Christian Service

List of 6 items.

• Approved Places to do Christian Service

  Christian Service is more than community service; it's about living out the Christian love ethic, and so, any service must offer itself to at least one of those pursuits: love of God, love of neighbor, and love of self (St. Luke 10:27).  This is how we judge what is 'Christian Service'.  If there is a special interest the student has in an organization they would like to serve at, they must get it pre-approved by the Director of Christian Service, Mr. Presley. Students will need to email Mr. Presley before the start of their service.
  
  Please keep in mind that all services must conform to the teachings of the Catholic Church (this will be strictly adhered to). 

  Freshmen should do their hours at Notre Dame or former grade school/junior high school.
  
  

  Sophomores should do their hours at a parish/place of worship or within a religious-affiliated organization.
  
  

  Juniors should do their hours helping the elderly or individuals with special needs.

  Seniors should do their hours at a community non-profit or return to service passion/connection made in the last three years.
  
  

  ***This is not a hardline, but formative guidance.***

• Service Hour Restrictions

  All service hours should be completed with or on behalf of a reputable organization (possibly businesses, but preferably non-profits) for verification, accountability, and formational purposes. 
  
  Activities like “walking a dog”, babysitting, (unauthorized) tutoring, "taking care of family members", excessive and unapproved donations, etc. will not be approved (unless it is a service on behalf of a non-profit organization or philanthropic organizational effort with the Director of Christian Service's approval). 
  
  Moreover, parents/guardians and other students can NOT verify student claims. 
  
  

  • All donation claims must be school-sponsored or have the approval of the director BEFORE donations can be considered as Christian services at NDHS. 
    
    We do not want students donating all of their service hours.  Moreover, all donation claims are capped at 3 hours max (1 bag = 1 hour of service, using best judgment on the size of the bag).
    
    Lastly, all donations must have a picture of the donation AND the receipt.  This should be uploaded with the claim. 
    
    All service activities are subject to the approval and discretion of the Christian Service director. 

  *All sports-related services, including camps, will require a log sheet as a part of the verification process to help quantify the hours.  Verification contacts should review the log before verifying the service in x2Vol. 
  
  This helps the Director of Christian Service establish more accountability for these types of services.

• Verifying Hours

  In order to have hours approved by ND, students must have their hours verified by the contact person in charge of the event or service activity (cannot be a relative).
  
  It is the responsibility of the student to ensure that their contact person fills out the emailed verification form, electronically. Any hours submitted without the contact verification will result in denial.  
  
  Parents/guardians of the student, as well as other students, can NOT verify hours.

• Descriptions and Reflections

  Every x2VOL entry requires a description and reflection. 
  
  

  Descriptions must be one sentence in length describing what organization you worked with and/or what event you volunteered at.  You should also place the dates/times you worked there, especially if your one claim will cover multiple dates.
  
  

  Reflections must be at least one paragraph (minimum of 5 sentences) reflecting on your service project.  Answer questions like: How does this service impact you and others?  Why is this service important?  How does this activity transform your understanding of service?  Would you be willing to continue this service on your time?  How does this service shape your ideas about God's will for our lives; how do you connect this to social justice; etc.?
  
  

  Any reflection not following the guidelines will result in having their hours denied. 

• Christian Service Awards - Holy Cross Awards

  At ND, we strive to recognize the various achievements our students have accomplished throughout the academic year. In order to be considered for this award, which is open to all grade levels, students must complete their Christian Service hours by February 1st.

• Awards for Seniors

  The Archdiocese of Los Angeles awards high school seniors the Archdiocesan Christian Service Award. In order for students to be considered for this award, they must have completed all of their hours by February 1st, of their senior year.
   

  Should students have any questions about X2Vol or places to do their Christian Service Hours, they should email Mr. Presley at presley@ndhs.org or stop by his office during x-period.