1. Service-Learning Contact Information

Coordinator:	Karen Ray & Bob Bonser, Garrett County Board of Education
Telephone:	301-334-7648
Fax:	301-334-7621
E-mail:	karen.ray@garrettcountyschools.org and bbonser@sh.ga.k12.md.us
Website:	www.ga.k12.md.us

2. Service-Learning Fact Sheet

A complete PDF version of Garrett County's Service-Learning Implementation Plan is available below.

Implementation Plan   •   Handbook   •   Validation/Tracking Sheet


Curricular-connection in 6th, 7th, 8th grades (30 hours total). 5 hours in 9th grade freshman seminar. Independent projects at the high school level (40 hours).

Breakdown:
Health: 6th Grade (10 hours)
Winners: 6th Grade (1 hour)
Interdisciplinary Team Project--6th grade (3 hours)
Interdisciplinary Team Project--7th grade (3 hours)
Health: 8th grade (10 hours)
Interdisciplinary Team Project--8th grade (3 hours)
Freshman Seminar -- 9th grade (5 hours)

Reporting: Service-learning is indicated on report cards. In addition, there is a transfer form that is used to tell new school systems how many hours the student has completed to date.

Transfer Policy: Students transferring into a Garrett County high school from a school system which does not require service-learning will complete hours as noted below:

• 12th grade - Must complete 10 hours
• 11th grade - Must complete 20 hours
• 10th grade - Must complete 30 hours
• 9th grade - Must complete 40 hours

Students transferring into a Garrett County high school from a school system which does require service learning will:

• Complete all required curriculum units applicable to the service-learning program in courses for which the student is scheduled; and
• Be exempt from the forty hours independent requirement if the transcript indicates forty hours of service has been previously performed or that the student's service-learning requirement has been satisfied in another school; or
• Complete sufficient hours of service, either in addition to hours transferred or of original hours to satisfy the forty hour requirement.

3. Teacher Fellows (see overview)

Rhonda Tasker, 2003, Southern Garrett High School, 301-334-9447, rtasker@ga.k12.md.us

Teddy Bear Drive for Dove Center

It was Christmastime and I was surrounded by a group of 10th and 11th grade students in my social studies class. We began discussing the needs in our community with regards to domestic violence and the impact it had on children. We decided to do a teddy bear drive to aid young children living in the Dove Center, a domestic abuse shelter. We also knew that the children are sometimes taken to the Garrett County Memorial Hospital for emergency room treatment. These children would benefit a great deal from the love of a teddy bear.

Michelle Zollner, 1998, Southern Middle School (Health), 301-334-8881, mzollner@ga.k12.md.us Retired

I teach middle school students how and why to do service-learning. I emphasize preparation and reflection (as well as action) to encourage students to find their own niche in service-learning. Each student serves with a certified organization in need that matches that student's interest.

Barbara Law, 1994, Northern Garrett County High School (childcare, special education), 301-746-8668, lawbd@hotmail.com

Students must perform 40 hours of independent service in high school, so I serve as a resource to help students find service opportunities. I also teach the SSA class in which students perform a variety of projects including the middle school special education project, After-Prom project, canned food drives, community days with agencies, etc. I also coordinate the school-wide Blind Skier Guide Project that allows high school students to assist students from the Maryland School for the Blind on a ski trip.