May I start working ahead on my hours during the summer?
Please DO! You very likely have more free time during summer vacation than you will be able to squeeze in during the school year. Anything you can do now will help alleviate the deadline pressure you might otherwise feel during the school year! Work above and beyond your minimum requirement will "roll over" toward the next school year's requirement.
What "counts" for Christian Community Service hours?
Simply put, you will receive credit for anything you do to addess a need you see in your community. Community can be defined in many ways -- your neighborhood, church, professional area of interest (medicine, education, law), personal identity (i.e. animal lover, environmentalist, etc.) Who needs help in this community? How can you help them?
In essence, anything you do to help others (without receiving payment in return) could count as community service, if you can explain how this work is truly serving others in a way that improves your community.
However, there are two exceptions to this rule: although your family is one type of community, you would not recieve service hours for helping out your own family. Cleaning your room, babysitting a sibling or cousin, or reading with a grandparent are all wonderful acts of service, but they are also expectations for being an active part of your family. In other words, you did not have to go above and beyond to perform this service; rather, you were just doing your part to be a good daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, etc. Think bigger, who else can you help?
In the same way, students will not receive credit for any service performed for other Immaculate Heart High School students. Our students generously give their time to be an active part of the school community. They serve on student government; take part in school sports, clubs, and productions; serve as hostesses at evening and weekend events; help decorate and clean up the campus for special celebrations, and other activities. We are grateful for all the work our students do to make our school even better, but, much like keeping your room clean or babysitting, these acts of school service are part of what make you an attentive, kind, generous member of our IH Family. Go further out into the community and see who else needs this kind of help!
Are there any projects I may do for credit on campus, then?
If you tutor other students on campus, as set up officially through CSF or CJSF, you may receive credit for this work. Also, while we are really one united campus with Immaculate Heart Middle School, IHMS alums may go back and complete service with their teachers (just like students from our many K-8 feeder schools are allowed to return to their alma maters to do service there!)
Do I have to complete service hours each year?
Yes and No. As a freshman, you must complete a minimum of 10 service hours. 15 additional hours are required for each year after that.
However, should you exceed the requirement for a given year, your "extra" hours WILL be counted toward the next year's requirement. Therefore, it is possible to "work ahead" and complete the requirements for future years in advance.
By the end of the freshman year, all students must have logged a minimum of 10 hours. At the end of the sophomore year, that total should be up to 25 hours. Students finishing the junior year should have logged a total of 40 hours. And in order to graduate, all seniors must have logged a minimum total of 55 hours.
Accordingly, a student who completes 10 hours during her freshman year and 45 hours during her sophomore year for a total of 55 hours by the end of the sophomore year would not be required to log any additional hours during her junior or senior years, as her graduation requirement for service hours would have been satisfied ahead of schedule.
How do I find a place to volunteer?
You should first start with your family, especially if you cannot yet drive yourself around town. Ask your parents about the agencies where they may have volunteered their time and talents in the past.
Next, look into the programs that your place of worship already has established. Perhaps there is a partnership with a local soup kitchen or convalescent home.
Many students choose to visit local elementary or middle schools and provide educational assistance to younger students.
The Upcoming Events page of this website is regularly updated with suggested service projects, along with contact information and special requirements for serving at the particular site, if there are any.
What if I volunteer before getting my project pre-approved, can this still count?
It's possible! Though this is not the recommended order of events, your hours may be counted if the project is eventually approved by the Director of Community Service. To find out if your hours will count, complete a service proposal form (carefully detailing all activities in which you participated while volunteering) and submit it to Ms. Buckowski along with the service evaluation from your supervisor. Check your campus e-mail account to ensure their were no problems with your service proposal.
What if I want to begin a service project immediately, but I never had time to turn in a formal service proposal? May I still serve?
It's best to complete a proposal first, and then begin service. But sometimes, students become aware of great projects at the last minute. For example, maybe you've heard about a wonderful opportunity for service happening over the weekend, and it's already Friday afternoon! Whenever possible, please come see Ms. Buckowski before you leave school, or send her an email to let her know about the activity, event, project, etc. You can go ahead with your project based on her verbal consent -- but make sure you still complete the service proposal and turn it in with your evaluation. You need your parent's/guardian's signature on the proposal AND your supervisor's signature on the evaluation to receive credit for your work!
Do I get a grade for Community Service?
Yes! On your report card at the end of each school year, you will receive a mark of P for pass or F for failure in the area of Christian Community Service. To ensure that you will earn a P each year, you must file the necessary paperwork to log your minimum total number of service hours for that year. Again, the required totals are:
end of freshman year = 10 hours
end of sophomore year (10 + 15) = 25 hours
end of junior year (25 + 15) = 40 hours
end of senior year (40 + 15) = 55 hours
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