November SSL Opportunities

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  Sandy Spring Slave Museum & African Art Gallery - Emancipation Day in Maryland (November 1, 2025, 11AM-4PM) - Join us for the Emancipation Day celebration and participate in advocacy action to commemorate this important date! 

  • Students may earn up to 5 SSL hours for attending and participating in advocacy action.

  • To learn more, please visit this link: https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=1160617
    
    

• Montgomery County Council Youth Town Hall (November 5, 2025, 7:00PM-8:30PM) - The Montgomery County Council will host their annual Youth Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, November 5, 2025. Please join our Montgomery County Councilmembers and MCPS student leaders as we discuss important youth-centric issues. Student attendees will be able to share their questions and concerns and participate in a dialogue with our county’s leadership.

  • Students may earn 2 SSL hours for attending and participating in advocacy action.

  • To learn more, please visit this link: https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=1154619
    
    

• Changemaker Workshop (November 6, 2025, 6:30PM-8PM) - Join local and student activists in an online workshop that will connect students with social justice advocates in Montgomery County, MD, so they can learn about the strategies and actions people are taking to improve their communities. 

  • Students may earn 2 SSL hours for attending and actively participating in the workshop.

  • Additional details can be found at the following link: https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=1160621
    
    

• Mental Health and Wellness Fair (November 8, 2025, 10AM-2PM) - The Division of Specialized Support Services and the Montgomery County School Psychologists’ Association will co-host the 2025 Mental Health Resource Fair and Student Forum on November 8. 

  • Students may earn up to 4 SSL hours for attending and participating in advocacy action. 

  • To learn more, please visit this link: https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=1152972
    
    

• High School Students for Choose Respect Student Advisory Committee (Deadline: November 17, 2025) - Seeking HS students interested in serving on the Choose Respect Student Advisory Committee to help plan the annual RespectFest, an initiative to educate students about dating violence prevention. 

  • To learn more, please visit this link - https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=1154629
    
    

• The Impact of Montgomery County’s Urban Renewal Programs on African American Communities Webinar (November 24, 2025, 7:30PM-8:30PM) - Join us for a webinar about the impact of Montgomery County’s urban renewal programs on African American communities.

  • Students may earn 1 SSL hour for attending and participating in advocacy action. 

  • To learn more, please visit this link - https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=1160645
    
    

• “Speak Up, Save A Life” PSA Contest (Deadline - December 7, 2025) - MCPS and the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office are hosting a Public Service Announcement (PSA) contest for middle school and high school students that challenges teens to create an original video to promote awareness of the dangers of opioid abuse or overdose and fentanyl among teens. 

  • Participants who submit a PSA that meets the contest requirements will earn 10 SSL hours and have a chance to win prizes. 

  • To learn more, please visit this link: https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=1152395
    
    

• The Choose Respect Video Contest (Deadline: February 15, 2026) is now open! Students may earn 10 SSL hours for quality video submissions about healthy teen dating and the impact of teen dating violence. Interested students may view the contest rules and additional information at this website.
  
  

• 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
    
    

• MCPS National History Day (March 7, 2026, 8:00am - 2:00pm) - For MCPS Students 18+ - MCPS is looking for HS students 18+ to judge student projects at the National History Day County Competition on Saturday, March 7, 2026! Students will receive 6 SSL hours and lunch on the day of the event. To learn more, please visit this link - https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=1153211
  
  

• The Keeping It Safe Video Contest (Deadline: March 31, 2026) is now open! Students may earn 5 SSL hours for quality video submissions about the risks and dangers of under 21 alcohol use. Interested students may view the contest rules and additional information at this website.
  
  

• 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
    
    

• Additional November 2025 SSL Opportunities 

Reminders:

Student Service Learning Graduation Requirement

All MCPS students must earn 75 SSL hours to graduate from high school. Middle school and high school students should continue earning SSL hours towards their SSL graduation requirement by engaging in SSL opportunities during the 2025-2026 school year, including traditional in-person opportunities and select virtual/remote opportunities that follow the amended guidelines posted on the MCPS SSL webpage (www.mcps-ssl.org). 

Please refer to important information about the MCPS SSL program provided below:

SSL Hours Documentation

• SSL forms for service completed after May 30, 2025, should be turned into the school’s SSL coordinator by the recommended due date of September 26, 2025. 

• 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.

To view SSL forms and important due dates for the 2025-2026 school year, please click here.

Please note that all SSL forms for service completed during the summer of 2025 or the 2025-2026 school year should be submitted to the school’s SSL coordinator on a rolling basis by the recommended due dates of September 26, 2025, and January 9, 2026, but no later than the required deadline of May 29, 2026. 

To learn more about how to complete the SSL form, watch this video at https://bit.ly/SSLForm101 

Student SSL Records on Student/ParentVUE

Step-by-step directions for viewing a student’s full SSL record

Step-by-step directions may be found at https://bit.ly/SSLonVUE

Nonprofit-Hosted SSL Opportunities

MCPS SSL organizations and opportunities are tagged with the blue MCPS SSL banner and graduation cap icon on the Montgomery County Volunteer Center (MCVC) website

• 
  All opportunities (including in-person): https://bit.ly/SSLOpportunities

• Virtual/remote opportunities https://bit.ly/VirtualSSL2020

• Monthly SSL opportunities: https://bit.ly/SSLOpps25-26 

• For additional tips on how to search for opportunities, please go to https://bit.ly/SSLSearchTip 

MCPS Form 560-50:
Individual SSL Request Form

Used to obtain pre-approval prior to service with a nonprofit organization not listed on the Montgomery County Volunteer Center (MCVC) website 

To request pre-approval for service, please complete https://bit.ly/SSLPreApproval 

• for in-person service, submit this form to your school’s SSL coordinator

• for virtual/remote service or service, submit this form to SSL@mcpsmd.org 

MCPS Form 560-51:
SSL Activity Verification Form

Used to verify and document SSL hours after service is completed

Student and supervisor must complete the form

To learn more about how to complete this SSL form, watch this video at https://bit.ly/SSLForm101 

SSL Activity Verification Forms (https://bit.ly/SSLReflection) for service completed should be turned into your school’s SSL coordinator. 

(All SSL forms for service completed during the first semester should be submitted to your school’s SSL coordinator by the recommended due date of Friday, January 9, 2026.)

MCPS SSL Hub for Students

Find SSL forms, translated resources, SSL guidelines, and much more!

Check out SSL forms, resources, guidelines, and much more at our new MCPS SSL Hub for Students --  https://bit.ly/SSLHubMCPS 

MCPS SSL Program Overview

Complete overview of SSL requirements, guidelines, process, awards, and forms

MCPS SSL Program Overview may be found at https://bit.ly/SSLOverview2020  

If you have any questions about the SSL program during the summer, please email the MCPS SSL office at SSL@mcpsmd.org. Thank you! 

There are many SSL opportunities available during the month of September! 

-Cannon Road Elementary School PTA – SSL Opportunity

The Cannon Road ES PTA is seeking high school student volunteers to serve as junior counselors for two after-school clubs:

• ♟️ Chess Club

• 🧩 Lego Building Challenge

Volunteers will assist 3rd–5th grade students by helping them stay focused and engaged with the activities.

📅 Dates: Wednesdays, October 15 – November 19
⏰ Time: 4:00 – 5:00 PM
📍 Location: Cannon Road Elementary School (CRES)
🚗 Volunteers must provide their own transportation.

For more details or to sign up, please contact: president@crespta.com

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

Click Here for Additional September 2025 SSL Opportunities