Student Service Hours

Experiencing the Impact of Service

As part of our mission to help the students understand their role in the larger community and to
develop in them a sense of service and responsibility, students in all grades will be required to
perform hours of community service each year. Service is giving of one’s time to help someone who
is less fortunate. Hours may be earned in parish, school, or community service beyond the school day.

Service hours are required to be completed and recorded by the middle of May. Students will record
their hours and have them signed by an adult.

• Students in PreK – 2nd grade need to complete 5 hours per year
• Students in 3rd – 5th grade need to complete 10 hours per year
• Students in 6th – 8th grade need to complete 15 hours per trimester, recorded by the end of each trimester.Failure to complete the hours may result in a religion grade reduction in the third trimester.

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.

Some ideas for consideration:

• 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:

1. Does it benefit another human being who needs help?

2. Am I giving part of myself to help someone else?

3. 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?

4. 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.