GJHS Student Handbook - Grand Junction High School

B. SERVICE LEARNING
At GJHS, we believe that every student should dedicate some quality time to serving other students or members
of the Grand Junction community. Therefore, in addition to completing the aforementioned requirements, all
students attending GJHS must also complete a Service Learning (SL) requirement.
The focus of SL is to recognize and promote the value of serving other students or our community. It also
enables students to learn through experiences in and outside of the classroom. The components to our SL
requirement are:
1. Students must complete a minimum of thirty (30) hours of service learning instruction/ activities. The
hours may be completed during the school year or during the summer.
2. Students are required to complete eight (8) hours per year through required course work during their
freshman, junior, and senior years and the reflection paper during their senior year. This year, three of the
four major content areas will incorporate hour (8) hours of service learning into their year specific courses
as follows: freshman year – Science – GeoPhysical Science; junior year – Social Studies – U.S History;
and senior year – English – each of the 12 th grade literature electives. This progression allows students to
pick up 8 hours of service learning credit in the classroom in three of their four years in high school. These
hours of service learning are normally assignments or projects that support the existing curriculum and align
with the core national standards.
3. Students who exceed the thirty (30) hours of SL and complete one hundred (100) hours plus the additional
number of hours in their graduating class, i.e., a senior in the Class of 2013 completes 113 hours or more of
SL, will be included in the Millennium Club and recognized during their commencement ceremony. If this
is your goal, let your counselor know by March of your senior year.
4. Students will complete a final “reflection” project which demonstrates what they gained from their service
learning experience. This project could take the form of a written paper, speech, poem, artwork, or any
other acceptable means of expressing thoughts.
5. Projects outside the classroom must be approved in advance by the student’s advisor/administrator.
6. Students will submit a verification form signed by the student and the volunteer supervisor to document
completion of their hourly requirement. Periodically we will check with volunteer supervisors to verify the
accuracy of information by students for hourly credit.
7. The completion deadline for the 30 hours of service learning and the “reflections” project is not later than
the last day of make-up exams for seniors.
III. EARNING CREDITS AT GJHS
A. GENERAL
Students in the high school can earn credits toward graduation beginning in grade nine (9), with the exception
of students who take Math 1, GeoPhyscial Science, or a World Language in 8 th grade. Those students who
successfully complete one or more of those courses in the 8 th grade will be awarded a credit for each of the
courses they successfully completed. Upon entering the high school, credits are earned through the successful
completion of course requirements offered during the regular school year, or through credits transferred from
another school.
Credits are measured in Carnegie Units. All courses are established on a semester basis so that .5 unit of credit
may be earned for satisfactory completion of each course each semester. Students failing a specific required
course must make up the requirement. Additional or supplemental credits may be earned by making
arrangements in advance through your counselor. In addition to credits earned in the regular classroom, students
may earn credits through any of the following offerings:
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