise a student directly. One SSL hour is awarded for every one hour of service outside of the instructional day, with a maximum of 8 hours in a 24-hour period. MCPS Form 560-51, Student Service Learning Activity Verification, is required to document all activities for which SSL hours are desired. SSL FAQs and more information is available at the MCPS SSL website www.mcps-ssl.org and the MCVC website www.montgomeryserves.org
For individual SSL questions, please contact the SSL coordinator in any middle or high school.
Printed forms (paper copies) locations:
Main Office
Counseling Office
Career Center (during lunch)
COMPLETED forms (including the 5 reflection questions at the bottom) can be submitted to the Career Center, Main Office or Counseling Office.
Questions about how to fill out an SSL form? Check out this video! https://bit.ly/SSLForm101
Monthly SSL Opportunities
Monthly SSL Opportunities
Monthly SSL Opportunities
Monthly SSL Opportunities
There are many SSL opportunities available during the month of September! Please share the information below with students still in need of SSL hours:
Councilmember Balcombe’s Back to School Block Party (September 26, 2025) - Councilmember Marilyn Balcombe invites middle and high school students to share their experiences in Montgomery County!
Participants will earn SSL hours for participation in this advocacy opportunity.
To learn more, please click on this link.
ASIRT Road Safety PSA Contest (Deadline: October 5, 2025) - The Association for Safe International Road Travel (ASIRT) and the Montgomery County Regional Student Government Association are hosting a Public Service Announcement (PSA) competition for middle school and high school students centered on road safety and how to keep yourself and others safe on the roads.
Participants who submit a PSA that meets the competition requirements will earn 10 SSL hours and have a chance to win prizes.
To learn more, please visit this link.
High School Students for Outdoor Education Assistance (Ongoing) - Seeking HS students interested in assisting with the Grade 6 Outdoor Education program.
Please note that this is only an interest form – once you have expressed your interest, middle school staff members may contact you to share next steps regarding their selection process.
To learn more, please visit this link - https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=1136384
High School Student Election Workers Needed (Deadline: June 2, 2026) - The Montgomery County Board of Elections seeks students ages 16+ to register to vote and serve as a student election worker!
To learn more, please visit this link: https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=1132488
The Homework Helper program is designed to assist elementary school students with their homework, though it is not meant to be formal tutoring. Many parents have reached out to us, expressing the need for help to support their children academically. They are looking for reliable volunteers to assist with this initiative.
Volunteers will need to commit to scheduled dates and times, and they will receive SSL hours for their participation.
Click HERE for a volunteer application!
Upcoming KindWorks SSL opportunities
Upcoming KindWorks SSL opportunities
September 7 @ 5:00 pm-6:00 pm
KindSoup for Students – Make Turkish Chicken Soup to Share With Others
Virtual Gathering , United States
September 20 @ 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Clean Up Sangamore Road & Surrounding Area
Starbucks on Sangamore 4611-E Sangamore Road, Bethesda, MD, United States
September 21 @ 5:00 pm-6:00 pm
KindSoup for Students – Make Cozy Autumn Wild Rice Soup to Share With Others
Virtual Gathering , United States
September 27 @ 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Parking Lot at Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union 12820 Wisteria Drive, Germantown, MD, United States
Our weekly KindSoup Zoom cooking sessions provide a chance for the whole family to cook and spread kindness (even!)
You can browse all other upcoming SSL opportunities on our website.
*NOTE: Students may earn SSL hours ONLY for the time spent preparing and/or making items (i.e. chopping, boiling, cooking, baking), but students may not earn SSL hours for donating purchased/store-bought items.
Browse for upcoming SSL opportunities on our website. Our main SSL opportunities for the year are linked below for your convenience.
· Derwood Shelter Meal Support
· Rockville Shelter Meal Support
· New Leaf Shelter Meal Support
We are happy to announce that we recently expanded our KindSoup for Students virtual cooking opportunities! We invite all students to join us online (twice a month) to cook soup and donate to community members in need! Before the call, students will buy and prep ingredients. During the call, students get to ask questions about the recipe, engage with other students. This is a great activity for families as well!
You can browse all other upcoming volunteer opportunities on our website
Our weekly KindSoup Zoom cooking sessions provide a chance for the whole family to cook and spread kindness (even grandparents in other states).
Upcoming SSL Opportunities
Upcoming SSL Opportunities
Burtonsville Elementary School will host a Family Market on the first Tuesday of the month.
They are currently looking for students who are in need of SSL hours to assist each month. If interested, students are required to arrive at 4:30 to help with set up and stay until 6:30 to help with cleanup. Once you arrive, please ask for Ms. T.
SSL Opportunity with Montgomery Parks
Montgomery Parks has a wonderful season of SSL Hour-eligible volunteer opportunities going on right now, including one in your backyard at the Agricultural History Farm Park in Derwood.
Coming up on October 4, 2025 we have our Harvest Festival and we have two great opportunities for students to earn 6.5 SSL hours. Students can register to be a General Volunteer or a Captain.
Find more Montgomery Parks SSL approved opportunities throughout the parks here.
SSL Announcements for MCPS Students/Families
The registration for Action Youth Media's Fall session is now open!
Spots are limited! Please register only for classes in which you can fully participate.
Exciting Opportunities This Fall:
Exciting Opportunities This Fall:
§ Introduction to Photography: Capturing Change: For beginners in grades 8-12, learn photography fundamentals while creating a project that advocates for a social justice issue important to you.
§ Empowering Teen Girls: Podcasting: For teen girls in grades 8-12, learn to produce podcasts, edit, conduct interviews, and share your voice on community advocacy topics.
§ Introduction to Film: For beginners in grades 6-12, learn scriptwriting, filming, and editing to create short films on community advocacy topics.
§ Introduction to Film Editing: Adobe Premiere Pro: For beginners in grades 6-12, learn editing techniques and storytelling with video to highlight social justice issues.
Districtwide/Central Office Hosted SSL Opportunities
Holy Cross Hospital Volunteer
Holy Cross Hospital Volunteer
High School Volunteers - The next time open application will be 3:30 p.m. on January 2, 2026, until 3:00 p.m. on January 30, 2026, for the summer of 2026.
Follow the link to become a volunteer: https://www.holycrosshealth.org/about-us/support-our-work/volunteer/applications
Volunteer With Community Bridges
Volunteer With Community Bridges
Volunteer Opportunities:
Become a Mentor to a Communuity Bridges Girl
After School Program Support
Deliver supplies, groceries, books toiletries and/or activity kits
One Day Special Events/Field Trips/College Visits
Here Is How You Can Volunteer
Here Is How You Can Volunteer
Interested in volunteering at our office located in Towson, Maryland? Here are some of the things you could be helping with:
Office work (ongoing)
Application judging/scoring (January – February)
Banquet preparation (March – May)
Events (as needed)
The Carson Scholars Fund is always seeking qualified volunteers to help fulfill our mission. Volunteers can help with our scholarship process, our events, or our reading rooms.
As we approach a new scholarship season if you’re interested in volunteering with our scholarship process, please download the Volunteer Information Sheet. After completing the form, please fax or email it to the office. The form can be emailed to rbrown@carsonscholars.org or faxed to 410.828.1007.
Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Information
Maryland Corps/Service Year Option Information
The application for the Maryland Corps/Service Year Option is now open for high school students who are interested in a year of professional growth and career exploration while earning at least $15 per hour full-time and a $6,000 stipend! Link
KID Museum's Teen Volunteer Summer Application
KID Museum's Teen Volunteer Summer Application
KID Museum is currently recruiting students for our Teen Volunteer Program for summer 2025, and as school staff providing college, intern, and career support. Information on the program and the application to apply can be found at https://kid-museum.org/get-involved/teens/volunteer/ or in the attached postcard.
The deadline to apply for the summer session is Friday, April 11 at 5pm.
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