Service Learning
Graduations Requirements
Students must earn a minimum of 30* hours of Community Service to graduate, with at least 20 hours completed by the end of junior year. Students who transfer to Falmouth High School are required to complete 7.5 hours for each year of attendance at FHS.
*The Class of 2023 needs 22.5 hours of service hours to graduate. Hours were adjusted by 7.5 hours due to the pandemic. Beginning with the Class of 2024, students will again need 30 hours of service to graduate. Use the FMS Community Service Hours form to submit hours to Ms. Smith in the front office.
Service Opportunities
There are many ways for students to earn service hours in and out of school. These can be organized by the student or with the help of the Service Learning Office. A sampling of current options are listed below. Students can visit the Service Learning Office to sign up for existing opportunities as well as to brainstorm and discuss any new ideas for service projects.
In-School Opportunities
Clothing Sort
Sort donations from Lots for Tots and Forget Me Nots. These clothing donations will go to Maine Needs, Hope Acts, and Goodwill to help local families in need. Sorting can take place at the FHS Service Learning Office anytime during the school day.
FES Recess Mentors
The elementary school needs volunteers to help during recesses throughout the day. Sign up in the Service Learning Office to volunteer for these 30 minutes time slots during a high school free period or AFT (Academic Focused Time).
Birthday Cards and Seasonal Cards for Elders
Covid-19 has created challenges for everyone,, but it has been especially isolating for elders. Make birthday cards or seasonal cards (e.g., Veteran’s Day Valentine’s Day) each month for elders living at an area assisted living facility.
Pen Pals with Elders
Students are matched with an elder in our community and write at least two letters per month to their pen pal for the year.
Rotating Projects
There are often other projects available to work on in the Service Learning Office. Stop by the office to learn more.
Out-of-School Opportunities
All of the below activities require students to sign up in the Service Learning Office to participate. If transportation is provided, students will need a parent/guardian to complete a transportation form.
Maine Needs (Monday’s during P4 or P8)*
Students volunteer at the distribution center Monday afternoons, delivering donations, stocking shelves, and filling orders of needed items for families and individuals. Transportation is provided by the Service Learning Office.
Furniture Friends (two Thursday’s a month)*
Based in Westbrook, Furniture Friends provides donated furniture to people in need in Greater Portland. We meet after school and then head to the Furniture Friends warehouse. We spend the next couple hours loading the truck and delivering furniture (curbside) to people in the community. Transportation is provided by the Service Learning Office.
Wisdom Tea at FalmouthHouse (once a month)*
Wisdom Tea takes place at Falmouth House at OceanView. It is a one hour discussion group with elders and teens. Quotes and questions are provided to inspire discussion. Dessert included! Students arrange their own transportation.
Activity Club at FalmouthHouse (once a month)*
Games and activities with elders living in assisted living. A different activity is planned for each month. Students arrange their own transportation.
Animal Refuge League (events vary by month)
Located in Westbrook, the Animal Refuge League provides temporary care and shelter for stray, abandoned, confiscated and relinquished animals, and places as many pets as possible into responsible and caring homes. We drive to the facility together and spend 1 hour helping with shelter chores like restocking food shelves, making dog food and folding laundry, and best of all, socializing the animals. Transportation is provided by the Service Learning Office.
Remote Reading Buddies (Varies)
FHS students are matched with a Falmouth Elementary School student and meet once a week for ½ hour on Zoom. Remote reading buddies can take turns reading to each other, visit with each other, play a game etc.
* To volunteer at these events, volunteers must be vaccinated.
Read about what the Service Learning Department does across the district.
Submitting Service Hours
To submit your service hours, complete the FMS Community Service Hours form and turn it into Ms. Smith in the front office. Stop by the Service Learning Office if you need a signature for a school organized activity.
Need to look up service activities from past years? Stop by the Service Learning Office to look through sign-up sheet archives.