Posted July 1, 2025

SERVICE HOURS OVERVIEW:

For over 30 years, Sacred Heart School has maintained a long-standing policy of requiring Service Hours as part of our Religion Class curriculum.  Based on the ideas of the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy and the spirituality of stewardship,  Sacred Heart School hopes to inspire young people to joyfully discover that, in surprising and humbling ways, one receives as much as one gives, in service.  As the spirituality of stewardship teaches, we are all created with a need to give.

Students are encouraged to pursue their God-given interests and passions, which uphold and reinforce the Catholic Christian identity of the school.  Sacred Heart School also hopes to expose them to the variety of service opportunities within both our parish community and in our broader community.  At Sacred Heart, we define Christian Service as an activity done without payment that assists another human being to fulfill a basic human need.  Students are required to perform a minimum of 25 service hours, per year for High School Students and 10 for Junior High students.  Students, who transfer in, will be required to perform a prorated amount for graduation, based on their time at Sacred Heart.

All Religion teachers will include Service hours in their syllabus as well as curriculum designed to help guide students in this endeavor.  Students must meet the required service hours (25 for HS and 10 for JH) to pass their respective religion class.

GUIDELINES:

1. Any Church activities such as serving as lectors, ushers or serving are acceptable as well as participation in choir or taking an active role in prayer services or adoration.

2. Any work done for a relative, who does not reside in the same household as a student could be considered.

3. Students can not accept pay for their service hours.  Under normal circumstances activities for which a student receives a grade in one of their classes may not be counted as service hours.

4. The service hours must be recorded by the student and submitted to the Assistant Principal.  Hours done over the summer should be submitted by September 15th.  First Semester hours should be submitted by December 1st and Second Semester by May 1st.

5. The goal of this project is for the students to seize the opportunities for Service in their community.  This is a student led project not a teacher one.  Therefore, students must turn in hours by the stated due dates.

6. Students may complete service hours individually or as part of a team/organization service project.  Hours may be used both for their religion classes as well as NHS, NJHS,  and A+ programs.

7. Opportunities for service are promoted through school communications and daily announcements.

8. Supervisors of the service must be adults and typically may not be family members. An adult family member may supervise as long as that adult does not reside in the same household or organization as the service is being provided for. Any exceptions would need prior approval from the Assistant Principal.

RECORDING SERVICE HOURS:

Students must have their supervisors use the QR code to fill out a brief report for each Service Hour opportunity.  The Supervisor can record multiple hours of service on one report.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1gu_LPbhiW3jGQj3mC59xUUqesvRQkkymWB0C1hoCVkY/edit

SUGGESTIONS FOR SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES:  SH has defined three types of service opportunities available for students:

Church/Parish Service Opportunities:

• Altar server during Sunday Mass
• Assisting in a ministry at Christmas Eve/ Christmas, Easter Triduum or any Holy Day of Obligation Mass
• Choir and Music Ministry (12 hours for School choir for Adoration and Mass may be accumulated)
• Decoration
• Children’s Ministry
• Church maintenance
• Set up and clean up for church/parish events
• Thanksgiving Dinner
• Christmas Eve Dinner
• Parish Bazaar
• Totus Tuus (volunteer during daytime Summer Program for elementary children)
• Las posadas set up/clean up
• Summer Bible Program
• Our Lady of Guadalupe set up/ clean up
• Our Lady of Guadalupe liturgical celebration/Apparitions Play
• Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri
• Hospitality Ministry
• PSR Ministry

Community Service Opportunities:

• Habitat for Humanity
• Animal Shelter
• Clean a highway
• Community Cafe
• Open Door
• Boys and Girls Club
• Salvation Army
• Key Club
• Assisted a senior citizen outside a student’s household
• Babysitting for a relative outside the student’s household
• Visited and prayed for a sick relative or other community member
• Assisted a relative outside the student’s household

School Service Opportunities:

• State Fair Grandstand Concession
• Concession stands during home games
• Scorekeeper for Home Games
• Perform office work for the School
• NHS service projects
• FCCLA service projects
• Student Council service project
• Speech Meet set up or clean up
• Hall of Fame
• Summer improvement projects

 

The list provided offers opportunities for students to engage in service. We recognize there are many additional opportunities within our community. If there is a question about a specific service that was performed, you may contact the assistant principal for clarification.

RECOGNITION:

Students in grades 9-12 who complete 100 or more hours of service in one school year will receive the St. Gaspar de Buffalo Service Award. Seniors who complete 500 or more hours of service throughout their four years of high school will receive the St. Vincent de Paul Award.

Thank you to our Service Hours Committee, which included: Ms. McMullin, Fr. Joe, Mrs. Palacios, Dr. Register, and Mrs. Bolin.