Service

"If someone who has worldly means sees a brother in need and refuses him compassion, how can the love of God remain in him? Children, let us love not in word or speech, but in deed and truth." 1 John 3:17-18

All students and all families are encouraged to be the hands of Jesus to others at every moment of every day. This involved the exercise of many virtues and the humility to go beyond what is comfortable and easy. Opportunities exist to serve God and neighbors at all times.

Purpose

The purpose of the St. Dominic Catholic School Service Program is to encourage students and their families to understand how service is fundamental to our baptismal call to go out and be disciples. The intention is to see service as an opportunity to grow in relationship with God and others beyond collecting items or raising funds. Service is putting the gospel message into action.

Expectations

It is the hope that service be a natural part of how Jesus’s disciples live their day to day life. In fostering this in children, there are stages that this will take place. Parents as the primary educators of their children play a specific role in encouraging participation and involvement in service. Therefore, parents play a key role in bringing service opportunities to their children. The school and parish will play a role in supporting the parents.

Children in grades K through 5

Children in K through grade 5 will participate in service activities as presented by the classroom service parent. The service parent will help coordinate educational experiences and projects where children can learn about the needs of others and how we can play a role in helping. Service parents are encouraged to work with the classroom teacher and fellow parents to provide a minimum of 1 project during the school year, trying to avoid collections.

Ideas for projects:
  • Letter writing to soldiers after learning what military personnel do for us.
  • Create holiday decorations for local meal program use.
  • Create holiday cards for the homebound or individuals in care facilities.
  • Make rosaries to share with hospital ministry.
Children in grades 6 through 8

Children in grades 6 through 8 will participate in service activities that help to make service a lived habit. The service parent helps make fellow parents aware of opportunities to be the hands of Jesus in the area.

Students must complete an expected minimum number of service hours that can be accumulated by involvement in activities on and off campus. These hours are tracked from year to year on the Service Hours Reporting Form. 

In seventh grade, students will develop their own service learning opportunity with a fellow classmate or small group of classmates. In eighth grade, students will participate in an immersion experience to dispel the notions of poverty, injustice, and marginalization.

Ideas for Projects:
Sixth Grade Curricular Connections
  • Demonstrates problem solving to effect positive change in school, neighborhood, and world.
  • Appreciates the value of humility and fidelity as lived out in the daily live of the Christian.
  • Contributes to class outreach projects and recognizes the importance of service in the Christian life.
  • Is growing in acceptance and understanding of self as indicated by interactions with others.
  • Recognizes the diversity of ministry in the Church.
Seventh Grade Curricular Connections
  • Identifies personal and moral choices as expressions of a Catholic moral life.
  • Associates social, economic, and political choices with Christian morality.
  • Integrates skills of justice and peacemaking into action.
  • Knows the value and the good acts of sacrifice, penance, and self-denial as part of Christian discipleship.
Eighth Grade Curricular Connections
  • Recognizes that we know god through creation, our own experiences, our own consciences, and our longing for God.
  • Recognizes the possibility we will be called to suffer for our faith.
  • Names and describes the Ten Commandments, the Beatitudes, and the Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy as guidelines for living a happy life and applies them to daily life.
  • Associates social, economic, and political choices with Christian morality.
  • Integrates skills of justice and peacemaking into action.
  • Is conscious of racial, ethnic, and class differences and makes definite efforts to be inclusive in relationships.
  • Experiences a variety of opportunities to serve one's neighbor.