Students celebrate “Make A Difference Day” on Saturday Oct. 22
Scottsdale Unified Service Learning students meet real community needs by volunteering

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. (October 19, 2005) – More than 100 Scottsdale Unified School District Service Learning students will spend this weekend helping the members of their community in various service activities for “Make A Difference Day.”

Saturday, October 22 is “Make A Difference Day,” a national day of helping others created by USA WEEKEND Magazine. This annual event takes place on the fourth Saturday of every October.

“Service Learning students will be our future leaders, involved in their communities because they have developed a deep connection through service,” says Mindy Helstab, district coordinator for Community Schools and Service Learning. “They will tackle ‘impossible’ projects because they have learned the power of one and how to collaborate with others to make a difference.”

This Saturday, Scottsdale Unified School District students will be volunteering at:

• Ventura Senior Center – “Honey Do List Day” 40 Service Learning students will assist seniors with various chores and deliver a dozen cookies to each from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m., 980 N. Granite Reef Road, Scottsdale.
   
• The HORSENSE equestrian youth riding program at MacDonald’s Ranch. Service Learning students will be assisting Tavan and Yavapai elementary school students from 9 a.m. to noon, 26540 N. Scottsdale Road, Scottsdale.

SUSD’s Service Learning Program combines service to the community with classroom studies in a way that improves student learning while strengthening the community.

Service Learning is celebrating its 12th anniversary. More than 450 students are involved with Service Learning programs at Arcadia, Chaparral, Coronado, Desert Mountain and Saguaro high schools this year. These students will contribute to the 1 million Service Learning hours already logged by SUSD Service Learning students.

For more information on the Service Learning program, please call Mindy Helstab, district coordinator for Community Schools and Service Learning, at 480-484-6186
More information about the Service Learning Program is available on the SUSD Web site at: http://www.susd.org/district/servicelearning/index.htm.

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