“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” - Mahatma Gandhi
Service Learning connects meaningful community service experiences with academic learning, personal growth, and civic responsibility. Service learning extends student learning beyond the classroom and provides structured time for students to reflect on their experiences. Students learn to research community needs, develop and organize solutions, and to use interpersonal communication skills and problem-solving strategies. Service learning can be a valuable addition to a college or scholarship application as it demonstrates growth through community engagement.
Typical organizations associated with service learning activities include hospitals, non-profit animal services, non-profit environmental agencies, assisted living communities and senior centers, museums, veterans organizations, and city/county beautification foundations.
For the MERIT diploma seal, a student must have at least 20 service learning hours and a total of at least 80 community service hours (including service learning hours). Any hours a student completes as a part of service learning will count towards their total community service hours.
Service learning and community service hours are submitted using the same documentation form, which can be downloaded and completed by the student and the supervisor. The documentation is then scanned and submitted online through the Google Form submission.
Community Service Medal Recognition - during Senior Honors Night
Bronze - 50 hours Silver - 100 hours Gold - 150+ hours
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Examples of Community Service
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Examples of Service Learning
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Backpack Buddies - students pack food bags for children who need sufficient food during the weekends
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Humane Society - students receive training and learn to work with dogs and cats so that the animals are more adoptable.
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SwayJ - Shop with a Yellow Jacket - students team up to help children and their families have a special Christmas.
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Clothing drive - students plan and organize the collection of jackets and blankets to donate to a homeless shelter.
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Rose City Run - students volunteered to pass out water to runners at various points along the race route.
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Thomas County Public Library - students plan an event about Youth Civic Engagement which includes a mock election.
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For assistance planning service learning projects, contact Col. Stann McLeod at smcleod@tcjackets.net or drop by his office in the Guidance Office. For assistance with documentation of community service or service learning hours please contact Mrs. Erin White at ewhite@tcjackets.net or stop by the MERIT Office in E wing near the bandroom.