Middle School Community Service

Vision Statement

Sacred Heart School builds an active partnership between school, parish, and family. Sacred Heart School graduates leaders who are exceptionally well prepared to meet the challenges of college preparatory education with a commitment to Catholic service to others.

Sacred Heart students commit to the living value of service by engaging in active, generous, compassionate care to others. The middle school students at Sacred Heart are required to complete community service as a part of living this value, and the completion of this service will be a part of their religion grade each trimester. 6th grade students are required to complete a total of 6 hours over the course of the school year. 7th and 8th grade students are required to complete a total of 20 hours over the course of the school year.

Number of required hours per trimester for each grade level:

Grade Level 1st Trimester Number of Hours 2nd Trimester Number of Hours 3rd Trimester Number of Hours Service Award Requirements per Trimester
6th Grade 2 hours 2 hours 2 hours 6+ hours
7th Grade 6 hours 7 hours 7 hours 13+ hours
8th Grade 6 hours 7 hours 7 hours 13+ hours

 

Students who exceed the number of required hours each trimester will earn a service award by being placed on the St. Margaret Mary* Service Honor Roll. These students will be recognized at the academic awards assembly and their achievement will be listed on their individual report cards.

Sacred Heart School Middle School Community Service FAQ’s

What counts as community service?

Being of service to the community is an important value for students to begin living out in their adolescent years. When making a decision about where to volunteer, students should find opportunities of interest that better increase their understanding of how service to others is necessary to discipleship. Some terrific ways for students to earn community service include: volunteering for the parish by helping at Children’s Faith Formation or Parish Festival, working at local food banks, baby or pregnancy centers, helping at park or community clean-up projects, and volunteering to help in a teacher’s classroom. Students should stay watchful for different service opportunities that arise at and around Sacred Heart School and Parish throughout the school year. If parents or students have any questions about whether something counts towards the service requirement, do not hesitate to ask one of the religion teachers.

What does not count as community service?

The following activities will not count towards the community service requirement: free babysitting, altar serving, Playmakers, yearbook staff, ASB, and newspaper staff. Unless otherwise specified by the teacher, in-school community service projects will not go towards the trimester requirement. For example, hours earned through the 6th grade weekly service at the WIN food bank does not count towards the trimester requirement. Once again, please speak with the religion teachers if any questions arise about what possibly counts towards the service requirement.

Is community service a part of the students’ religion grade?

Yes! Each trimester students will be given points for completed service. If a student earns a place on the St. Margaret Mary* Service Honor Roll the designation will appear on his or her report card.

How do students record their service hours and collect signatures?

Log Sheet will be provided by the students’ religion teacher. Students are responsible for holding onto and keeping track of their log sheets. Log sheets will be collected at the end of each trimester by the students’ religion teacher. If a student loses his or her log sheet during the trimester, it is his or her responsibility for collecting the signatures on a new sheet. Parents are no longer allowed to sign their child’s log sheet.

Will hours earned over the summer count toward the community service requirement?

Service hours earned over the summer count toward the first trimester requirement only. Hours that exceed the first trimester requirement will go toward that student’s goal of earning a place on the St. Margaret Mary* Service Honor Roll for the first trimester.

*St. Margaret Mary Alacoque was instrumental in the implementation of the modern devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.