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Community Service Program
Community Service Documents »
COMMUNITY SERVICE MINISTRY PROGRAM
 
Overview
“Each one of you has received a special grace. So like all good stewards, responsible for all these different graces of God, put yourself at the service of others.” 1 Peter 4:1
 
Mission Statement
The Catholic School, among the service agencies of the Church, has as its primary purpose the transmission of Gospel values cherished by Jesus. Pope John Paul II High School recognizes the value of service as significant to the life of Jesus. A formal community service ministry program will enrich the lives of our students and the communities in which they live. The program contributes to the fulfillment of our school mission and it also gives our students the necessary service experience colleges expect from scholarship applicants.
 
What is Service?
Service is any act of giving assistance or advantage to another. Service is using our God-given gifts and talents to help another person. Service is freely given. Under no circumstance should a student be compensated in any way (financial, etc.) for their service. If a student is unsure as to whether a certain project may be considered appropriate for the Pope John Paul II High School Community Service Ministry Program (“the Program”), they should obtain approval from the Director of Campus Ministry prior to beginning the project. ACCEPTABLE SERVICE PROJECTS MUST BE DONE WITH NON-PROFIT COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS, SERVICE GROUPS, CHURCHES, OR SCHOOLS. WORKING FOR BUSINESSES, PROFITABLE ORGANIZATIONS OR OTHER INDIVIDUALS (BABYSITTING, NEIGHBORS, FRIENDS, ETC.) IS ORDINARILY NOT CONSIDERED ACCEPTABLE SERVICE. Students can visit our school website (www.pjpii.org under Spiritual Life/Community Service/Community Service Agencies 2009-2010) for a listing of possible service opportunities or see the Director of Campus Ministry.
 
Policies and Guidelines
• 25 hours of community service must be completed per year to satisfy the requirements needed for graduation from Pope John Paul II High School. Students who complete 100 hours or more of community service in a particular year will be recognized at the Academic Awards Program at the end of that year.
 
• Community Service Reflection Paper 
A community sevice reflection paragraph is required each year. The paragraph must be typed according to the MLA format used in the English Department. The purpose of the paragraph is to five evidence of personal growth or insight resulting from a community sevice experience. Theis growth may occur on a human level (in compassion, understanding, self-sacrifice, self-knowledge, gratitude, etc.)or on a spiritual level (in faith, hope, or charity). The student must generate three copies of the paragraph: one copy for his/her English Instructor, one copy for his/her Religion Instructor, and one copy for the Campus Minister. These paragraphs are to be given to the apporpriate adults during the week of March 16-20, 2009. The students will receive grades for these paragraphs in English and Religious Studies, and is part of the passing grade for his/her community service requirement.
 
• A “Student Record of Community Service Hours” form must be completed for each service project. THIS FORM IS AVAILABLE ON OUR SCHOOL WEB SITE  (www.pjpii.org under Spiritual Life/Community Service Program/Student Record of Community Service Form) and in the Office of Campus Ministry.
 
• STUDENTS MUST KEEP A COPY OF ANY FORMS SUBMITTED TO THE DIRECTOR OF CAMPUS MINISTRY FOR THEIR RECORDS.
 
• Only hours earned after the last day of the prior school year (June 1, 2009) through the last day of the current school year (June 4, 2009) will count towards the current year’s community service requirement.
 
• It is solely the responsibility of the individual student to have all required forms, reports, and evaluations properly and thoroughly completed and submitted to the Director of Campus Ministry and to verify that the community service hours are properly credited to them.
 
• Students are responsible to the service organization for any work related to the community service chosen and must conduct themselves in a professional manner when dealing with the organizations (ie: participate in all required training, give the organization at least 24 hours advance notice of absences, schedule a time to make up any missed commitments with the site supervisor, etc.)
 
• Wherever and whenever community service is rendered, students represent themselves, their families, and Pope John Paul II High School. It is important that students enhance their own reputations as well as that’s of their family and their school. Proper language, appearance, and attitude are imperative.
 
• Pope John Paul II High School, its staff and volunteers, and the community service organizations, and its staff and volunteers will not be held responsible in the event of an accident or injury.
 
• Transportation to the service organization is not provided by Pope John Paul II High School. Each student is responsible for transportation to and from the service organization.
 
• Students must attend all scheduled conferences and meetings required by the Director of Campus Ministry or the Service Organization’s Site Supervisor and notify them if an unavoidable conflict arises.
 
Grading
  1. Students will receive a pass or not pass grade (“P” or ”NP”) at the end of each semester.
  2. At the end of the first semester, a passing grade ("P") will be issued for the completion of at least 15 hours of community service. 
  3. At the end of the second semester, a passing grade (“P”) will be issued for the completion of at least 25 hours of community service and and the community service paragraph.
  4. Completion of the Community Service Program (“P”) for each year is required in order to remain a student at Pope John Paul II High School and to receive a graduating diploma.
Deadlines
 
Deadlines are the last day that a specific number of community service hours are due.
  1. First Semester: All Grades: No later than Friday December 11, 2009: Community Service Forms verifying at least 15 hours of community service.
  2. Second Semester: All Grades: No later than March 22, 2010: Community Service Forms verifying a total of at least 25 hours of community service for 2008-2009.
  3. Students interested in receiving the "100 +" Community Service Award must have al forms verifying this service in Campus Ministry by April 1, 2010.
Penalties for not meeting deadlines 
 
  1. First Semester: All Grades
    • Students will receive a not pass grade  ("NP") for the semester and serve a two hour detention during exam week either December 15th or 16th from noon until 2:00 PM
  2. Second Semester: All Grades
    • Students who return from Spring Break (April 6, 2010) without having completed their 25 service hours will serve a two-hour detention on either April 6th or 7th from 2:45 PM until 4:45 PM.
    • No student will be allowed to attend Prom without having completed their service hours and reflection paragraph.
    • Additional penalties of disciplinary action, additional hours, or financial fines will be applied as needed.
    • Seniors: Besides being unable to attend prom, seniors will be unable to attend Grad Bash without completing their community service requirements.
  3. If all service requirements are not completed at the end of any given year, a not pass grade ("NP") will appear on the student's permanent record and the student may be withdrawn from Pope John Paul II High School.