Student Service Learning (SSL)

2024-2025 SSL Message English

2024-2025 SSL Message Translated

Please Submit All SSL Forms to Room 106

Eastern's SSL Coordinator is Mr. Nicholas Towson 

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 4th, 2025, will receive the Superintendent’s SSL Award.

SSL Resources

Student Engagement Letter

 SSL Opportunities 

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. (Report U-STU703 in Synergy can be used to generate a list of students who have not yet completed this training module.)

Women’s History Month Webinar (March 4, 2025, 6:30PM-8:00PM) - Join us for a webinar about Women’s History Month hosted by Tara Sullivan (they/she) and Arushee Bhoja (she/her) from the University of Maryland’s Lavender Lab. 

Students may earn up to 2 SSL hours for participating in this advocacy opportunity.

To learn more, please visit this link - https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=1057326

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

Women’s History in Montgomery County Webinar (March 12, 2025, 5:00PM-6:30PM) - Join us for a webinar where Montgomery Parks shares how women in the past shaped life in Montgomery County.

Students may earn up to 2 SSL hours for participating in this advocacy opportunity.

To learn more, please visit this link - https://montgomerycountymd.galaxydigital.com/need/detail/?need_id=1058116

The Keeping It Safe Video Contest (Deadline: March 23, 2025) is now open! Students may earn 5 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.

Delegate Pam Queen’s Living Organ Donor Video Contest (Deadline: March 31, 2025) is now open! Students may earn 10 SSL hours for quality video submissions promoting the importance of living organ donations. Interested students may view the contest rules and additional information at this website.

Choose Respect Montgomery - RespectFest - March 30 - April 6, 2025

March 30 - April 5, 2025 (virtual/online) - Middle school and high school students will have the opportunity to earn up to 5 SSL hours for actively participating in online activities and virtual workshops centered on dating violence and prevention! 

April 6, 2025, 1-4 PM - Wheaton Community Recreation Center (in-person) - Middle school and high school students will have the opportunity to earn up to 3 SSL hours for attending this in-person festival focused on spreading awareness about dating violence and prevention! Registration will occur on-site.

Interested students may view additional details at the following link.

Additional March 2025 SSL Opportunities

 

 

MCPS SSL Website

The state of Maryland requires all students to complete 75 hours of Student Service Learning (SSL) in order to graduate. Students may begin working on this requirement as soon as they complete 5 th grade. Students earn some SSL hours through middle school and high school courses.

Grade 6: Science

Grade 7: English

Grade 8: US History

Parents should be aware that simply working as an unpaid volunteer does not necessarily qualify as SSL. The rules for where a student may earn SSL hours, how to receive credit for the hours earned, and other topics can be found on the MCPS website:

 https://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/departments/ssl/pages/overview.aspx  

It is very important that students check the MCPS website prior to undertaking any volunteer service. The website includes a link to the Montgomery County Volunteer Center's list of volunteer opportunities.

https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/volunteercenter/

Those organizations marked with a graduation cap are pre-approved for SSL.

Students who wish to volunteer at an organization not on the list should submit an approval request to Eastern's SSL coordinator using MCPS form 560-51 prior to serving as a volunteer.

SSL service should be recorded on an MCPS form 560-50 that has been signed by an adult at the organization. Forms 560-50 are due at the end of each semester. No credit will be given for volunteer service in previous semesters.

Eastern's SSL Coordinator is Mr. Nicholas Towson.