Christian Service Program

In the process of educating students, Catholic schools seek to provide students with various opportunities to begin fulfilling their God-given mission in life.

Among these opportunities are:

• Achieving academic excellence to prepare for future opportunities
• Learn the religious truths of the Church through the example of Jesus Christ
• Live the example of Jesus Christ by performing service for the community and the Church

Program Overview

Students are required to perform at least 80 hours of volunteer service during their high school career.  The work is to be done outside of school hours, e.g. after school, weekends, or summers. Any project done during school time must be approved by the principal.

The Service Director will propose many types of service opportunities to the students. Students may also propose their own service projects. These must be approved by the service director. Records will be kept of the number of hours and the kinds of service that each student has performed. These hours will be published on a quarterly basis.

Acceptance and approval of service hours performed will be determined by the Service Director. Hours must be presented to the Service Director within three weeks of when the service was performed. Hours completed during the summer should be presented within three weeks after the new school year begins.

Benefits of The Christian Service Program

The students who take part in the Christian Service program

• will discover and experience the satisfaction of helping others
• will learn how to cope with the frustrations they may meet in the process
• will discover the needs of the people around them
• will become aware of their own worth and talents
• will have their service career shown on their permanent record card which is used for college admission purposes, scholarships, and future employers
• will be able to draw upon their experiences for future endeavors

Types of Service

SAHS students may fulfill their service requirements by working through their parish, school, with existing agencies, or in projects which they initiate. Some examples of possible service projects are:

• working with the physically and mentally handicapped
• helping senior citizens
• participating in the St. Anthony Memorial Hospital Volunteer Program
• tutoring
• visiting shut-ins
• assisting teachers
• collecting and distributing clothes, toys, and food for the poor
• assisting at parish picnics or special events

Special Note: Generally, household chores (lawn mowing, snow shoveling, leaf raking, etc..) or errands (baby sitting siblings, tutoring siblings, etc..) done for immediate family members (mom, dad, brother, sister, etc..) will not be counted for Service hour credit.