SHHS Receives State Award for Community Service Program

April 09, 2010

Spring Hill High School (SHHS) received this year’s Service-Learning School Award, and was one of only two schools in Kansas to garner this recognition given by the Kansas Volunteer Commission. The award is given to schools that integrate a highly effective teaching and learning strategy with meaningful community service, which results in an enriched learning experience, civic responsibility and strengthened communities.

Sponsors Lynda Jochims, special education teacher, and Kerri Rodden, English teacher, guide the high school’s Volunteer Club, which will take part in 11 major community service projects this school year with nearly 25 percent of the student body participating. Jochims and Rodden noted the award means a tremendous amount to the students and the school because the state-level recognition acknowledges all of hard work done by Volunteer Club for the community.

Here are some fun facts:

• In the last 12 years, the SHHS Volunteer Class has organized more than 120 projects.
• Students, who are in the class, volunteer at least 200 hours per year.
• At least 25 percent of the student body has participated in student-led volunteer projects. This does not include service learning done by other organizations throughout the school.
• Thirteen organizations and approximately 17 teachers are involved in service-learning activities throughout the school.
• For every hour the volunteers work, they earn $20.25 back for the organizations that they serve. Over the last year, the volunteers gave 3,000 hours of time, which equals $60,750 dollars back to the community.

“When the program was started 12 years ago, my only goal was to bridge the gap between the high school and the community,” said Jochims. “I wanted to let the community know that SHHS students were helpful, kind and compassionate people.”

Besides major projects, club members hold bake sales for those in need, provide babysitting during parent-teacher organization meetings, adopt families during the holidays to make wishes come true, and participate in many activities at the elementary schools. The club also works closely with the Spring Hill Civic Center to assist community members with specific needs, such as lawn care and cleaning.

“We will continue to let the students guide us on a journey centered around making a difference,” said Rodden. “Winning this award helps us achieve another one of our goals, which is to help other school districts develop their own volunteer programs.”

To read the full release about the Service-Learning Award, visit the Kansas State Department of Education web site.

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