Service Learning
Ongoing Opportunities
American High School
Service Learning
The Board of Education affirms the importance of a forty (40) hour service-learning requirement as a vital part of the instructional program and supports service-learning as an instructional strategy because it enables students to be confident, effective thinkers and problem-solvers as well as ethical participants in society. Per Board Policies 6142.4 and 6146, all Fremont Unified School District students must earn forty (40) hours of service between their 9th grade and 12th grade years in order to graduate from high school.
Fremont Unified has standardized the following components for service learning across the district’s high schools. Specific inquiries should be directed to individual school’s service coordinators and the school’s websites.
● Forms have been standardized across the district and are accepted at all campuses.
● Hours will be recorded until a student has earned 40 hours. Effective 2016-17 school year
● Hours must adhere to district service learning requirements in order to be recorded.
● The District’s service learning coordinators will establish a list of pre-approved organizations that students can approach for service learning opportunities on an annual basis. Additional opportunities may be posted throughout the year. All other organizations must be pre-approved by the site service learning coordinator before a student begins the service.
● All service learning hours must be earned outside of the school day.
● Every hour earned must be accompanied by the district-approved form and must adhere to the most current guidelines.
● Hours cannot be earned until a student has attended the first day of freshman year.
● All forty (40) service hours must be completed by May 15 of a student’s graduation year in order to give staff enough time to verify and record. Principals may extend the deadline beyond May 15 on a case by case basis.
○ Exceptions only apply to students who have not been part of the Fremont Unified School District for all four (4) of their high school years. These students must have ten (10) hours for each high school year in the district.
○ Transfer students must bring their transcript with prior service learning hours to the school’s service coordinator in order for those hours to be entered into the student records.
● Hours must be turned in during the same academic year in which they were earned. Hours earned over the summer (9th-11th grade only) must be turned in by the end of the first quarter of the next academic year.
● Students are required to keep a copy of all forms and hours submitted over their four (4) years and are responsible to prove all hours in question.
● After a student has completed 40 hours of service, they are encouraged to continue volunteer work; however, additional hours will not be documented by the school’s service learning coordinator.
● An adult supervisor in attendance must sign off on all forms.
● Only non-profit organizations, registered as 501(c) qualify as service providers.
● Any student-created non-profit must have a state issued non-profit number and be able to show the programming through supported documentation. An adult supervisor that works for the non-profit must sign off on hours issued by the organization.
What Counts?
What Doesn’t Count?
Californians for All
Californians for All is organized through the Governor’s Office. If you choose to sign up, you may be matched with a local non-profit organization seeking help.
As always, exercise caution and common sense before committing to any organization. Make sure organization meets the FUSD requirements.
Shinn Park
Interested students can help in the Heirloom Garden or train to be student docents.
Other opportunities arise regularly.
Click here for more information.
Tri-City Volunteers Inc.
Food Bank and Thrift Store
Tri-City Volunteers is always looking for enthusiastic students to help in various capacities.
Visit www.tcvfoodbank.org for more information. This link also has a volunteer application.
Students must be 14 to volunteer here. Students ages 14-16 must also have an adult volunteer with them each shift.
Viola Blythe
Viola Blythe has a consistent need for volunteers to process requests, sorting clothes and food, stocking shelves, planning holiday activities, and coordinating food collections.
Click here for more information and to apply.
Santa Cruz County
Outdoor Science Camp
Santa Cruz County Outdoor Science Camp is looking for counselors.
If interested, here is the link for potential cabin leaders.
Because this opportunity requires you to miss school, you will need the permission of all your teachers to attend.
Newark Library
Newark Library is seeking volunteers multiple programs, including Reading Buddies, Homework Express, and Shelving.
Click here for information regarding Learning Buddies, a one-on-one tutoring opportunity.
Alameda County Public Libraries
Alameda County Libraries have plenty of volunteer opportunities at several of their branches.
Click here to see the various opportunities.
Alameda County Library Foundation
Alameda County Library Foundation has both on-going and special event volunteer opportunities.
Click here for more information.
City of Fremont
This link takes you to the City of Fremont’s Volunteer website. It includes several locations, including senior centers, the animal shelter, and local parks.
All opportunities provided by the City of Fremont qualify for service learning credit.
East Bay Regional Parks
Tri-City Youth Court
The Tri-Cities Youth Court is a restorative justice diversion program for first-time middle or high school teens who have been arrested for
misdemeanor or lesser crimes.
Click here for available positions.
St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store
St. Vincent de Paul is looking for volunteers for its thrift store on Decoto Drive.
Contact the organization at (510) 877-9252 or at volunteer@svdp-alameda.org
Here is the volunteer webpage, including the waiver needed for volunteering.
Volunteer Match
Volunteer Match is an organization designed to help connect volunteers to organizations. This directs you to the website and opportunities near you.
Before volunteering, make sure the organization meets the requirements for FUSD service learning.
Camp Campbell
YMCA's science camp, Camp Campbell is looking for students who are responsible, enthusiastic and enjoy working with children. You must begin the application process online. All forms, including teacher approval, must be completed prior to the student leaving for camp. Check out their website here.
Tri-City Free Breakfast Program
The Tri-City Free Breakfast Program, serving a nutritious breakfast to the needy and homeless population in the Irvington District of Fremont, seeks volunteers to work any time from 5:30-9:30 a.m. on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday mornings (year-round). Please call Rich at (510) 683-8823 for more information.
Math Science Nucleus
Math Science Nucleus has a variety of volunteering opportunities, ranging from one-day events to on-going positions.
Click here for more information.
League of Volunteers (LOV)
LOV has tons of great opportunities for students to earn their hours.
Click here for more information.
NOTE: Food Pantry Donations do not count toward service hours!
Tri-City Ecology Center
From their website: The natural environment of Fremont, Union City and Newark — like the rest of the Bay Area — is under intense developmental pressure. Rapid growth imperils habitats, from the hills to the Bay itself.
Founded in 1971, the Tri-City Ecology Center (TCEC) is your local leader in advocating sound environmental policies that preserve and maintain unique natural resources, clean air, clean water, and a high quality of life.
To go to their volunteer page, click here.