Community Service
“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” -- Anne Frank
An integral part of St. Mary’s School is the Community Service program, which promotes the personal experience of serving those in need. As we are committed to increasing students’ awareness of their role in the community, we require each student to perform a minimum number of hours of service each year – to the school, parish, community agencies, or private families in need. Middle School students earn at least 10 hours each year, while Upper School students perform a minimum of 25 hours.
The process
While some hours are earned doing projects as a class, most hours come from services you do on your own. Each time you perform a service, you fill out a Student Community Service Form. This form is to include the signature and phone number of your supervisor (an adult and not a fellow student). If you are unable to get a supervisor signature, your parent can sign the slip verifying that the work was performed.
Click here to download a Community Service Form.
Blank forms are also available in the literature tray in the office, and in the Community Service box in the Callaway Library. Put completed slips in the service box, as soon as possible after you do the work.
What counts?
Students should focus on helping the community, particularly underserved populations. For this reason, unless otherwise approved, service should be for a non-profit organization or an individual in financial need. Many students are involved in service through Scouting, 4-H, church, and similar activities. Service at school (under supervision) could include grounds or building maintenance, or mentoring or tutoring students. You may earn a maximum of 12 hours per day.
What doesn’t count?
- Work for which you are paid (including tips).
- Family responsibilities like yard work, taking out the garbage, visiting or helping elderly relatives; this also includes helping out at a family business.
- Participation in school events (e.g., BBQ’s, event planning, drama).
- Fundraisers for athletics or school activities.
- Work done for your own personal betterment, or to add to your résumé of skills (e.g., performing with youth music or drama groups, or attending special camps or seminars).
- Babysitting, house-sitting, and/or pet-sitting for friends or neighbors.
- Chores or tasks for neighbors who aren’t in need.
- Helping teach classes that the recipients are paying for (i.e. dance class, gymnastics, etc.).
What kinds of service are considered to be best?
If you are a new student at St. Mary’s, we encourage you to start with a service in which you have some skill or interest. Also look for some long-term service experiences; they help you develop leadership skills and strong relationships, and you learn the most from a longer commitment. We also encourage and award services that show special initiative on the student’s part.
Where can you get information about service opportunities?
Michael Wing keeps students updated about community service opportunities. You can phone him at school (541-773-7877), or e-mail him with questions at mwing@smschool.us.
You can find the latest service opportunities posted in two places: on the Community Service Board, in the hallway near the Library; and on our Community Service Facebook page. Many of these are one-time events (serving a dinner for a non-profit agency, for example), but a few longer-term projects will also be listed. We announce new opportunities in Morning Meetings, and we schedule Service Fairs during the year.
Service Days are scheduled, usually in the spring, on which students are sent into the community to do short-term projects. From these, many good relationships have been formed, and students benefit from the chance to interact in a positive way in the community. Look for announcements about service days on the school calendar.
The Community Service Committee is made up of students who each have already earned 100 hours of service. Members are available to advise and assist you. Committee members also work with classes and groups to help with service ideas and projects (e.g., Thanksgiving baskets, Christmas activities).
Three good Internet sites are: http://volunteermatch.org, http://manysparksofhope.wordpress.com, and http://oregonruready.org/. Each has numerous links to follow. Not all the opportunities listed will be available to young people, but many will be.
This is a list of many of the agencies with whom students have worked successfully. If you would like to look into working with one of these organizations, Mr. Wing can provide you with contact information.
ACCESS Inc.
Addictions Recovery Center (ARC)
American Red Cross
Birthright
Boys and Girls Clubs of the Rogue Valley
C.A.T.S.
CASA
Catholic Charities
Children’s Festival - Peter Britt Gardens
Children’s Miracle Network
City of Central Point
DESD Child Development Services
Easter Seals of Oregon
Family Nurturing Center – Children's Crisis Relief Nursery
Food & Friends
Habitat for Humanity
Hearts with a Mission
HOPE Equestrian
Jackson County Child Development Services
Jackson County Library Outreach, Child Care Providers
Kid Time
Kids Unlimited
Knights of Columbus
La Clinica
Living Opportunities
Maslow Project
Medford Parks & Recreation
Mediation Works
Nature Conservancy
OnTrack
Phoenix Elementary Pre-K Summer Program
Providence Medford Medical Center
Red Cross
Rogue Valley Family YMCA
Rogue Regional Medical Center/Asante
Southern Oregon Head Start
ScienceWorks
SMART Reader
Southern Oregon Humane Society
St. Vincent DePaul
The Arc and Lifespan Respite
VA Southern Oregon Rehab. Center and Clinics – (VA SORCC)
