Community Outreach

It is the mission of Spectrum’s Community Service Program to empower our students to become leaders in their communities through research, service, and reflection.

Essentially, we are growing leaders at Spectrum.

Whether college or career bound, our program seeks to nurture a sense of empathy for others, and develop the skills necessary for graduates to actively engage in society and lead the way toward positive change and development in the world.

We believe that active service helps our students make connections to the lives of others and empowers them to take the lead in further service action that will benefit our community as a whole.

The program consists of an “on campus” element as well as an “off campus” element.

The “on campus” element includes all coursework and group community service related experiences (field trips, guest speakers, fundraising efforts, etc.) facilitated by Spectrum. These service experiences occur primarily within the regular school day. Here students gain an awareness of the various needs within our community through research and acts of service. We refer to this element as Service Learning.

The “off campus” element includes community service initiated and completed by the individual student.These service experiences occur primarily outside of the regular school day. The intention for this component is to extend and enrich the “on campus” element of our community service program by encouraging students to reach out to those in need within their personal sphere of influence. We do not stress the quantity of time spent, but rather the quality of the time spent and the impact to both the student and the person/group being served. We refer to this element as Community Service.

Upon completion of both elements, students are offered an opportunity to reflect on their experiences in an effort to share their perspectives and insights gained.

The culmination of both service learning (on-campus) and community service (off-campus) is the Senior Capstone experience.

Students at Spectrum who go above and beyond the expectations of the Community Service Program also have an opportunity to letter in the area of Community Outreach. Students who take the initiative to reach out to individuals in need through partnerships with organizations in our community not only gain personal perspective as to how philanthropic actions can have positive results, they are officially acknowledged for their efforts and intentions.

Service Learning takes place on-campus as part of the students’ Service Learning class. Each class in grades 6-9 are connected in some way and work to meet a direct need of a community organization. Students participate in research, connect with the organization directly (field trip or speaker), actively serve the organization, and reflect upon their experience.
Students in grades 6-9 participate in a different service learning opportunity on a quarterly basis. These service learning opportunities expose students to various needs within our community. This is intended to pique students’ interests and passions, ultimately assisting students in choosing an area of community need on which they would like to focus their Senior Capstone experience.
In grade 10 students reflect on their past year’s (in grades 6-9) service learning (on-campus) and community service (off-campus) experiences and begin to determine their senior capstone community service focus area. Coursework in grade 10 facilitates the development of skills and competencies necessary for students to successfully connect, develop, and implement the plan for their senior capstone experience.
In grade 11, student’s service learning experience is transformed into a culminating community service experience. During their junior year students finalize and implement their community service plan for their Senior Capstone experience.
Completion, presentation, and final reflection of the Senior Capstone experience happens in the first semester of grade 12. The Senior Capstone experience serves as the culminating experience and presentation of their service learning (on-campus) and individual commitment to community service (off-campus).

Planning, organizing, and facilitating the Service Learning EXPO during the second semester of grade 12 allows students the opportunity to utilize the knowledge and skills gained through their community service experience and Senior Capstone. Emerging as leaders in the Spectrum community, seniors serve as role models for their peers. By encouraging increased engagement and active involvement in service, they strengthen our students’ capacity to serve others and fulfill this aspect of our mission.

A detailed description of the Senior Capstone can be found in the Senior Capstone Handbook (see reference section below).

Community Service

Community service is intended for students to offer off-campus service to those in need (outside of their family). While community service may include activities such as raking, shoveling, or mowing for a neighbor, students are encouraged to begin volunteering for a community organization, such as the ones they learn about in their Service Learning classes at school or are already involved in as part of their daily lives. This would be a great way to begin networking and preparing for their Senior Capstone.

Note: Community outreach does not include working for a fundraiser from which a student is earning money for an activity or sport in which they participate. Community service is not compensated with payment of any kind.

Expectations for Time/Hours

Completing community service hours (off-campus) helps students to begin nurturing a sense of empathy for others. It also helps them to develop the skills needed to be active citizens. In addition, working in partnership with a community organization through active service gives them a jump start on their Senior Capstone experience.

Reflection on the community service experience is included as part of the student’s Service Learning class grade.

Independent Community Service hours expectation:

Grade 6-8 students are encouraged to complete at least 3 hours of community outreach (off-campus) per quarter.
Grade 9-10 students are encouraged to complete at least 5 hours of community outreach (off-campus) per quarter.
Grade 11 students will be meeting their community outreach (off-campus) hours by implementing their Senior Capstone plan. (No additional hours or reflection are required.)
Grade 12 students are encouraged to continue providing community outreach (off-campus) in conjunction with their Senior Capstone experience. (No additional community service hours or reflection are required.)
While students are encouraged to participate in community outreach (off-campus) on a regular basis, they can use summer community outreach hours as part of their reflection in their 1st quarter Service Learning class.

The Capstone experience begins in a student’s junior year. At this point, students determine a community need upon which their experience will focus. Then, partnership is established with a relevant community organization which can act as a support to the student as they plan a way to meet that need. Finally, the student begins to implement their plan.

As seniors, students wrap up the Capstone experience through written reflection and professional presentation. This allows students the opportunity to acknowledge and celebrate their community service experience at Spectrum as a whole. including first, their service learning (on-campus) as well as their community service (off-campus) experience, and finally, their independent partnership with a community organization and how they were able to personally make an impact towards meeting a community need.

Community Service Lettering

Students at Spectrum who go above and beyond the expectations of the Community Service Program also have an opportunity to letter in the area of Community Outreach. Students who take the initiative to reach out to individuals in need through partnerships with organizations in our community not only gain personal perspective as to how philanthropic actions can have positive results, they are officially acknowledged for their efforts and intentions.

Community Service Letter achievement requires the completion of three components.

Component #1: 120 hours of community outreach (off-campus)

Students must engage in community outreach activities in connection with individuals and/or organizations other than family members.
Students must not receive compensation of any kind for outreach completed.
Students must document and verify all outreach hours completed on the Community Outreach Lettering Hours Log.
Students must complete all outreach hours between April 15th of the prior academic year and April 14th of the current academic year.

Note: Hours required for National Junior Honor Society and National Honor Society may not be counted towards lettering requirements.

Component #2: Two Letters of Recommendation

Students must obtain two letters of recommendation from community organizations or individuals served.
The letter must describe the outreach activities as well as the student’s attitude and competence.

Component #3: Reflective Representation

Students must create a reflective representation of their outreach experience.
The reflective representation can be an essay, media presentation (PPT, movie, etc.), or other type of creative expression (student must present their idea to the Community Service Coordinator before beginning).
Students must submit at least one photo of themselves engaged in the community outreach activity.

Note: All required elements must be completed and submitted to the Community Service Coordinator by April 15th.

Jill Johnson, Community Service Coordinator

Office located in Spectrum High School building

Office Hours: 7:00 am - 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday

(763) 450-9897

jijohnson@spectrumhighschool.org

Resources:

Service Learning Course Reflection

Independent Community Service Hours Log

Independent Community Service Hours Reflection

Community Service Lettering Hours Log

Students: Need community service opportunities?

CLICK HERE for community service opportunities.

Community Outreach Requirements & Grading

There are two requirements for both the service learning (on campus) and community outreach (off campus) elements that are part of the Service Learning class grade.

The “on campus” element requires students to complete coursework that is specific to their Service Learning class as well as a Service Learning Course Reflection Form.

While there are not a set number of hours required for individual community outreach “off campus”, students are required to complete two assignments associated with the individual community outreach experience. The first requirement is the Independent Community Service Hours log. The second requirement is the Independent Community Service Hours Reflection Form. Both assignments are kept in the students’ eBinder.

It is important to note that the Community Service requirements are designed to facilitate student engagement in the community service experience. While they must have some hours in order to document and reflect upon their experiences, the focus is intended to be upon quality rather than quantity. Documentation of the outreach experience utilizes the Community Service Hours Log while student thoughts and perspectives of the outreach experience are communicated in the Community Service Reflection Form. Completion of both requirements serves as evidence of participation and engagement.

All aforementioned curricular requirements are counted as part of the Service Learning course grade and should be kept in the Service Learning folder in the student’s ebinder throughout the duration of their Community Service experience at Spectrum (grades 6-12).

The grading breakdown for grades 6-8 is as follows:

35% Coursework - assignments specific to service learning course

35% Service Learning Course Reflection

10% Independent Community Outreach Hours Log

20% Independent Community Outreach Hours Reflection

The grading breakdown for grades 9-10 is as follows:

25% Coursework(research and presentation, attendance, active participation in

service, misc. Additional assignments)

25% Service Learning Course Reflection

25% Independent Community Outreach Hours Reflection

25% Independent Community Outreach Hours Log

The grading breakdown for grade 11 is as follows:

50% Coursework/Legacy progress (planning assignments, project proposal, project pitch preparation, and presentation)

50% Participation - Mandatory attendance of face-to-face whole group informational meetings (2 per quarter) Make-up meeting with coordinator required if not present.

No additional community service hours or Community Service Hours Reflection are required in grade 11.

The grading breakdown for grade 12 is as follows:

50% Coursework/Legacy progress

Semester 1: Legacy Presentation Preparation (checkpoints, blog entries)

Semester 2: EXPO preparation/participation

50% Participation - Mandatory attendance of face-to-face whole group

Informational meetings ( make-up meeting with coordinator required

If not present.

No additional community service hours or Community Service Hours Reflection

Are required in grade 12.

Community Outreach Course Offerings & Community Connections

Community Outreach at Spectrum This table reflects the most current course progression, community partners, and curricular focus. These are subject to periodic revision.
Grade Level	Service Learning Courses (Quarterly Rotations)	Partnering Community Organization	Curricular Focus/Community Need
6	We Recycle	Sherburne County Soil and Water	Soil and Water Conservation
	Bare Necessities	Great River Family Promise Day Center, CAER	Homelessness, Hunger
	Animal Rescue Friends	Animal Humane Society, Ruff Start Rescue	Animal Welfare
	Book Worms	Twin Lakes Elementary	Literacy
7	Helping Hands for the Elderly	Guardian Angels Senior Center	Elderly Care
	Music Matters	American Music Therapy Association	Mental Health
	Go Green	Kleiver Park, Great River Processing Center	Environmental Stewardship
	We Care	Leukemia and Lymphoma Society	Disease Prevention
8	Bringing Hope	Children’s Grief Connection	Grief and Loss
	RAKE (Random Acts of Kindness Encouraged)	Salvation Army, Area thrift stores	Building Community
	Into the Wild	State Park Board	Mental Health, Physical Fitness
	Veteran Support	Sherburne County, Haven for Heroes	Veteran Awareness
9	Teens Helping Teens	Hope4Youth	Poverty
	SAVE	Thumbs Up High 5 & Just One Event	Suicide Awareness
	Bee Squad	University of Minnesota Bee Lab	Pollinator Habitat Protection
	A Serving of Sunshine	Gillette Children’s Hospital	Childhood Diseases
10	Passion Pursuit	No specific community organization	Preparation for Senior Capstone
	Community Connections
	Honor Speech
	Awareness Campaign
11	Senior Capstone Development and Implementation
12	Senior Capstone: Presentation and Reflection Paper & “Leaving a Legacy of Leadership” Community Outreach EXPO Planning and Participation

Jill Johnson, Community Service Coordinator

Office located in Spectrum High School building

Office Hours: 7:00 am - 3:30 pm, Monday through Friday

(763) 450-9897

jijohnson@spectrumhighschool.org

Resources:

Service Learning Course Reflection

Independent Community Service Hours Log

Independent Community Service Hours Reflection

Community Service Lettering Hours Log

JAN 23