Christian Service Policy and Schedule

C. Christian Service Policy

1. Purpose - The Christian Service Program is an essential part of the Junipero Serra High School educational experience. In line with our mission, Junipero Serra High School is committed to developing generous, responsible citizens and leaders. Service with the vulnerable who are the poor, marginalized, and disenfranchised of the community is an essential part of a rich and integrated educational tradition. Through various service experiences, the virtues of generosity, compassion, and wisdom will be further developed in each student. The Christian Service Program has been integrated into our curriculum to provide a hands-on experience for students to answer the needs of our community and enable them to live up to the call of Christ to be his witnesses to the world.

2. Mission - To provide service opportunities that foster an encounter with people on the margins. It promotes a healthy relationship and dialogue while developing a sense of justice and advocacy. In this program students are challenged to see the face of Christ in others, which empowers each young person to join in the work of bringing about the Kingdom of God and promotes responsible servant leadership

3. Theme - To see the face of Christ and to be the face of Christ to those we serve.

4. Guidelines - The corporal and spiritual works of mercy are intended as guidelines for student service through Junipero Serra High School. By adhering to at least one work from each column, a student may ensure that they are with in guidelines.

Corporal Works of Mercy	Spiritual Works of Mercy
To feed the hungry	To instruct the ignorant
To give drink to the thirsty	To counsel the doubtful
To clothe the naked	To admonish the sinner
To visit the ransom and captive	To bear wrongs patiently
To shelter the homeless	To forgive offences willingly
To visit the sick	To comfort the afflicted
To bury the dead	To pray for the living and the dead

5. Requirements – Each student will complete ten hours per semester. Christian Service is a class offered as 8th period; it is a one credit course that does not affect GPA. The class is considered pass or fail/incomplete. All students are required to complete a total of at least 80 hours over their four years at Junipero Serra High School. Student service should be served at a preferred agency, fall within the rubric or be pre-approved by the Christian Service Coordinator and fall in line with the theme of the corporal or spiritual works of mercy. Students will need to directly work with people. The following items must be accomplished by students in order to earn credit for hours each semester:

a. Complete all sections of the Service Verification Form (including all signatures and the Christological reflection) during each service experience, found in the Parent/Student Handbook, behind the Christian Service drop box on campus, or on-line.

b. Turn in completed Service Verification Forms to the Christian Service drop box located outside of room #105 throughout the semester.

Service hours are due as posted on the school calendar. Please note that the senior due date will be earlier in the spring semester. The drop box will be checked weekly by the Christian Service Coordinator. Hours will be recorded by the Christian Service Coordinator in PowerSchool and will not count if turned in after the deadlines no matter if the hours were served before the deadline. Failure to complete and turn in hours by the semester deadline will result in a grade of “I” and an additional 10 hours of service required per semester incomplete.

6. Agencies – A listing of preferred agencies can be found on-line, in the Campus Ministry Office and on the Christian Service Bulletin Board located outside of room #105.

7. Rubric – The rubric below is intended to be filled out if a student elects not to serve at a preferred agency and did not have prior approval by the Christian Service Coordinator.

If your work was not with a pre-approved agency, please fill out the Christian Service Rubric:	YES	NO
Work completed is at least one of the Corporal Works of Mercy or Spiritual Works of Mercy
Work completed took place off campus
I could be the face of Christ to or see the face of Christ in those I served
My work was directly with people and was service to a community in need

If all 4 boxes were appropriately answered with yes, then your service project is most likely approved (Subject to the final approval of the Christian Service Coordinator).

Canned Food Drive: