Service hours are a representation and expression of the student’s Christian identity and formation. Our service in the community represents our life in Christ, who came to serve and not be served (MK 10:45). ALL 7th-12th grade students must complete the required, volunteer service hours, which are to be documented, approved and submitted as a hard copy of the Service Hour Form to the Religion Administrator on or before the deadline. Service hour opportunities will be posted on ParentSquare and announced at school throughout the school year. Service hour requirements are scheduled from the 1st day of April during the previous school year through the last school day of March the present school year. Parents are not allowed to sign service hours of their own children. Also, service hours completed at places, which are family-owned/operated will not be accepted. With the exception of detention, some service hours may be completed for a faculty member at school during instructional hours only if he/she has received prior approval from the Religion Administrator.
CONSEQUENCES In the event the service hours submitted at the end of the school year are not acceptable, the student will be required to fulfill the service hour(s) with possible additional hours. If service hours are not completed by the specified deadline, this will result in the student being assigned 7:00 AM detention each morning until the service hours are completed.
7TH AND 8TH GRADE STUDENTS’ SERVICE HOUR PROGRAM
Students in grades 7 and 8 are required to earn a total of 10 service hours – 3 hours for Civic, 3 hours for Church, 3 hours for School and 1 hour for Spiritual. These service hours need to be completed and submitted by the last school day of March to be promoted to the next grade level.
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS’ SERVICE HOURS Service hours are a requirement of every high school religion course. Thus, if a student does not complete his/her service hours, he/she will not have successfully completed the requirements for the course. Failure to complete the service hour requirements by the last instructional day of the current school year will result in failure of his/her religion course and the above Religious Studies Requirements penalty will apply to the student that fails his/her religion course.
Each 9th -12th grade student is required to complete 15 service hours for the school year with a spirit of excellence. 4 hours is required in the areas of Civic, Church and School and 3 hours in Spiritual.
The following are examples/samples of acceptable service hour requirements for 9th-12th grade students: CIVIC/COMMUNITY (3 Elementary and 4 High School) Acceptable hours can be obtained but not limited to the following: Nursing Homes Chamber of Commerce Evangeline Art Council Hospitals ChristianCare and Share Funeral Homes Council on Aging Local Festival Activities ARC Funeral Homes Vacation Bible School ACTS Retreat
CHURCH (3 Elementary and 4 High School) Acceptable hours can be obtained but not limited to the following: Altar Serving Decorating for Religious Events Vacation Bible School Lectoring/Offertory Cleaning Participation in Choir Grounds Care Religious Events
SCHOOL (3 Elementary and 4 High School) Acceptable hours can be obtained but not limited to the following: Trojan Work DayParticipation in Rosaries & Way of the Cross Assist teachers with classroom needs Ground care needs Assisting with preparations for school-sponsored Religious Events
SPIRITUAL (1 Elementary and 3 High School) Church Holy Hour, Adoration Chapel and Lenten Mission at any church with an Adult
*Each year, 11th graders are required to participate in the Christmas under the Oaks while the 12 graders are required to participate in the presentation of the Passion.
*NOTE: If a student is baptized Catholic he/she must complete his/her church service hours at a participating Catholic church: Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Our Lady Queen of All Saints, St. Joseph Catholic Church and Sacred Heart Catholic Church inBelaire Cove. Documentation is required.
All service hours and establishments other than those mentioned are subject to approval at the discretion of the Religion Administrator beforehand. The sponsor of the group or organization is responsible for monitoring the hours of the specific event.