Upcoming SSL Opportunities – January 2025

“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” ~Martin Luther King, Jr.
Here are some of the many current MCPS SSL Opportunities available on www.montgomeryserves.org.
#MCPSserves #BeWell365 (Character Education and Empathy) @mcpsvolunteers on Instagram and X

To Find Additional Virtual/Remote Service Opportunities, click here: https://bit.ly/VirtualSSL2020

• The 2024-2025 MCPS Student Expectations Training Module is available on Canvas for students to access. Students must fully complete the training module to earn 3 SSL hours.

• Save a Student Summit (January 4, 2025, 10AM-12:30PM) - Learn about the impact of Fentanyl, get trained on using Narcan, and participate in an onsite advocacy project! Students may earn up to 3 SSL hours for participating in this advocacy opportunity. To learn more, please visit this link - https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=1027958 

• The Choose Respect Video Contest (Deadline: February 16, 2025) 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.

• MCPS National History Day (March 8, 2025, 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 March 8, 2025! Students will receive 6 SSL hours, as well as breakfast and lunch on the day of the event. To learn more, please visit this link - https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=1014803

• Students Teaching Students Video Series (Ongoing) – MCPS is seeking students interested in creating a video presentation that teaches a skill or process that would be inspiring or useful for students in middle or high school. Students may earn 10 SSL hours for successful submission of all items identified in the submission form.
  Additional January 2025 SSL Opportunities

December SSL Opportunities

Monthly December SSL Opportunities 

As a reminder, students may visit the following quick links to find SSL resources:

• SSL forms, resources, and guidelines - https://bit.ly/SSLHubMCPS

• SSL opportunities - https://bit.ly/SSLOpportunities and https://bit.ly/VirtualSSL2020

• Highlighted monthly SSL opportunities - https://bit.ly/SSLOpps24-25

• SSL organizations - https://bit.ly/SSLOrganizations

• SSL program overview - https://bit.ly/SSLOverview2020

• Step-by-step directions for viewing student SSL record on StudentVUE - https://bit.ly/SSLonVUE

• Introduction to SSL Handout:
  English | Español | 中文 | Français | tiếng Việt | 한국어 | አማርኛ | Portuguêse

To Find Additional Virtual/Remote Service Opportunities, click here: https://bit.ly/VirtualSSL2020

November SSL Opportunities

Upcoming SSL Opportunities – November 2024

“I have found that among its other benefits, giving liberates the soul of the giver.”- Maya Angelou
Here are some of the many current MCPS SSL Opportunities available on www.montgomeryserves.org.
#MCPSserves #BeWell365 (Character Education and Empathy) @mcpsvolunteers on Instagram and X

To Find Additional Virtual/Remote Service Opportunities, click here: https://bit.ly/VirtualSSL2020

Two Kind Works SSL Opportunities!!!

From Kind Works:

We have two SSL projects that may be of interest to students - KindSoup for Students and Adopt-a-Road outdoor cleanups.

KindSoup for Students - NEXT: Sunday, October 6th from 5 pm-6 pm (Make Tomato Basil Soup!)

This activity is great for groups or individual students looking to earn SSL hours. Before the call, students will buy and prep ingredients. During the call, students get to ask questions about the recipe, engage with other students, and deliver homemade KindSoup to different food assistance providers throughout the county.

Our weekly KindSoup Zoom cooking sessions

 provide a chance for the whole family to cook and spread kindness (even!)

Adopt-a-Road Cleanups - NEXT: Saturday, November 9th from 10 am - 12 pm

Our Adopt-a-Road project

This is a great outdoor community building activity! Students get to practice environmental responsibility with friends and family while earning SSL hours - win, win,win!

October 2024 SSL Information for MCPS Students

Upcoming Districtwide
SSL Opportunities

• • Discussion of the Montgomery County Strategic Plan to End Childhood Hunger with Councilmember Gabe Albornoz (October 3, 2024, 6PM-8PM) - Councilmember Gabe Albornoz, At-Large and Chair of the Health and Human Services Committee, has been a champion for issues that deeply affect Montgomery County, particularly those impacting Latino families. That’s why he created Resolution 19-1235. Join us to learn about this project and how it’s progressing in the fight to end childhood hunger in Montgomery County!

    • Students may earn up to 3 SSL hours for attending and participating in follow-up advocacy action.

    • To learn more, please visit this link: https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=994177
      
      

  • ASIRT Road Safety PSA Contest (Deadline: October 6, 2024) - 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: https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=983856
      
      

• High School Students for Choose Respect Student Advisory Committee (Deadline: October 14, 2024) - 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=995827
      
      

• High School Student Election Workers Needed (Deadline: October 16, 2024) - 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://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/student-leadership/student-blog/Student-Post-Newsletters/september-2024/student-election-workers-needed---ssl/
    
    

• Digital Citizenship Week SSL Opportunity (October 14-18, 2024) - Digital Citizenship Week is widely recognized as a time to promote discussions and activities that educate school communities about the importance of using technology in a responsible, safe, and ethical manner. Equipping more individuals with knowledge of digital citizenship positively impacts our entire community.

  • Asynchronously, MCPS students may earn up to 5 SSL hours for watching Digital Citizenship videos and participating in follow-up advocacy action during the 2024 MCPS Digital Citizenship Week.

  • To learn more, please visit this link: https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=993962
    
    

• Mental Health Awareness Week PSA Contest (Deadline: October 18, 2024) - MCPS is seeking middle school and high school students interested in creating a creative 15-30 second Public Service Announcement (PSA) video for your peers focused on Mental Health Awareness Week! 

  • Participants who submit a PSA that meets the competition requirements will earn 5 SSL hours and potentially be published. 

  • To learn more, please visit this link: https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=992841
    
    

• Mental Health Resource Fair and Student Forum (October 26, 2024, 10AM-2PM) - The Office of Well Being and Student Services and the Montgomery County School Psychologists’ Association will co-host the 2024 Mental Health Resource Fair and Student Forum on October 26. 

  • 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=993233 
    
    

• Speak Up, Save A Life” PSA Contest (Deadline: November 8, 2024) - The Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office is 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=983160
    
    

• Veterans Day SSL Opportunity (November 9, 2024, 9AM-2PM) - Build garden beds and benches, and support an Urban Farm – earn SSL hours while giving back to the Earth on Veterans Day!

  • To learn more, please visit this link: https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=988670
    
    

• Additional October 2024 SSL Opportunities
  
  

Message
to Share with Students and Families
RE: SSL Opportunities

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 2024-2025 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 June 1, 2024, should be turned into the school’s SSL coordinator by the recommended due date of September 27, 2024. 

• 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 2024-2025 school year, please click here.

Please note that all SSL forms for service completed during the summer of 2024 or the 2024-2025 school year should be submitted to the school’s SSL coordinator on a rolling basis by the recommended due date of January 3, 2025, but no later than the required deadline of May 30, 2025. 

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

SSL Awards

• Any high school senior who has submitted documentation to show the completion of 240 SSL hours or more by April 4, 2025, will earn the Certificate of Meritorious Service along with a purple tassel for graduation. 

• Any middle school student who has submitted documentation to show the completion of the 75-hour SSL graduation requirement (for the first time in middle school) by April 4, 2025, will receive the Superintendent’s SSL Award.

The required deadline for all documentation that qualifies seniors for the Certificate of Meritorious Service and middle school students for the Superintendent’s SSL Award is April 4, 2025.

All SSL forms (MCPS Form 560-51: Student Service Learning Activity Verification form - https://bit.ly/SSLReflection) should be submitted to the school’s SSL coordinator by April 4, 2025, to be considered for these awards. 

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

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

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

NEW! 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 summer of 2024 should be submitted to your school’s SSL coordinator by the recommended due date of Friday, September 27, 2024.)

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, submit this form to SSL@mcpsmd.org 

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 

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

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, please email your school’s SSL coordinator (https://bit.ly/SSLCoordinatorsMS and https://bit.ly/SSLCoordinatorsHS) or the MCPS SSL office at SSL@mcpsmd.org. Thank you!