Christian Service Hours
Purpose: As a Catholic high school, San Juan Diego seeks not only to educate students’ minds, but also their hearts so that they may become robust disciples of the Lord. Since Jesus was a person committed to service, his disciples also must be. In service, Christian people encounter their neighbors and their God in concrete ways. Hopefully, through mandatory service hours, the students of San Juan Diego Catholic High School will form a habit of service that will last them a lifetime, enriching their spiritual lives and transforming them into caring people who generously respond to the needs of society.
Requirements:
- Over the course of their four years at San Juan Diego Catholic High School, students are required to complete 100 total hours of direct and documented service.
- Freshman and Sophomores are required to complete 10 hours of direct and documented service per semester, or 20 hours per academic year.
- Juniors and Seniors are required to complete 15 hours of direct and documented service per semester, or 30 hours per academic year.
- These hours are required to remain at the school and to graduate.
- All service hours must be verified through documentation and an adult witness.
Direct Service: The service performed by students must be direct service, meaning that through service students personally encounter those in need and offer their presence and generosity. Also, students may engage in service that directly supports the environment. Further, students are encouraged to participate in their local parishes or faith communities. The following are examples of acceptable direct service: reading to the elderly in a nursing home, working in a soup kitchen, picking up litter in a park, and teaching religious education classes. The idea is that students are engaged and active in the community. Thus, hours will not be recognized for helping out family members/friends (e.g., babysitting or yard work). Assisting in school-related activities (e.g., a school fundraiser, an open house, a parent association event, etc.) is acceptable, but such service may only account for up to one-fourth (25 hours) of the required 100 total hours of direct and documented service.
Documentation: For each service event, students are required to turn in a completed Service Hours Documentation Form to either Mr. Sias. Without this documentation, the service hours will not be counted. Forms can be found either in Mr. Sias’ theology classroom (3E), available to the right, or obtained directly from Mr. Sias.
Questions: Questions concerning acceptable service, volunteer opportunities, documentation, or anything related to the Christian Service Hours program should be directed to Mr. Sias (esias@sjdchs.org).