COMMUNITY SERVICE REQUIREMENT
SAINT MARY’S CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL
Coordinator: Mr. Michael Garibaldi
(602) 251-2506
GRADUATION REQUIREMENT:
All students must complete 15 hours of service each semester of their freshman, sophomore and junior years in order to complete the graduation requirement of St. Mary’s High School. Any students receiving the lower tuition rate must complete a minimum of ˝ of the total hours in their local parish. [Students who transfer in as seniors, must complete 15 hours of service to meet the graduation requirement.]
St. Mary’s High School seeks to encourage participation in Christian Service as an integral part of the student’s life. Each student is given an opportunity to live out Christ’s Gospel admonition to love one another as they themselves would like to be loved. However, in order to love in this way, they must go beyond simply doing good work for the sake of the work itself, but to learn to respond to the needs of others, no matter how profound, with true mercy as our guide.
“Do small things with great love.
Its not how much we do, but how much love we out into the giving.”
-Blessed Mother Teresa
The goal of the service requirement is primarily to help students look beyond themselves and in the hearts of others and at the same time cultivate, through experience, a thorough understanding of mercy that is grounded first and foremost in love rather than just pity.
Community Service for St. Mary’s students is defined as:
Community Service is a service to a non-profit organization or business that serves the needs of children, the sick, the elderly, the hungry or the homeless. Each individual Parish decides upon the service needed at their location.
Each year 30 hours are due on April 1st in order to register for the next school year. Any student who does not meet the deadline may be assigned hours to work at St. Mary's High School after school and on Saturday’s until the hours are completed.
THE FOLOWING CHRISTIAN SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES MEET THE CRITERIA AND DEFINITION OUTLINED ABOVE.
EXAMPLES OF APPROVED SERVICE OPTIONS
Children: Coaching, Teaching, Teachers Aide, Religious Education Aide or Instructor, KidCare Project,
Youth Camps, Vacation Bible Schools, Peer tutoring, Develop and coordinate Christmas
activities for underprivileged children, Thomas J. Pappas School for the Homeless
Service Projects: Mexico Mission Trips; Andre House; St. Mary’s Food Bank; St. Vincent de Paul Dining
Room; Boy Scouts; Girl Scouts; Eagle Scout Award Projects; Canned Food Drives; Serving meals to homeless at Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter; Public Library; Habitat for Humanity; Boys & Girls Clubs;
Sick/Elderly/infirmed: Nursing Homes, Hospitals, rehab centers
Fundraising for different groups: Alzheimers, AIDS, Cancer, Leukemia, MS, MD, Diabetes, etc.
Animals: “Programs that assist children with disabilities to learn how to ride horses”
Only Mr. Garibaldi can approve any service not listed above before the student begins any hours for service. Any service not approved in advance by Mr. Garibaldi could be denied if it does not fit the criteria listed here. Assisting family or relatives is not considered service. We assist our family, relatives and friends because we are family and friends.
