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Graduation Project

Graduation Project

Garden Spot High School requires all students to complete a Service Learning Project as part of the graduation requirements.

 

Service Requirement

Students must complete 30 hours of volunteer service between grade 6 and the fall of their senior year (grade 12). Service hours may be fulfilled through:

  • A single extended experience (e.g., a mission trip), or
  • Multiple volunteer activities completed throughout the student’s school career

 

Documentation Process

After completing the required hours, students must submit documentation to the Counseling Office by completing the Service Learning Verification Form.  The Service Learning Form is available below and in the High School Guidance Office. 

This form requires:

  • A signature from the supervising adult or organization overseeing the service experience.
  • Completion of student reflection questions about the service activity.
  • Completed forms should be submitted to the Administrative Assistant to the Counselors. 

 

Important Deadline

Service Learning Hours are due by Thanksgiving Break of Senior Year.

Students are encouraged to complete their service hours well in advance of the deadline to ensure all graduation requirements are met.

Community Volunteer Contacts

 

We are grateful for the many local organizations, businesses, and community groups that have partnered with our students to provide meaningful volunteer opportunities. These partnerships help students complete their Service Learning hours while developing leadership skills, civic responsibility, and real-world experience.

Students are encouraged to explore opportunities with local townships and borough offices, churches (including summer Bible camps), community parks, fire departments, the Humane League, Special Olympics, local food banks, summer sports camps, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of the USA, local businesses, and service opportunities coordinated by teachers and school staff.

Students should always confirm that the experience meets school guidelines prior to beginning their service hours.

Below, you will find links to organizations and community partners that have previously worked with our students to support Service Learning opportunities.

Blue Ball Elementary School PTO

Jami Leisey

blueballptol@gmail.com

Christmas on Main

717-354-8206

New Holland Business

CrossNet Ministries

Meredith Dahl

Lisa Kerstetter

717-355-2454

CrossNet Ministries

Denver Borough

501 Main Street  

Denver, PA 17517  

Ph: 717-336-2831

Borough of Denver

 

What can I do:  park clean up, race or event set up/clean up etc

Eastern Lancaster County Library

11 Chestnut Dr,

New Holland, PA 17557

(717) 354-0525

ELANCO Library

What can I do:  check in/check out books, help with library activities etc.

Friendship Community:

Phil Horning

717-656-2466 x1165

Friendship Community

What can I do: Help with social activities, be a part of fundraising events, maintenance, etc.

Garden Spot Fire Rescue

Darryl Keiser

717-354-8311

Garden Spot Fire Rescue

Garden Spot Midget Association

GS Community Athletics

Garden Spot Youth Soccer Club

Matt Graham

 717-333-2180

Garden Spot Youth Soccer Club

What can I do: Line fields, check field equipment for damage, Attend monthly soccer club meetings

 

There are also opportunities to coach/assistant coach the U6 and U8 teams. Coaching at this level is mostly about having fun, learning basic skills and the rules of the game.

*If interested in coaching, you MUST provide clearances and do training. These clearances and training include:

  • PA State Police Criminal History Report
  • PA Department of Human Services Child Abuse History Report
  • Risk Management
  • Concussion Training

 

All clearances and training are FREE for volunteers and accessible through the GSYSC website under the ‘Coaching Resources’ tab. The club will sign off on hours for doing the concussion training which takes about one to one and a half hours. There will be a quiz at the end of the training videos and then you will receive a certificate of completion. Your name MUST appear on the certificate, or you will have to redo the whole training. You can email all clearances and training paperwork to the GSYSC club president, Matt Graham at mattg.gsysc@gmail.com.

Greystone Manor Therapeutic Riding Center

Jennifer Rummel

717-844-3941

jrummel@greystonemanortrc.org

 

What can I do: Greystone Manor is a small therapeutic riding center in Lancaster. We have a variety of exciting volunteer opportunities for students. Students can work directly with our 11 therapy horses and our participants with special needs. This is a great opportunity for horse lovers, teens who love to help children with disabilities, and someone considering a career in psychology, human services, or agriculture.

Historic Poole Forge

Dr. Dawn Rise Ekdahl

Executive Director

484-797-5302

Historic Poole Forge

Lancaster YMCA:

Nancy Pleger

Executive Assistant

717-393-9622 x2024

npleger@rosesymca.org

YMCA of the Roses

Little Springs Farm

Horse Farm

Mohnton, PA

Cindy Martin

717-725-7133

Little Springs Farm

Meals on Wheels:

717-354-9150

Meals on Wheels Locations

New Holland Ambulance Association

Darrel Fisher

717-354-6945

info@newhollandambulance.com

New Holland Ambulance

New Holland Borough

436 E Main St

New Holland, PA 17557 ·

(717) 354-4567

New Holland Borough

What can I do:  park clean up, race or event set up/clean up etc.

New Holland Business Association:

717-355-6233

New Holland Business

New Holland Early Learning Center

18 Western Ave

New Holland, PA 17557

717-354-4440

Facebook – New Holland Early Learning Center

What can I do: Help in the classroom over the summer

New Holland Farmers Fair Association:

717-354-5880

info@newhollandfair.org

New Holland Farmers

New Holland Historical Society

info@NHHistorical.com

New Holland Area Historical

What can I do: Help with events

New Holland Food Pantry:

717-355-2454

Food and Nutrition Programs

OCMA’s A Better Tomorrow

Kristen Reeser

717-682-8740

knreeser@gmail.com

OCMA's A Better Tomorrow

Re-Uzit- New Holland

707 W Main St,

New Holland, PA 17557

(717) 354-8355

info@newholandreuzit.org

Re-Uzit Shop of New Holland

What can I do: item sorting, item rotation etc.

Release Time:

(Blue Ball) 717-405-2955

Facebook – Blue Ball Elanco Release Time

(New Holland) 717-283-8921

Drjr145@yahoo.com

What can I do: Lead a group of 3-4 students during Release Time

Terre Hill Community Park

PO Box 250

Terre Hill, PA 17581

717-445-4581

office@terrehillboro.com

Terre Hill Park

What can I do: Volunteer during Terre Hill Community Days, help clean the park on Volunteer Days

Tel Hai Retirement Community:

1200 Tel Hai Circle

Honey Brook, PA 19344

volunteer@telhai.org

Tel Hai

What can I do: help with mail, help members with crafts/activities

Upward Basketball and Cheerleading

717-355-7800

NHC Nazarene

What can I do:  Coaching for basketball and cheerleading and refereeing

Water Street Rescue Mission

210 S. Prince St

Lancaster, PA

717-393-7709

Water Street Mission

Willow Oak Horse Farm and Cat Sanctuary

Randi Fisher

302-333-7704

Randi1222@gmail.com

Woodcrest Retreat

A Christian, non-profit camp

225 Woodcrest Dr.

Ephrata, PA 17522

717-738-2233

Welcome to Woodcrest Retreat

Roles you could volunteer in: Kitchen Help, Maintenance, Summer camp day camp counselor (an application and interview required)

Service Learning Verification Form

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