SERVICE HOUR REQUIREMENTS

Middle Years Program (MYP - Grades 7 & 8)

Religion Service Hours Requirements

One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Matthew 26:35-39

Each trimester, all students in the MYP are required to perform 15 hours of service to the community to help others, especially the poor, marginalized, weak and downtrodden. The service hours should benefit human beings, especially those in our local community. Students should make a sacrifice of their time and/or talent to serve someone whom they would not normally consider serving, moving outside their smaller school community to the wider world. The hours may not involve payment, compensation, or awards of any kind, except the satisfaction of doing the right thing for someone else.

Possible Activities

Some common, year-long St. Luke based activities for the parish or school, such as altar serving and safety patrol, can count for 5 hours for each job per trimester of service. If students attend the Advisory service days each trimester, that service counts as 4 hours toward the total. These hours are limited to get students to also help in the local community rather than just at school.

Other students have volunteered to:

help younger students within their sports organizations
assist elderly neighbors with chores
clean up trash at beaches or parks
help out a teacher after school
help set up or clean up at parish events
tutor a younger child in an academic subject outside of school hours

If you are unsure if an activity is appropriate for service hours, please ask yourself the following questions:

Does it benefit another human being who needs help?
Am I giving part of myself to help someone else?
Is the service part of my existing responsibilities to family or community or is this a unique opportunity to help someone I normally would not consider?
Does it only benefit my school community or does it help the wider world?

Record and Reflect

Service hours should be recorded each trimester, including the activity, a tally of time spent, and a signature from an informed adult. After completion at the end of the trimester, a reflection will be completed on the meaning of the service, including how it applies to Catholic Social Teaching, Scripture, and personal faith.

Questions

For questions, please contact Jennifer Fargo.