Service Learning combines service objectives with learning objectives with the intent that the activity change both the recipient and the provider of the service.
Service Learning:

• Promotes learning through active participation in service experience
• Provides structured time for students to reflect by thinking, discussing, and/or writing about their service experience
• Provides an opportunity for students to use skills and knowledge in real-life situations
• Extends learning beyond the classroom and into the community
• Fosters a sense of caring for others

ArtsWest believes in developing a sense of commitment to the world around us. Students are asked to participate in both local and international service projects. Students return from these with a healthier global perspective, an informed sense of the complexities of service work, and a greater confidence in their own abilites to affect meaningful change. Reflection, by way of journal entried of scrapbook creation is a vital part of completing this progam.

---

"The semester is coming to an end. I thought I would write a reminder letter to you about your service hours, and hopefully this will answer any questions you may have. Each student is required to have 30 hours of service by the end of April. I am hoping each of you have at least 15 by now. The guidelines of service learning are: You need to record all the service you do. This can be in the form of journal entries, pictures, collages, etc… You can be really creative or you can just record it in a simple way and write down what it was you did and how many hours it took. Each of you should have been given a service binder at the beginning of the semester. The office may still have some left if you did not receive one. It may be to your advantage to keep a good log of all your service as some colleges will want to see what kind the service you rendered during high school. You need to have your hours signed off. This can be done by a parent or any other adult who witnessed your service. There is a sheet in your service binder specifically designed for you to record your hours on. Each service project has a place for its hours and a signature. If you don't want to record them on this sheet of paper then come up with your own sheet you can record all of your service on. If you end up getting several signed sheets of paper from different service projects just make sure you keep them together in your notebooks. What can you count as service? At the beginning of the year we had you sign up for one of three different service organizations. (Service Teaching, Wishing Star Foundation, or the Veteran's Home) Hopefully each of you chose one and were able to be involved with one of their service projects during the semester. You were only required to do ONE service project with one of these groups during the entire year. (although more was and is certainly welcome!) The rest of your hours you were to make up on your own. I know many of you have come up with great projects your working on. Service with your church, community groups, etc.. (if you were involved with cleaning the stadium or helping with the Salmon Run don't forget to count those hours) If you have any questions whether something counts or not for service please call me at (208)286-9972 or email me at fingersnielsen@gmail.com. Thanks and good luck! Becca Nielsen"