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Service Learning

Graduations Requirements

Students must earn a minimum of 30 hours of community service to graduate. Seniors must have 22.5 hours by September 1st and Juniors must have 15 hours by September 1st to have privileges. Students who transfer to Falmouth High School are required to complete 7.5 hours for each year of attendance at FHS. Use the FHS Community Service Hours form to submit hours to the Service Learning Office.

Students standing outside playing soccer
Students shoveling mud off sidewalks
Students standing outside waving to a bus
Students and elderly adults sitting at tables in a large room
Four students moving a couch
Students in a gym playing a game with a ball
Two students looking at each other while holding a pompom and bubbles
High school student waving to elementary school student

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

Birthday Cards and Seasonal Cards 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. 

Falmouth Friends Morning Greeters
Bring your sports team, club, or after school group to greet the Falmouth Elementary Students in the morning when they get off the bus. Students must have either A1 or B1 off.

FES and FMS Classroom Volunteers
Provide classroom support to teachers. This could be anything from one on one teaching or helping run a math game. 

FES Recess Mentors
The elementary school needs volunteers to help during recesses throughout the day. Volunteer for these 30 minute time slots during periods A3, A4, B3, and B4.

Pre-K Lunch, Pre-K Recess, and Library Helpers
Serve lunch to Pre-K students and socialize with them during lunch and recess. Library Helpers volunteer in the K-2 library sorting and checking out books. 

Sort Clothing
Sort donations from Lots for Tots. These clothing donations will go to Maine Needs and Goodwill to help local families in need. Sorting can take place at the FHS Service Learning Office anytime during the school day. 

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/caregiver to complete the online transportation form in PowerSchool.

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 one 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.

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 drive as a group to the Furniture Friends warehouse. We spend the next couple hours loading the truck and delivering furniture to people in the community. Transportation is provided by the Service Learning Office.

Service Trips (throughout the year)
Weekend and week long service trips are run throughout the year to support organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, Safe Passage in Guatemala, and Maine Huts and Trails. 

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.

* This community partner requires volunteers to be vaccinated.

Submitting Service Hours

To submit your service hours, complete the FHS Community Service Hours form and turn the completed form into the Service Learning Office. A signature is needed by the volunteer activity supervisor. An email can also be submitted to the Service Learning Office with the following information: your name, date of service activity, location, activity name / description, total time, and activity supervisor’s approval.

Need to look up service activities from past years? Stop by the Service Learning Office to look through sign-up sheet archives.

Read about what the Service Learning Department does across the district.