AHS 9Th Grade Service Project

AHS 9th Grade Service Project

"Service to others is the "One thing I know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those rent you pay for your who have sought and found how to room here on Earth." serve." --Muhammad Ali -Albert Schweitzer

Our literature this year has shown the significance of service, integrity, and community. We hope that this assignment will be something that will stick with you throughout your high school experience, and maybe even your life.

So what do I have to do? Volunteer in the community for two hours and document your experience with photos and a personal reflection essay.

Are there any rules? What can or can’t I do for volunteer credit? Not allowed: Anything that you get paid for Anything you are already doing for volunteer credit (NCL, NHS, probation) Anything for your family (No – cleaning your room or babysitting your brother doesn’t count!)

Ideas for your volunteer hours:  Mowing a neighbor’s lawn (for free!)  Visiting a nursing home or helping an elderly person in your neighborhood  Collecting toy/book donations for a children’s hospital and delivering them  Volunteering at soup kitchens or shelters  HAAM or the Houston Food Bank  PetsMart / PetCo on adoption Saturdays  Babysitting for free  Starting a recycling campaign in your area  Volunteering at your church  Cleaning a local park  Raising money or awareness for a charity  Making care packages for the troops  Volunteering at a daycare or elementary school

When is this due? The essay and photos are due Friday, December 4 th . The Turn It In submission is due at 4:00pm the same day.

What documentation do I need? An adult who supervised you must sign the provided form to verify your hours. In some situations, this person may be contacted to verify your service. In addition, you need to take at least three photos of your experience. These photos can be embedded to your essay.

Can I break the hours up over multiple days? Absolutely! Make sure to get documentation for each day, though. This includes photos and signatures. You can even do different activities, as long as it equals 2 hours of service.

Couldn’t I just lie about my hours? Do I have to do this? I don’t wanna! Could you lie about your hours? Yes, I suppose you could, but you probably won’t get away with it. Do you have to do this? Well, no, but you will get a zero for the test grade. What does that say about your character, though? You are essentially saying to me, to your classmates, and to your community that you can’t find time to serve someone else for two tiny hours within a three week period. Think small! This doesn’t have to be a globe changing project (though those are encouraged also!).

Can I work with someone else? Sure! Get a group together and go downtown to a soup kitchen or hospital one Saturday. Get together with some pals and clean up a local park. We encourage you to work together. However, each person needs to take his or her own photos and, obviously, the essay is an individual assignment.

I’ve finished my two hours. Now what? You are going to construct an essay on your experience. Because this is a reflective essay, you are allowed to use first person. (Just don’t get used to it!) We are not giving you a strict pattern to follow. This essay should inform readers about your experience and what you learned.

Your essay should include…  MLA Format (Heading, title, pagination, work cited - if applicable)  An explanation of where you worked  Why you chose this location / opportunity  What you did while you were there  What did you learn from the experience

Please Remember: As you volunteer in the coming weeks, you are an ambassador of your teacher, your classmates, your family, Atascocita High School, Humble ISD, and teens in general to our community. Many adults have a negative view of teenagers and you have the incredible privilege to change that perception. Please keep that responsibility in mind as you volunteer; it’s important that you reflect a positive image to the public. Be careful what you say, what you wear, how you respect those in authority as well as those in need, and how you act throughout your experience. Name of student: Class Period:

Title of Volunteer Activity:______

Location: ______Date:______

Description of Volunteer Service: ______

______

Total Number of Hours and Minutes Worked: ______

Supervisor’s email or phone number ______

Supervisor’s Signature: ______

Title of Volunteer Activity:______

Location: ______Date:______

Description of Volunteer Service: ______

______

Total Number of Hours and Minutes Worked: ______Supervisor’s email or phone number ______

Supervisor’s Signature: ______