Service Learning Program

STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

The purpose of the St. Thomas Service Learning Program is to answer the Gospel call to serve one another, especially those who are most vulnerable in our society. By service others, every St. Thomas student will put into practice the Catholic social teaching they have learned through their study of Catholic Theology and to apply the biblical principles they have learned through their study of sacred Scripture.

OVERVIEW

In order to satisfy graduation requirements, every student at St. Thomas must complete a minimum number of hours of Christian service in the community.

A student who does not meet the minimum service requirement will not receive a St. Thomas diploma until he satisfies the obligations of the service requirement.

The Director of Campus Ministry is the final authority in all matters of the STH Service Learning Program.

While the service program is an obligation for each student, it is our hope that the experience will be a positive one for both the people who are benefiting from your service, as well as for yourself. The ideal is that you not view this as an obligation but as a way to serve God's people and learn from your experience. Thus it is best to approach this optimistically as a positive experience rather than just fulfilling an obligation or as some other assignment to get done. In the end, hopefully you will view service to others as something you would like to continue to do for the rest of your life. Christians are called to serve God's people without getting any credit or recognition for it, out of love, care, and concern for others.

NEW FOR 2009 - 2010

Seniors

There will be no grade penalty this year for late or missing service.

However, failure to turn in signed service documentation and the semester service reflection paper by the due date will result in potential disciplinary measures and by revoking of senior privileges.

Beginning in April, a senior who has not turned in his completed hours, documentation and reflection paper will not be granted senior privileges, including off-campus lunch. In addition, detentions will be assigned and mandatory Round-Up Friday service at a social justed related agency will also be assigned to students who ahve not completed their service requirement by March 24.

Juniors & Freshmen

Each quarter, fulfilling the service assignment by the posted deadline will result in a 100% for a student's service grade and will be factored into the student's Theology quarter grade. The service requirement is worth 2% of the overall quarter grade in Theology.

However, failure to turn in signed service documentation and the semester service reflection paper by the posted due date will result in a zero for his service assignment, which is 2% of his Theology grade. For example, a 91 overall average would automatically become an 89.

In addition, beginning April 22, a junior or freshman who has not turned in his cmopelted hours, documentation and reflection paper maybe subject to disciplinary measures such as detentions and / or mandatory service assigned by the Office of Campus Ministry.

All Students

Successful completion of the service assignment for all students means that you haev the appropriate signed and completed forms and a quality reflection paper turned in to the Office of Campus Ministry by the appropriate deadline. Disciplinary measures will continue (detentions, service assignments, etc) until the service requirements are successfully met.

REQUIREMENTS

Senior Year

All St. Thomas seniors will be required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of service prior to graduation.

Of the 40 hours of service, a minimum of 20 hours of service must be initiated by the student with an agency or agencies outside of the St. Thomas school community. The outside agency's mission must meet the basic criteria of "social justice" for those who are most vulnerable in our society, namely, the poor, individuals with special needs, people with medical needs, the elderly, or children.

A senior cannot apply service hours earned during his junior year towards his senior year requirement, unless given prior approval by the Director of Campus Ministry. He may apply service hours earned during the summer immediately prior to his senior year so long as he can provide the necessary documentation and appropriate signatures.

Junior Year

All St. Thomas juniors will be required to complete a minimum of 40 hours of service prior to the end of their junior year.

Of the 40 hours of service, a minimum of 20 hours of service must be initiated by the student with an agency or agencies outside of the St. Thomas school community. The outside agency's mission must meet the basic criteria of "social justice" for those who are most vulnerable in our society, namely, the poor, individuals with special needs, people with medical needs, the elderly, or children.

A junior cannot apply service hours earned during his freshman or sophomore years toward his junior year requirement, unless given prior approval by the Director of Campus Ministry. He may apply service hours earned during the summer prior to his junior year so long as he can provide the necessary documentation and appropriate signatures.

Freshman Year

All St. Thomas freshmen will be required to complete a minimum of 15 hours of service prior to the end of their freshman year or the summer prior to their freshman year.

Summer service hours will be accepted as long as he can provide the necessary documentation and appropriate signatures. Freshmen are free to do any type of service as long as payment is not received and it is service for someone other than a family member.

ACCOUNTABILITY AND DOCUMENTATION

A St. Thomas junior or senior will be required to have on file in the Office of Campus Ministry three signed and completed documents (i.e. service contract, service hours log, and service evaluation) or equivalent documentation upon completion of his service work. The three documents (or equivalent documentation) must be turned in for the student to receive credit for service hours.

Without necessary documentation, the Office of Campus Ministry cannot confirm service hours and therefore the consequence(s) of incomplete service hours still applies. In addition, juniors and seniors must turn in a final two to three page reflection paper upon completion of his service.

A student who completed his hours over this past summer does not have to turn in a service contract (gold sheet). However, if the hours are completed, the student must turn in a signed service log (yellow sheet) and a signed evaluation form (blue sheet) or an approved signed letter (on agency letterhead) documenting that you completed a stated number of hours in a satisfactory manner.

If a student is not turning in a service contract because he has already completed his service hours, documentation (signed service hours log) must be turned in prior to the first semester service deadline in order to receive the full first semester service credit.

For juniors and seniors, all three of the service documents must be completed, signed, and turned in to the Director of Campus Ministry in order to receive official credit for completion of the St. Thomas Service Learning Program.

Freshmen need only to complete a "Statement of Intent" form in the fall semester and a completed service hours log in the spring semester in order to receive service credit.

In addition, seniors, juniors and freshmen must turn in a two to three page typed service reflectino paper with their completed 40 hours of service and documentation.

In order to ensure that our students are not just doing service for the sake of getting the hours done and to more fully integrate our service program with our Theology curriculum, the Campus Ministry Office requres taht each student type a final service reflection paper due to the Office of Campus Ministry. The purpose of this reflective element is designed to help our students recognize the real purpose of community service hours at a Catholic school, namely, to ensure that our students are reflecting on how their service to the community is a response to the Gospel Call to Love.

Agency Contract (Gold Sheet)

This document is the student's contract with an outside agency; the contract cannot e for St. Thomas sponsored service. Exemptions to this rule are made on a case-by-case basis (i.e. Best Buddies, Key Club). The student must have a completed agency contract with that agency (church, school, organization, etc) where he will complete the majority of his service hours. A minimum of one agency contract (or completed service hour documentation) is due to the Office of Campus Ministry by Thursday, October 15, 2009.

Service Hours Log (Yellow Sheet)

This document is the student's documentation of how many hours, with whom, and when he has served with a particular agency or service project. The student must complete his hours log for any service, regardless of whether the service is school-related/-sponsored or initated by the student with an outside agency. The completed service hours log is due to the Office of Campus Ministry by Wednesday, March 24, 2010 for seniors.

Agency Evaluation Form (Blue Sheet)

This document is the form that must be completed and signed by the supervisor of the agency for whom the student served under. The student must have a completed and signed agency evaluation form from the agency he completed the majority of his service hours for. Only one evaluation form is needed per student. The completed and signed agency evaluation form is due to the Office of Campus Ministry by Wednesday, March 24, 2010 for seniors.