Student Service Above Self Program

Community Service & Civic Engagement

MIDDLE SCHOOL INFORMATION 2020-2021

Student Community Service Teams
 
Participation in the SSASP and the Middle School Fair requires submission of Applications 1 & 2.

Please see the Application Instructions highlighted in yellow throughout this page.
 
MIDDLE SCHOOL TIMELINE
 
 
 
September, 2020
School administrators kick-off the Student Service Above Self Program with their staffs.
 
The Project Coordinator shares information to help the kick-off such as: community organizations willing to work with students; the link to this website; and information about the annual Project Launch Meeting.
October TBD, 2020
Last day to submit the Project Launch Meeting RSVP.
 
Click here to access the RSVP (Not operational until September, 2020)
October TBD, 2020
Project Launch Meeting. 9:30-11:30a.m.. at the Columbus City Schools Southland Building, 3700 S. High St., 43207
 
  • All Columbus City middle schools are invited to send up to four students and two teachers/staff members.
  • Students and staff participate in a structured project planning exercise led by an experienced strategic planner with a background in public education.
  • Note: Although some students may have started discussing potential service activities prior to this meeting, this is not a requirement. The meeting is designed to model brainstorming about issues to address through community service projects and the planning required to be successful. Each school’s service project or projects emerge according to their own time table and logistics.
  • Schools receive tri-fold display boards and materials to prepare an exhibit of their projects at the Annual Middle School Service Above Self Fair.
December 1, 2020
Submit Required PROJECT PLAN - Application 1
 
Two student community service teams from each middle school may submit applications and participate in the Middle School Fair.
 
 
 
October 2020 – March, 2021
Implementation of Community Service Projects.
 
  • Ongoing coordination among students, teachers/project advisors, principals, Program Coordinator, and community resources as students work to achieve their projects’ goals.
  • Capture key project events in photos and videos.
  • Students wrap up their projects; finalize project display boards; and, prepare for project presentations at the Middle School Fair.
 
March 13, 2021
 
Submit Required PROJECT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY -Application 2
 
One Executive Summary for each project team.
 
March TBD, 2021
Middle School Fair at The Ohio State University Fawcett Center
 
See the Middle School Fair page for details.
 

 

Community Service Projects
 
Goals
  • Enhancing lives of the served and the servers.
  • Encourage students to apply values of service and civic engagement throughout their lives.
  • Stimulate and reinforce students' interest and participation in their academic work.
 

Projects

May be conducted by student teams or an individual student.
 
Must be conducted with the official oversight of one or more of the following: school administrator, teacher, school counselor, school club advisor.
 
One or two projects from each school, after successful submission of their Project Plan, and Executive Summaries, will be invited to participate in the Middle School Fair. Of course, schools are encouraged to create and conduct as many community service projects as interest, time, and logistics permit.
 
Previous Community Service Projects
 
  • CLICK HERE to see the 2019 Middle School Fair Program.
  • CLICK HERE to see the 2018 Middle School Fair Program.
  • CLICK HERE to see the 2017 Middle School Fair Program. 

REQUIRED STUDENT PROJECT PLAN - APPLICATION 1

Due by 3 PM, December 1, 2020
 
Submission Process
 
  1. Click here to download a blank copy of the PROJECT PLAN.
      *Not operational until fall 2020
  2. Complete a separate PROJECT PLAN for each community service project as a word attachment to Rick Studer,  Student Service Above Self Program Coordinator, at  rickstuder@columbusrotary.org
  3. Put “(name of school) Project Plan” in the email subject line.
  4. Print copies of the completed Project Plan and distribute to student team members, project advisor, and others as you choose.
 
Instructions
 
  • We encourage one or several students to complete the PROJECT PLAN with a review by the project advisor before submission. Use this submission as one of many ways to practice business-like thinking and writing skills.
  • Complete all sections thoroughly and thoughtfully. (For example: under Goals, “do something good” is not sufficient. And, under Actions, “pass out some stuff” is not sufficient. While preparing the Project Plan, check out the information about Application 2 so you can see how Application 1 & 2 fit together.
  • The information in your Project Plan will be helpful to the Program Coordinator in suggesting resources that could be helpful in meeting your project goals.
  • You may include support materials for Application Part 1. Examples include: photos and videos of the project in action, descriptions of the group(s) served, testimonial letters. Contact the Coordinator to discuss how to make this happen.

REQUIRED STUDENT PROJECT EXECUTIVE SUMMARY - APPLICATION 2

Submission Due by 3 PM, March TBD, 2021
 
Submission Process
1.   Click here to download a blank copy of the Executive Summary. 
        *Not operational until fall 2020
2.    Complete a separate Executive Summary for each community service project.
3.    Email the typed, completed Executive Summary as a word attachment to Rick Studer,  Student 
       Service Above Self Program Coordinator, at  rickstuder@columbusrotary.org
4.    Put “(name of school) Executive Summary” in the email subject line.
5.    Print copies of the completed Executive Summary and distribute to student team members,
       project advisor, and others as you choose.
 
We encourage one or several students to complete this application with a review by the project advisor before submission. Use this submission as one of many ways to practice business-like thinking and writing skills.