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Academic Service Learning

What is Academic Service Learning?

Academic Service Learning (ASL) is a dynamic and innovative educational approach that seamlessly integrates community service with academic coursework. This  model goes beyond traditional classroom learning by fostering active engagement, critical reflection, and meaningful interaction with real-world issues. In academic service learning, students don't simply acquire knowledge ; they apply their academic skills to address pressing societal challenges while gaining a deeper understanding of their subjects and cultivating a sense of social responsibility. This mutually beneficial relationship between the schools and the community empowers students to become active agents of positive change, bridging the gap between theory and practice to create a more interconnected society.

Academic Service Learning Logo

Benefits of Academic Service Learning

  • Improved Student Engagement
  • Meaningful Community Involvement
  • Increased empathy, understanding, self-confidence and concern for others

Contact:

Christine Rogers, Academic Service Learning Coordinator
cmrogers@clarkston.k12.mi.us
P: 248.623.4064

Our Mission

Academic Service Learning in Clarkston intentionally connects learning with service, empowering students to care and lead. Students deepen their learning, use their voices, and engage as community problem-solvers to make a difference.

October 2025

ASL Across the District

The image depicts the exterior of Andersonville Elementary, with a large bald eagle perched next to the school's name on a sign in the foreground.
The image shows a person standing in a doorway, with a sign behind them that describes a %22Missy's Hugs, Smiles, and Wags Project%22 that involves creating items to benefit dogs in the community.
The image shows a poster for a %22Counting Wishes%22 project by the Make-A-Wish Foundation, with two young students posing in front of it.
The image shows a colorful and vibrant mural depicting a young person standing in front of a house-like structure, surrounded by various animals and nature-inspired elements. The background features a starry sky and a cityscape, suggesting the project's focus on the relationship between animals and people.
The image shows a young girl standing in front of a display board that has information about a 3rd grade writing curriculum project called %22Welcome to the Nest%22.
The image shows a group of coloring books titled %22Coloring the Alphabet%22 along with a description of the project undertaken by first-grade students at Andersonville Kindergarten.
The image depicts a group of children sitting in front of a sign that reads %22Independence Elementary%22, with a large, vibrant horse in the background.
The image shows a pizza with a colorful, explosive design in the foreground, and a text description about a %22We Knead Pizza%22 project undertaken by first-grade students in the background.
The image shows a poster advertising a community service project called %22S.O.C.K.S.%22 that provides academic and civic engagement opportunities for students, along with a photograph of two young students standing in front of a display of colorful socks.
The image shows a handwritten note with a drawing, along with a flyer for a %22Spanish Books%22 project by 4th grade students, featuring an open book and colored pencils in the background.
The image shows three young girls standing in front of a bulletin board displaying information about a %22Coloring the Alphabet%22 activity.
The image shows a flyer for a %22Save a 'Liv'%22 project, which appears to be an academic service learning project related to the American Red Cross. The flyer is accompanied by an image of what looks like a stuffed animal or toy.
The image depicts the sign for Springfield Plains Elementary School, with a group of children sitting in front of it and a dolphin mascot beside them.
The image shows a group of first-grade students leading the way to the Walk and Roll event, with a background of trees and a grassy field.
The image shows a poster titled %22Be a Hero%22 that promotes a partnership between the American Red Cross and a group of 2nd and 5th grade students. The poster includes a photograph of the students.
The image shows a group of students and staff members gathered together, with a sign that reads %22CELEBRATE SPC (SCHOOL-WIDE)%22 displayed prominently in the foreground.
The image shows a group of students dressed as elves, standing in front of a school building with a sign that reads %22Elementary Elves%22 and provides details about their community service project.
The image shows a flyer for a program called %22Softies for Seniors%22 where kindergarten students from Addington Place of Charlston are partnering with senior residents to engage in various activities. The background of the image shows two people, likely the kindergarten students, interacting with the senior residents.
The image shows a flyer for a %22Birthday Boxes%22 project, with a group photo of students involved in the project. The background appears to be a classroom or school setting.
The image appears to be a flyer or poster advertising a %22Mother's Day Tea%22 event, which is intended to honor and support mothers in the community. The background shows a classroom or school setting, with various student artwork and decorations displayed on the walls. In the foreground, there is a list of items that are needed as donations for the event, such as toiletries, food, and feminine hygiene products.
The image presents a visual representation of %22Secondary Classroom Projects%22 with various categories such as %22Individual Teachers or Grade Level Teams,%22 %22Directly Connected to the Classroom Curriculum,%22 %22Learning and Growth is Measured,%22 and %22Direct Service, Indirect Service, or Advocacy.%22 The background features a warm, earthy color palette and a heart-shaped symbol.
The image depicts the sign for Clarkston High School with a group of four diverse students standing in the foreground.
The image shows a group of students standing in front of a sign describing a %22Global Issues Project%22 related to water issues, with a background of trees and a building.
The image shows a book titled %22Un Libro Para Ninos (Spanish) / Un Livre Pour Les Enfants (French)%22 displayed in a classroom setting, with various educational materials and decorations visible in the background.
The image depicts a sign for %22Bailey Lake Elementary%22 with a group of children sitting in front of it, and a large dog sitting next to them.
The image shows a poster for a school-wide project called %22H.A.T.S.%22 (Helping Adults Through Sickness), which partners with a charity called Chemo Bags to provide cancer patients with essential items. The background of the image depicts several students working together on the project.
The image depicts the logo for North Sashabaw Elementary, featuring a fierce-looking tiger mascot next to a sign with children gathered around a laptop.
The image shows a poster promoting the %22Adopt Don't Shop%22 message, with a group of students interacting with dogs in the background.
The image shows a torn paper with text describing the %22Wildcat Wishes%22 initiative supporting the Children's Hospital of Michigan, along with a white paper bag in the foreground.
The image depicts a group of four people standing in front of a sign that reads %22SASHABAW MIDDLE%22.
The image shows a group of students standing in front of a school building, along with a poster that describes a project they worked on to construct a dog house.
The image shows a poster titled %22A FRESH WATER PERSPECTIVE%22 with two smiling young women in the foreground.
The image shows a cardboard sign with the text %22GET OUT THE VOTE%22 and information about a project where students learned about voter apathy and encouraged the public to vote. The background includes handwritten messages and drawings on the cardboard.
The image shows a NASA-sponsored science project called %22Tomatosphere%22 where 7th-grade students participated in a nation-wide activity to grow tomato seeds that had been exposed to the space environment.
The image shows a group of 5th grade students wearing matching shirts and holding survival kits, as well as a group of 7th grade students at Sashawan Middle School mentoring younger students from the elementary school.
The image shows a sign about an endangered species rescue project for Mason bees, with a group of students standing in the background.
The image shows two young students, a boy and a girl, working together on a computer in what appears to be a classroom or learning environment. In the background, there is a poster advertising %22Tech Tutors%22 and providing information about a partnership between Independence Township Senior Center and Stanhope Middle School.
The image depicts a sign that reads %22RENAISSANCE HIGH%22 with four people standing in the background, suggesting a school or educational setting.
The image shows a book titled %22Clarkston Renaissance A-Z Book%22 along with a colorful painting or artwork in the background.
The image shows a poster titled %22Saving the Salmon%22 with a group of students in the background, and a large salmon illustration in the foreground.
The image depicts a green dragon-like creature next to a sign for %22Clarkston Elementary%22, with children sitting in front of the sign.
The image shows two smiling individuals, likely students, wearing colorful and playful outfits, standing in front of a sign that reads %22SCHOOL SAFETY ZONES (school-wide)%22.
The image shows a poster for %22Pitness Protection%22 created by fourth-grade students at Clarkson Elementary, along with a photograph of three young students posing in front of the poster.
The image shows a poster for a project called %22Project H.O.P.E.%22 which aims to help others by providing essentials, and a photograph of a group of students participating in the project.
The image shows a group of students and teachers in a classroom setting, with a poster promoting %22Green Zone Grab Bags%22 as part of a project at Clarkston Elementary School.
The image shows a collection of various items, including books, containers, and other objects, arranged on a shelf or surface. The background appears to be a reddish-brown wall or surface.
The image depicts the front entrance of a school called %22Ping Knob Elementary%22, with a large tiger standing next to the sign.
The image shows a group of children engaged in various activities to support their neighbors, as indicated by the text %22Kids Helping Kids Supporting Neighbor for Neighbor (School-wide)%22.
The image shows a sign for a %22Fresh Start: Hatchery%22 program, which appears to be a partnership between Leanna Mazich and the Clarkston Family Farm. The background of the image shows a person, likely a student, interacting with some animals in what appears to be an educational or hands-on learning environment.
The image shows a community garden with several people working in the garden, and a sign that provides information about the %22Fresh Start: Community Garden%22 program.
The image shows a group of young students sitting on the floor, surrounded by various items labeled as %22Calming Kits%22 that appear to be part of a social-emotional learning curriculum.
The image shows a sign for %22Superheroes%22 with a group of diverse students in the background, indicating a special education program called SCAMP that aims to empower students with various disabilities.
The image depicts the sign for Clarkston Junior High, with a group of four students standing in the foreground.
The image shows two young women standing in front of a sign that discusses their community history project, with a flag of the United States in the background.
The image shows a display of books created by students, with a title %22Waiting Room Busy Books%22 and information about the project, which involved students writing, illustrating, editing, and publishing their own informational books to donate to a local Urgent Care facility.
The image shows a poster titled %22Restoration of Our Earth%22 with a globe image, and a person standing in the background.
The image shows several wooden stools or chairs arranged in a row, with a purple square overlaying the text %227 Habits Stools%22 and information about a partner CCS Elementary Young 5s classroom.
An old, worn-out suitcase sits in the foreground, accompanied by a text description of a Civil War traveling trunk project undertaken by 8th grade students.
The image shows a group of students in a classroom setting, with a presentation board titled %22Between the Wars%22 displayed in the foreground. The background appears to be a school environment, with a bus visible outside the classroom.
The image depicts a person, likely a woman, sitting on the floor surrounded by various icons and symbols representing virtual or online activities, with a sign in the background reading %22CLARKSTON VIRTUAL%22.
The image shows a poster titled %22GLOBAL TRADE WARMS MEALS ON WHEELS%22 with a photograph of a person in the background, likely a student, sitting at a desk.