“…Love in action is service. Try to give unconditionally whatever a person needs in the moment. The point is to do something, however small, and show you care through your actions by giving your time.” --Mother Teresa

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.

You may download community service forms by clicking on the menu on the right of this page. Blank forms are also available in the literature tray in the office, and in the Community Service box in the high school building (at the end of the upstairs hallway). 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 of our students are involved in service through scouting, 4H, 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.

If you are new to St. Mary’s students, we encourage you to start with a service in which you have some skill or interest. Also we suggest you look for some long-term service experiences; they can help you develop leadership skills and strong relationships, and you will learn the most from longer commitments.

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, prom planning, school retreats, drama).
• Fundraisers for athletics, school activities, or your class.
• Work done for your own personal betterment, to add to your résumé of skills (e.g., Mayor’s Youth Advisory, Youth Symphony, Rotary Leadership Camp).
• 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.).

Where can you get information about service opportunities?

Michael Wing keeps students updated about community service opportunities. You can phone him at school (773-7877), or e-mail him with questions at mwing@smschool.us.

We also have a student Service Committee. Members are available to advise and assist students. They also work with advisor groups to help coordinate group projects at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and at other times during the year.

Opportunities are advertised on the Service Bulletin Board (downstairs in the high school building). We announce new opportunities in Morning Meetings, and we schedule Service Fairs in the fall and spring.

We recommend two places for you to go, if you want information about specific agencies. You can go online to volunteermatch.org; it has links to a number of agencies in the Rogue Valley. There is also a Community Service brochure in the literature rack in the office, which lists groups with which students have worked with successfully in the past.