Option B activities must be pre-approved by the Service-Learning coach before hours may count towards the honor.

Students are responsible for completing the proper paperwork for Option B service activities: an application and time card for each service site and a summative reflection presentation on all of the year’s service.  The application and reflection instructions are available from the Service-Learning coach or the website, but the timecard is only available from the coach once the proposed activities have been approved. 

• First, the student submits one application for each service site that outlines the planned activities.  Students may submit as many applications as necessary. (You must be logged in to your MPS account to continue.) Once you have submitted the form, your application will be reviewed. If approved, you will receive an email from Ms. Schreiber with your time card. (If you do not receive your time card, please email Ms. Schreiber right away- it is possible there was an error in your application that resulted in the email not sending properly.)

• Second, the student maintains a one-time card for each service site with dates and times of the service hours.  The cards are due May 1.  Before the cards are turned in, the service hours on the card should be totaled and the adult supervisor should write a short evaluation of the student in the space provided and sign the card.

• Third, the student presents a reflection project in May to a small audience that demonstrates what the student learned from the year’s service experiences.  Students will be notified of their school’s reflection date and should not miss this important event. If students do not complete a reflection project, their hours will not be recorded on their transcript.

The purpose of the reflection project is for you to summarize, analyze, and evaluate the successes and challenges of the service activities you completed during the past year.  You will present one reflection project for all the service you performed during the year.  For example, you may have been involved with several service projects, submitted two or more applications, and turned in two or more time cards.  But, now, you just do one project that covers all your service activities.

You choose the format for the reflection project you want to present at your reflection appointment from the options in listed in the first section below. You must report on the five topics listed below to receive credit for your hours. Your presentation should be approx. 3-5 minutes long.

Students who do not present a reflection project will not receive credit for any hours completed this year. See your Service Learning coach if you have any questions.

To complete prior to Reflection Presentation beginning of May:

• Time cards: “Grand Total,” “Student Evaluation,” and “Supervisor Signature” must be completed by the supervisor prior to turning in your time card. All dates of service must be initialed by the supervising adult. Time cards that do not have both the “Student Evaluation” and “Supervisor Signature” completed will not be accepted.

• ONE completed project for all Service Activities: see possible formats listed on the back of this paper. Project must include responses to the five topics listed. Try to keep your presentation under 5 minutes!

• Submit digital copy of project to your Service-Learning coach. This will help save time the day of the actual reflection. (Posters/Scrapbooks do not need to submit a digital copy.)

Possible Formats for Reflection Project

1. Essay responding to the topics below

2. Annotated poster (pictures and memorabilia with written answers to the questions)

3. Scrap book or annotated photo album 

4. Video or PowerPoint presentation

5. Your choice: Get approval from your Service Learning Coach

NOTE: Your presentation speech is based on one of these formats.  Just getting up and verbally answering the questions below is NOT an acceptable reflection presentation.

Required Topics

1. Where did you volunteer and who were you helping? 

2. What service activities did you perform at those sites?

3. What did you learn about other people and yourself from your service activities?

4. What skills did you learn that might help you in the future with your education, career, and volunteer plans?

5. What is your most memorable story from your service activities over the last year?  (It can be funny, sad, interesting, shocking, sweet, or any type.)

Process

• Make an appointment with your Service Learning coach for a reflection presentation on the date set up for your school.

• Show up for that presentation appointment prepared to share what you have learned.

• Share your project with a small group of adults and other students. Projects will be presented in order of the signup sheet!

For project ideas, visit these volunteer sites. You may also have luck with organizations such as Volunteer Match or Just Serve.