Dear Middle School Students and Parents,

I hope you are starting to settle into the summer life!  Because I know some of you are starting to work on your service hours, I wanted to send out information and answer any questions you may have.

In our middle school program at Oakhill, we believe it is very important for our students to learn to give back to those in their community and beyond.  Therefore, we require each student to complete a certain number of hours each year to give back.  Summer is a wonderful time for middle school students to get started on their service requirements!  

Please read through the Guidelines for Service Learning. Let me know what questions you have.  I am happy to help!

A few changes have been made from last year, including:

• You will no longer enter service hours online.  Paper forms are required.  As long as I receive a piece of paper with the following information, your hours will be counted.
  • a signature
  • the date
  • the number of hours you completed
  • what you did, who was there and what you learned
• Official Service Form - Please keep copies of this form in a safe place (i.e. refrigerator, glove compartment, backpack, etc.)
• There is a no longer a distinction between service learning and community service hours.  All volunteer hours from all agencies count the same.  A running total of your hours will be recorded in the gradebook and will be updated weekly.
• There is no longer a partnership requirement for 8th grade.  
• You CAN complete ALL of your hours over the summer!
• Service hours for the 2018-2019 school year include any volunteer hours a student completes from May 26, 2018-May 24, 2019.

Check out the Guidelines for Service Learning above for ideas to start earning volunteer hours.  Set up a time to go with friends and/or family to make the experience even more enjoyable. I will be setting up monthly service opportunities on Saturdays throughout the school year.  Be sure to check out the weekly newsletter for information regarding those opportunities.

Happy Serving!

Mrs. Newhouse