A service hour program is a lot more than just completing hours and checking it off a to-do list! In order to get the most out of the program and accomplish the goals above, parents need to step back and let the students take the lead. Parents should guide and coach alongside, help them to brainstorm what they are passionate about and would like to do. The more authentic it is the more the students will get out of it.
Another very important piece is the dialogue about what service is. Service is not doing something nice for a sibling or family member, or cleaning up the kitchen. These are things that we should do in order to be part of a family or community. Service is about going above and beyond (and often out of our comfort zone). Service should be doing something extra or making a sacrifice for others.
FAQs
How many service hours does my child need to do? That depends on the grade.
PreK, K, 1st, 2nd Grade – 1 hour per month – 10 hours total
3rd, 4th, 5th Grade – 2 hours per month – 20 hours total
6th, 7th, 8th Grade – 3 hours per month – 30 hours total
Do students get service hours for going to mass? Only once a month at our first Sunday school mass and only if they wear their uniform to mass to represent the school.
How do we keep track? Every classroom has a sticker chart hung up to keep track of all the hours. When students complete their hours the supervising adult signs off on the ticket. The ticket is then brought to the teacher and the chart is then updated.
Where can I get the service hour tickets to fill out? Have your child request them from his/her teacher or you can download them off the website.
Which adult signs off on the service hour ticket? The adult directly in charge of the activity. If it is something done with the parent, the parent signs off. If it is something done at school, the staff member in charge will sign off. For example: Mrs. Jorgensen will sign off on all anti-bullying committee tickets or Mr. H will sign off on all student council tickets. The school staff will be dialoguing with the students about how many hours will be given for various activities. If it is service to the parish, the supervising adult, like Fr. Tom, Fr. Eddie, or Sr. Mary Ahn should sign.
Who makes the final decision on whether it is service or not? The school staff has the ultimate authority to dialogue with a student and let them know if their service ticket is not a valid service hour.
What if I have no idea what to do for service hours? To start, always remember these are not your service hours they are your child’s. Start with your child and see what they would like to do. Most of our students have been brainstorming with their teachers. Start small… Just walking around your neighborhood or a neighborhood park picking up trash is a great place to start. Help your child find what interests them and do some research alongside them online. Ask other parents too and help organize some groups so that the students can serve together!
When is everything due? PreK-2nd grade students should average about 3 or 4 per trimester. 3rd -5th grade students should average about 7 hours a trimester. Middle school students should average 10 hours per trimester. All hours should be complete by June 1st.