JCA Heyman Interages provides meaningful service opportunities for middle school and high school students attending Montgomery County Public Schools and Anne Arundel County Public Schools, as well as students who are homeschooled. The students are motivated to serve as seen in their wonderful reflective projects, including essays and graphic art. As a bonus, the students earn Student Service Learning hours.
JCA Heyman Interages Interview Project
Our young volunteers interview older community members to highlight their important and interesting work. Having a student interview an older adult really focuses on the intergenerational nature of our mission. Students receive interview training and then prepare for and conduct the interviews via Zoom. The interviews are posted within the JCA Heyman Interages newsletter, The Interages Connector.
JCA Heyman Interages Book Clubs
Our students and adult volunteers discuss books selected for educational purposes collaboratively by the staffs of JCA Heyman Interages and Montgomery County Public Libraries. The students reflect on the meaning, importance, and relevancy of the books and display their service-learning with essays and projects.
JCA Heyman Interages/JCA Kensington Club Art and Music Appreciation
Our students participate in a joint effort between JCA Heyman Interages and partner, The JCA Kensington Club, an adult day-care program that engages elderly adults with dementia. Middle school and high school-aged volunteers and older volunteers participate virtually in Art and Music Appreciation classes. In addition, the young participants must attend an introductory session to learn about aging, as well as career development in working with the elderly and the arts. Following these activities, students must produce posters, poetry, and other promotional materials that support the dignity of those with dementia. JCA Heyman Interages then shares the students’ work that raises awareness of and advocates for the dignity of those with dementia.
SHARE From A Distance
The JCA Heyman Interages Center's SHARE From A Distance program matches youth and older adults as pen-pals, sending letters (or emails) back and forth, to make connections and provide support during this challenging time. We also offer youth the opportunity to send cheerful messages to isolated older adults with no response required.
What is the MCPS Student Service Learning (SSL) Initiative?
Student Service Learning is a state graduation requirement for all students between grades 6-12. Students learn from volunteering and providing meaningful service to the community. Service-learning promotes civic knowledge, civic engagement, academic success, and character and social development in students.
MD state and MCPS requirements: All Maryland and MCPS students will earn 75 SSL hours for graduation. MCPS students may begin to work on this graduation requirement the summer after completing Grade five. They can continue to earn hours throughout high school. This MCPS video provides insight and descriptions of the SSL requirements.
