Dowling Catholic High School
Service Hour Requirements
Effective August 25, 2008
What is Christian service?
Christian service is a response to the Gospel call to bring forth the kingdom of God and to minister to the poor, vulnerable and marginalized in society. Christian service is motivated by the love of God and neighbor and is offered without expecting anything in return. Christian service is not the same as volunteering. Many good works that we do are noble and worthwhile but do not focus on the concerns of the vulnerable nor do they further the building up of the kingdom. Service does not include time and energy given to your immediate family members or any activity that could be expected simply because you are part of the family community. For instance, unloading the dishwasher or caring for younger siblings would be considered a contribution to the family community, not Christian service.
Examples of Christian Service (focuses on the needs of the vulnerable or helps to build the kingdom)
Serving dinner at a homeless shelter
Visiting a nursing home
Working for service organizations such as Habitat for Humanity or Operation Smile
Assisting special needs
Collecting for the needy
Teaching at Vacation Bible School or Sunday School
Assisting with needs in your parish community
Examples of Volunteering (does not focus on the needs of the vulnerable or help to build the kingdom) Working at a library
Working the concession stand at an event
Shoveling snow, raking leaves, or helping with moving for relatives
Examples of Christian Service that will be accepted on a limited basis
Cookies for Hospice - Maximum 3 hours/ semester, and not after December 1 or May 1
Catholic Youth Camp or other camp counseling – Maximum 20 hours per summer (Camps that serve the vulnerable may be eligible for more hours)
Babysitting – some situations will be accepted, others not. Please clarify with your theology teacher. Maximum 3 hours/semester
Coaching or helping with a sports team or clinic (including managing or timing at DCHS or parochial league events) – Maximum 3 hours/semester
No set of guidelines can speak to every possible situation and special circumstances can be considered on an individual basis. However, students should seek approval from their theology teacher before any project that may be questionable. Waiting until after the event or just before the deadline may result in a need to find another project.
When are service hours due?
Service hour forms must be turned in to your theology teacher, with completed reflection, within 2 weeks of the date of service. Forms turned in after 2 weeks will not be accepted. This will help to make the reflection essays more pertinent and valuable. Speak to your theology teacher if you are doing service regularly at the same place (for instance, every week at your home parish). Service hours completed over the summer are due by September 15.
You may, and are encouraged to, complete and document more than 10 hours in each semester but the hours do not carry over from semester to semester. Total number of service hours documented will appear on your transcripts, which may help in the college application process. It also allows Dowling Catholic to have an accurate picture of the amount of time and energy our students are giving to the community in our name. Students with 200+ documented hours (by April 1 of his/her senior year) will be eligible to apply for a Service cord to be worn at graduation.
What are the guidelines for completing my service hours?
· Service hours consist of time you donate to the community. You may not be reimbursed financially for your time.
· Activities that assist your immediate family may not be considered as service hours. As family members these are considered familial obligations. Immediate family includes those living in your household.
· Service Hours may not be signed by family members or a student.
· You may not have any crossed off and rewritten items on your Service Hour sheet. For example a sheet with the hours crossed off and rewritten will not be accepted.
· Service hour form (both sides) must be written in ink.
· The name and signature of the person signing your hours must be legible.
· Both a date and phone number is required.
· A variety of service is encouraged. Exiting your comfort zone is good!
Changes for the 2008-09 school year:
1) Service hour forms must be turned in to your theology teacher, with completed reflection, within 2 weeks of the date of service. Forms turned in after 2 weeks will not be accepted. This will help to make the reflection essays more pertinent and valuable. Speak to your theology teacher if you are doing service regularly at the same place (for instance, every week at your home parish). Service hours completed over the summer are due by September 15.
2) Cookies for Hospice Program – A maximum of 3 hours will be given each semester for baking cookies for hospice and no cookies will be accepted for service credit after December 1st for first semester or after May 1st for second semester.
3) Counseling at Catholic Youth Camp or another summer camp will be given 20 hours of service credit per summer. (This means 20 total, not 20 for each week you counsel.) Camps that serve the vulnerable may be eligible for more hours.
4) Coaching or helping with a sports team or clinic (including managing or timing at DCHS or parochial league events) – Maximum 3 hours/semester
5) New Service Hour forms are available. Only forms marked "revised June 2008" will be accepted.
Are service hours required?
Serving others helps to form us into more Christ-centered people and Christ-centered people serve others. Ten service hours is one of the requirements for each required theology class. You must complete and document 10 hours of service by the end of the semester deadline to pass the theology class. Students who do not complete this requirement as part of their class will fail the class and will need to retake it to fulfill their academic requirements. Grades for students who have not completed their hours by the semester deadline will be changed to “Incomplete”. School policy then allows 2 weeks for the work to be completed before the grade is changed to an F.
How do I find out about service opportunities? Service hour opportunities are often shared and posted in your Theology classroom. You may also find them posted outside the Counseling Center and in Room 401.