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Service Program > Commonly Asked Questions
Christian Service Program Commonly Asked Questions
1. What is the Christian Service Program?
The Christian Service Program at Salesianum School is designed to challenge
our students to serve the broader community as Salesian gentlemen through
service which is given freely and asks for nothing in return for the work
done. The service is done solely to help those in need and to meet the requirements
of a not-for-profit agency which serves people who are somehow disadvantaged
(people experiencing poverty, discrimination, poor health, old age, and/or
physi cal/mental limitations.)
2. Where can I do my service?
Service can be done at an established, nonprofit, nonpolitical, community,
school or church agency which provides service to the disadvantaged as described
above.
3. Why are there an increased number of service
hours documentation and other requirements from what was required in years
past?
One of the results of our most recent school accreditation studies was the
need for increased accountability and frequency of service to the community
on behalf of all Salesianum students. This was an area of concern in our
accreditation report, and consequently, the new program requirements address
these concerns directly.
4. Why doesn’t all the service
that I do for National Honor Society, Spanish Club, or any other school
related clubs count for my Christian Service Hours?
In order for the program to maintain integrity and increased student accountability
and responsibility it is necessary for all students to serve a minimum number
of hours in the community with the aid of Salesianum faculty and/or staff.
As stated in the statement of purpose, our goal is to challenge all Salesianum
students to go beyond what is convenient, and follow the commands of Christ
to serve one another, especially those in our community who are most in
need.
5. May I count hours that I volunteered over the
summer?
Yes, as long as those hours meet all of the criteria of our service program
and you complete and turn in all the necessary service documentation (which
includes receiving the necessary approval, evaluation, journal, log).
6. Does free baby sitting or taking care of grandma’s lawn
constitute a service?
Babysitting younger siblings, cousins, friends of the family or taking care
of the needs of an elderly relative is a family obligation. You do these
things because you are a good son. This is not a service to the community.
There are many unique circumstances when serving as a mentor for a neighbor’s
child, or buying groceries/taking care of a lawn for a neighbor who is physically
unable to do so and cannot afford the help may indeed be counted as service.
If you are unsure of which category your service idea falls under, see Mrs.
Ballintyn immediately before you begin your service.
7.
What about clean-up, maintenance, or other volunteer work where I am not
directly working with people?
The general rule of thumb on this type of service is, “does this service
have a reflective element?” To put it another way, will you be able
to write a two page minimum reflection paper about how you picked up trash
for twenty hours? If you were picking up trash in a poor neighborhood and
people kept asking why you were doing this and how much your service meant
to them, then perhaps your service would meet the “reflective element”
requirement. If it does not, then you ought to supplement your “labor”
with service that is directly “person to person” type of service.
See Mrs. Ballintyn if you have any doubts about the reflective element of
your service project idea.
8. May I volunteer for more
than one service project or volunteer for more than one service agency?
Yes, but you must complete the Christian Service Booklet for each service
agency where you do service.
9. How do I begin? Where do
I get information for the various types of volunteer opportunities out
in the community?
Your Director of Christian Service is Mrs. Ballintyn and she is located
in Room A066. She can provide all information, guidance and instruction
on the program and its parameters. The Christian Service link which can
be found on the Campus Ministry website contains all the forms necessary
for the student to complete the requirements for this program. To begin
your service, follow the procedure as listed below:
- The student must receive approval prior to beginning any service
work by submitting to Mrs. Ballintyn an application for service by completing
the form that the student will receive on the first B-day of the new
school year. Should the student need a new form, forms can be found
on the campus ministry website under the Christian Service link. All
forms having to do with Christian Service can be found through the Christian
Service link.
- While the student is completing their service, they must complete
the journal questions as detailed on the website
- Also at the completion of each day of service, the student must have
their supervisor sign off on their log sheet the amount of hours completed.
- When their service is completed, the supervisor must complete the
evaluation form for the student.
- The log, journal, and evaluator’s form must be attached with
the reflection paper that is submitted to the student’s religious
studies teacher.
- The student will receive a pass/fail grade for this program in the
third quarter. If the student does not complete/submit all material
as indicated they will receive a failure for the program. They will
not be allowed to move onto their next academic year without successful
completion of this program.
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