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 forty 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 forty educational, health, or social service 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.


Dear Seniors,

In making your selection, consider the commitment you are making. To choose wisely study and research:
•    Agency description
•    Transportation … car pooling
•    After school commitment … check times … you can’t bilocate
•    Seek information … don’t hesitate to come and ask me questions and of course check
     Web sites

God bless, Mrs. Doyle

Basic principles of operating:

1.    Each student is to work nine “six hour” days.  Lunchtime will be shared with residents, students, patients or staff.
2.    If a student is ill, he needs to call his agency supervisor and Ms. Chris Zimmermann (651-683- 1511) before 8:00 a.m.  Ms. Zimmermann will keep an attendance sheet specifically for Senior Projects.  Senior site supervisors will check this information daily.
3.    All absences need to be made up.  The only exception to this “standard of reliability” is when a student is a member of a team that is participating in a state tournament.  Students should communicate this well in advance.  Students will complete any needed “make up” days on June 1st or 2nd.
4.    Every student is to follow all the rules and policies of the agency concerning attendance, punctuality, appropriate dress, behavior, and confidentiality.  Students are also to meet the STA standard of good appearance while representing the school.
5.    The nine days STA students spend working at service agencies are to be considered school days.  If there any concerns, please direct them to the STA faculty site supervisor or Jane Doyle (651-683-1561).