Community Service Program

"I have given you an example

so that you may copy what I have

done to you." ~John 13:15

"More than any other program of education sponsored by the Church, the Catholic school

has the opportunity

and obligation to be unique, contemporary, and oriented to Christian service...oriented to Christian service because it helps students acquire skills,
virtues, and habits of heart required for effective service

to others."
(To Teach as Jesus Did, USCCB, 1972, #106)

OBJECTIVE
The community service program at St. Mary School seeks to provide students in grades 6 to 8 the opportunity to serve the greater community through volunteer events and experiences. A WCEA/WASC standard states that the school must, “help students develop a service-oriented outreach to the Church and the civic community after the example of Jesus who said, ‘I have given you an example so that you may copy what I have done to you.’” (John 13:15)

In addition, St. Mary School’s School-wide Learning Expectations challenges each student to be “A Person of Faith, An Active Learner, and a Responsible Citizen.” A student who performs acts of service is one who meets and exceeds these expectations.

REQUIRED HOURS
Students are lovingly expected to complete twenty-five (25) hours of community service between grades 6 to 8 made up of the following:
:: a maximum of five (5) hours to their parish of registry (St. Joseph Family Center or the Lord’s Table, parish staff on moderator-approved projects, moderator-approved events sponsored by select ministries of the parish)
:: a minimum of ten (10) hours outside of the school and parish community (moderator-approved non-profit organizations such as The Knights of Columbus, City of Gilroy Community Service Department)
:: a maximum of fifteen (15) hours directly to the school on before-or-after-school service to support technology and yearbook (classroom help for filing, and other teacher-directed work during recess, lunch, or non-school days do not count; students are rewarded with Good Time Tickets or Finders’ Keepers and other incentives for these)

PRE-APPROVED ORGANIZATIONS
Of course, students and families should voluntarily participate in service opportunities for which they receive no credit toward school-mandated service. However, service that qualifies towards this expectation must have the follow requirements:
:: On the Approved List of Organizations that appears below; if not, obtain written approval from moderators PRIOR to service with unauthorized organization
:: Must benefit a non-profit agency representing service outlined in Catholic social teaching tenets NOT individuals (for example, babysitting, birthday parties, lawn care unless as part of community outreach to the elderly, the economically disadvantaged, or disenfranchised)
:: May not already be counted as part of service for another organization (Scouts, sports teams, etc.)
:: May not be used as part of SRO hours for St. Mary School (helping a parent with Walk-a-thon or Spaghetti Dinner)
:: Is not part of liturgical ministry
:: ALL recorded service opportunities must have the signature of the pre-approved service organization/organizer. If a student’s parent is in-charge, advanced notice must be given to the moderators so that a second signature can be obtained

When in doubt, always obtain pre-approval from moderators PRIOR to service!

RECORD KEEPING AND REPORTING
As the student earns his or her community service hours, these must be recorded on a Community Service Program (CSP) Form which is available for download in the school’s CSP webpage, complete with the required information (date, number of hours, and authorized signature). Once the student has completed the 25 hours, the form must be submitted to the moderators along with a written reflection (MLA format: word-processed, double-space) that addresses the following:

Describe one of your service learning opportunities. What surprised you about this experience? Did this experience lead to a transformation (change in perspective, or call to action) and if so, why?

Once approved and evaluated by the moderators, the student will be presented with a Service Block Award at the next awards assembly and will have the distinction of wearing a red cord over their graduation gown at the Baccalaureate Mass and Graduation Ceremony.

Information for upcoming events will appear in the Wednesday News or via classroom communication and links from the classroom webpage.

DUE DATES 2011-2012 (one week prior to the each Awards Assembly):
In order to qualify for Service Block Awards, required paperwork must be submitted

to moderators on or before these dates: Nov. 17, March 2, May 17 (for 8th graders), May 29.

APPROVED LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS/AGENCIES