- Spring Hill High
- Volunteer Club
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Service-learning as curriculum at Spring Hill High had its beginning as a result of wanting to do more than the options in place. It became apparent that a great deal was missing from the level of service and commitment to the community. As an interest in helping increased, the awareness of what was needed grew along with it.
Spring Hill High's Service-Learning Program grew from the Volunteer Club. It was designed to not only provide credit for service, but to incorporate service directly into the curriculum. Where the Volunteer Class rewards the students with service itself, the volunteer program rewards the student with an academic, service-based portion of their education that becomes a part of their school record. It provides a lasting as well as exemplary addition to their transcripts. The Volunteer Class is a student-driven class where the students select, organize, implement and reflect upon the projects. The class also directs the activities of the Volunteer Club, providing the essential student-based leadership as well as the example for individual service benefits.
The district’s vision is to prepare, but also create an understanding of a lifelong commitment that students can contribute to society. Service-learning by its very nature fulfills this obligation. Spring Hill Schools' mission or vision statement as shown below, directly mirrors the mission statement of the volunteer program. Most of the objectives of the district’s mission are practiced and an integral part of the volunteer program.
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NobleCause Grant
The Volunteer Class at Spring Hill High was selected for a $6,500 grant through NobleCause! This money will be used for a variety of opportunities and projects for both the students at the high school and the community.
Spring Hill High has had a very active service learning program since 1997, that was once funded by the state's Service Learning Grant. This program has two components: a Volunteer Class and a Volunteer Club. The Volunteer Club is for any student in the school to participate in the service learning projects that the Volunteer Class provides. The Volunteer Class meets daily and the students have to volunteer daily at different schools and then the students in the class have to hold a service learning project. Unfortunately, with all of the budget cuts, this program lost its funding, so it relies on grants and donations to keep the program thriving.
Every year the Volunteer Club puts together, at least eleven, student led projects such as serving a Thanksgiving dinner to a domestic violence shelter, serving at a homeless shelter or assisting at a low income daycare. During these projects all students are invited to attend. However, not only does our volunteer group have eleven service learning projects for the students to attend, we also do our own community volunteering by having adopted grandparents in our Volunteer Class. Going to adopted grandparents is an opportunity to visit the elderly and learn about their past. In addition, the students volunteer their time to the two elementary schools and one intermediate school. Also, we go to the local assisted living center to play games and entertain them during their stay. After all the hard work, Spring Hill is able to say that we make a great impact on everyday issues and have the experience needed to do things right.
The purpose of this program is to connect teens with societal issues so they can connect with their own community. As a sponsor and teacher of the class, I have witnessed firsthand how students are impacted by the program.The district’s vision is to prepare, but also create an understanding of a lifelong commitment that students contribute to society. Service-learning by its very nature fulfills this obligation. Spring Hill Schools' mission statement, "To be a school district that engages students to learn, create, adapt and succeed in an ever-changing world," directly mirrors the mission statement of the volunteer program. Most of the objectives of the district’s mission are practiced and an integral part of the volunteer program.
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Service-Learning Award
On April 29, Spring Hill High (SHHS) was presented with 2009’s Service-Learning School Award and was one of only two schools in Kansas to garner this recognition. Ms. Shelby Hoytal, executive director of the Kansas Volunteer Commission, honored the students' significant contributions to the community.
