Saint Thomas Academy Senior Service Program
Saint Thomas Academy invites students to cultivate a vital and relevant spirituality through service, reflection and prayer. The school’s goal is to empower students by encouraging them to become servant-leaders who respect others and work for justice and peace. Since this dimension of a student’s development is an integral part of its mission, the Academy has a graduation requirement of 40 service hours, which are completed outside of school, along with ten hours of reflection and social analysis, which are incorporated into the senior Theology Social Justice course.
These 50 hours complement a two-week “Senior Project,” which is completed during the last two weeks of senior year, where students are mentored in their responsibilities within one of 40 Church, social service, educational or health related agencies. Through this experience, students gain insight, compassion, communication, and helping skills, while working with inner-city children, senior citizens, the homeless, the sick and dying, physically and mentally challenged children and adults, and newly arrived neighbors. The Academy hopes that this program will give our graduating students the opportunity to discover the heart of Jesus and live in His spirit forever.
Jane Doyle
Program Director
651-683-1561 or jdoyle@cadets.com
Senior Service Graduation Requirement
(June 5, 2008 – March 13, 2009)
Senior Projects
(May 19 - June 2, 2009 after Senior Final Exams)
Senior Service Graduation Requirement:
40 hours of direct service plus ten hours of reflection and social analysis
• A minimum of 30 of the 40 hours is to be done at one primary agency. (Church, social service, educational, health related agency)
• Social analysis and reflection will be accomplished by completing eight out of 12 guided service journal entries. (Journal is to be completed and graded through Theology classes)
Service Hour Deadlines:
• 20 hours of direct service … Friday, December 5, 2008
• 20 more hours of direct service … Friday, March 13, 2009
Journal Deadlines:
• Four entries … December 5, 2008 … second quarter grading system
• Four entries … March 13, 2009 … third quarter grading system
Students must register their hours in the Senior Service binder found in Mrs. Doyle’s outer office. Each student will find a personalized sheet with his name in the Service binder. Students are to register their hours on this log-in sheet and, then, put the verification sheet in the filing binder provided. If students are unable to have verification sheet signed off by the supervisor at the time of the service event, students should ask the supervisor to fax verification to Mrs. Doyle. STA’s fax number 651-454-4574.
All service hours beyond the required 40 hours should also be recorded in case students may qualify for service scholarships.
Information for the Senior Projects 2008
Last ten days of school:
• 60 hours: ten days of six hours of service
• Dates:
Tuesday May 19 – Friday May 22
Tuesday May 26 – Friday May 29
Monday June 1 and Tuesday June 2
Church / Social Service / Educational / Health Care Agency
Who qualifies to sign up for and participate in Senior May Projects?
• Students who have completed their service graduation requirement by the end of third quarter Friday March 13th will be eligible to participate the Senior Service Projects. This requirement includes:
a. 40 hours of service completed, signed off by supervisor, and recorded in service binder.
b. Journal (reflection / analysis component) signed off by religion teacher. Students will forfeit their place in the “order of selection” list if they fail to meet this requirement by March 13th.
c. Academic Probation Policies apply. Students on academic probation will not participate in the Senior Projects. This academic requirement is set by the 4th quarter mid- term Academic Probation list, set on Friday May 1st.
d. Students with Disciplinary, Attendance/Tardy Concerns - Students on Mr. Byrne’s or Mr. Sjoberg’s list of disciplinary concerns will not be eligible to participate in Senior Projects.
• Students, who do not qualify for Senior Projects will remain at STA and work on their academics in order to meet graduation requirements.
• Selection of Senior Project Agency teams will take place on Wednesday April 1st, 8th period. Placement in agencies and on teams will be determined on a “first come, first serve” basis and will follow the “order of selection” list established throughout the year as students complete and register hours.
