Community Service Program
2011-2012
Program Overview
Community service is an important part of the academic program at the Schools of the Sacred Heart. The community service program is one way in which the school implements Goal Three of Sacred Heart education, to “educate to a social awareness which impels to action.”
The community service program also invites students to:
- understand the plight of those who suffer and to work to end their suffering
- break down barriers and stereotypes that prevent us from recognizing the value and dignity of each person
- examine the root causes of situations of injustice
- act as responsible socially engaged citizens
- establish lifelong habits of serving others
- learn how to balance community service with school, athletics, family, and social commitments.
Types of Service
Community service may take the form of direct service, indirect service, and advocacy. Students at the Academy of the Sacred Heart are encouraged to participate in a wide variety of service activities in order to learn more about the needs of their community and the diverse ways that those needs may be addressed. At the beginning of each academic year, the community service director will meet with students to discuss the various forms of service that meet school requirements. If a student wants to participate in a service event not listed here, she should check with the service director before she engages in the proposed service activity to be sure that her work qualifies as community service hours.
1. Direct Service
Direct service involves working ‘face to face’ with needy individuals or communities to respond to their needs. This includes direct interaction with the poor, the elderly, and the marginalized. By marginalized we mean people who are prevented from participating fully in the community due to physical, mental, financial, or other limiting disabilities. Catholic social teaching promotes the full participation of all people in our society, and direct service addresses the needs of those who are prevented from doing so. As Catholic social teaching promotes environmental stewardship, direct service may also include working with abandoned animals and threatened environments.
Examples of direct service might include tutoring disadvantaged children, visiting and serving the elderly, serving meals in a homeless shelter, participating in Saturday Fun Days at the Thensted Center, working with disabled children at a summer camp, helping Hurricane Katrina victims gut their homes, working with animals at an animal shelter, and participating in environmental clean-up projects. Please do not assume something is direct service without checking with Ms. Purpera first.
2. Indirect Service
Service that works to strengthen the community through “behind the scenes” activities qualifies as indirect service. This includes work done for non-profit organizations, such as schools, churches, and other non-profit programs that benefit the community. Through indirect service students may realize how seemingly mundane tasks contribute to the larger community.
Examples of indirect service might include raising money for causes such as the Breast Cancer Walk; doing clerical work at an animal shelter or a non-profit agency that serves the needy, such as the United Way; volunteering at school sporting events, and church-related events that serve the larger community.
3. Advocacy
Advocacy involves raising awareness about social issues, challenging people to get involved, and engaging in social action. Through advocacy, students may respond to injustices by identifying the root causes of social problems and educating others about the problems.
Examples of advocacy might include hosting a school or community event with a speaker, film, or other actions that address social issues. Starting a campaign against drunk driving or speaking out about human rights violations through petitioning, lobbying, writing newsletters, and letters to the editors of newspapers are also forms of advocacy.
Program Requirements
Freshman
Twelve hours of service must be performed in the freshman year. A minimum of seven of these hours must be direct service. Five hours may be spent in service activities that involve advocacy and indirect service. Students will be asked to reflect on their experiences.
Sophomore
Twelve hours of service must be performed in the sophomore year. A minimum of seven of these hours must be direct service. Five hours may be spent in service activities that involve advocacy and indirect service. Students will be asked to reflect on their experiences.
Junior
Eighteen hours of service must be performed in the junior year. A minimum of nine of these hours must be direct service. Nine hours may be in the form of advocacy and/or indirect service. Many of these hours will be acquired through Social Justice class work in Religion III.
NOTE: A junior who is not in Religion III may opt to do 15 hours their Junior year, and 18 hours their Senior year, whenever they have the class.
Senior
Seniors participate in fifteen hours of community service. A minimum of ten of those hours must be performed in direct service to others. Five hours may be in the form of advocacy and/or indirect service. Students may also be asked to participate in a school-related class service project as well. Seniors will reflect on their service experiences.
Class Projects: At the beginning of the school year, class officers will meet with the Community Service Director to determine an appropriate class service trip/project. Students who participate in the class service day will be able to count those hours towards the required hours.
General Information
For the 2011-2012 year, service begins June 5th, 2011 and ends May 18th, 2012. Students must complete and submit community service records for service performed. A form is enclosed in this packet.
Students are required to complete the requisite number of hours for each academic year during that year. Service hours are recorded on student transcripts and are marked “Complete” or “Incomplete”: for each year.
Reflection exercises allow students to report on their service experiences without judgment. It invites them to discuss their ideas and feelings, make connections to their own lives, and build community. Students will have the opportunity to reflect on their service experiences through a blog/website. Those participating in Group Projects organized by the school must choose a representative to report on the experience on the blog. Students in the Social Justice class will also have a special requirement for posting on service projects and justice issues.
Community Service Records
Students are responsible for completing service forms and having them signed by service supervisors. Ideally, students will turn in completed forms within two weeks of the time the service was performed, with exceptions for summer service projects. Community service forms are official school records and should be completed with care and accuracy. Parent signatures are generally not accepted.
A separate record must be turned in for each service agency. Please note the following information to be completed on each form:
- Student’s name and agency name where the service was performed
- Kind of service performed: direct, indirect, or advocacy
- The amount of time per day spent at the service site
- Total number of hours at the site
- Supervisor’s signature and contact information