Campus Minister: Gloria Clayton
Contact: 829-3121

SERVICE HOURS:

  In the spirit of Christian service that encouraged and influenced the first Sisters of Charity of the Incarnate Word, IWHS seeks to "foster a sensitivity to and a recognition of social problems and injustices, and to engender a responsibility and an inclination toward corrective action voluntarily undertaken." (Mission Statement of Congregation)

  The graduation requirement of one hundred service hours(a minimum of 25 each year enrolled as a student) is one way for the high school community to share in this spirit of Christian service and social justice. In deciding what specific activities fulfill the service requirement, the most important criterion is one of need. Students are encouraged to identify needs in the community and to commit the greater percentage of service hours to those needs. Service is not earning course credit or money. The goal is to serve and learn from people themselves, particularly those who are disenfranchised from society.

  Helping other people and participating in works of justice are important for character development. Service is hard work and requires commitment. Involvement in service teaches us that we are needed and that we do make a difference.

   Campus Ministry is designed to encourage the faith lives of our students while encouraging and providing opportunties for service to the school and the wider community. When needed, each student is given assistance to discern her gifts and how she can best serve others.

Guidelines for Service Hours

In the spirit of volunteerism, it is important to state that all service done MUST be done without pay. Work done for a for-profit organization, which does not have community service as its purpose, may not be counted toward a student's service requirement. Work done for the family or family business will not be counted as Service Hours for any student. Additionally, Service Hours done for any political candidate or organization to further their agenda will not be counted towards their service for school. All Service Hour projects must be pre-approved by the Campus Minister, or the student’s current religion teacher, if they do not fall under the categories listed below.

All students require documentation of hours. The Official Documentation Form for service hours, with guidelines for the essay, is available on-line (click link above). Or, if you are unable to follow this procedure, please call the school's Campus Minister for assistance at 829-3121.

Certain projects at school will be designated as service projects. A list of these activities will be available on a regular basis in the Campus Ministry Office. In addition, students may receive Campus Service Hours at school for the following approved projects (a maximum of 12 hours can be used for Campus Service Hours annually):

a) Mentoring/tutoring other students through the Guidance Office

b) Fish Tips through the Guidance Office

c) Other approved school activities (check with the Director of Campus Ministry)

The Service hours can be divided as 13 Community Service and 12 Campus Service Hours. The Campus Service Hours may be earned for school-sponsored events. The work done must be documented as complete clock hours. ( No "minutes" will be documented) The service must be completed, documented and verified before the school year ends. Service Hours can be done at any time during the academic year.

The following dates have been designated as DUE DATES for each specified grade level for turning in their Official Documentation Form (s) for service hours:

  First 12 hours for 10-12th grades: Dec. 1

  Freshman (9th grade)   -   all 25 April 20th
  Sophomores (10th grade)   -   all 25 APRIL 20th
  Juniors (11th grade)   -   all 25 APRIL 20th
  Senior (12th grade)   -   all 25 APRIL 4th

IN CASE A STUDENT IS ABSENT ON A DEADLINE DATE, THE SERVICE HOURS RECORD MUST BE BROUGHT TO IWHS BY A FAMILY MEMBER OR FAXED TO THE SCHOOL OFFICE (fax: 210-829-3120) NO LATER THAN 3:30 P.M. ON THE DUE DATE. If the deadline for service hours is not met, the student’s semester religion grade is deducted 5 points, and a Matrix point is given and carried over to the following year. Service hours must be up to date for a student to be eligible to file for office.

All service hours must be documented on the IWHS Campus Ministry form and can be accepted with the official letterhead from the organization for which the service was rendered. Documentation forms must be completely filled out and will not be accepted with any items left blank. Transfer students will need to work out an agreement with the Director of Campus Ministry regarding the number of hours required.

Parents are required:

- To sign their daughter's service hour documentation form.

- Familiarize themselves with the organization, site, and personnel involved in the service project chosen, and to help their daughter discern the appropriateness of her choice.

Possible Organizations for Community Service: Nursing homes, hospitals, food and clothing banks, non-profit thrift stores, family or children's shelters, churches, family outreach programs, libraries, animal rescue programs, literacy programs, summer children's programs, Parks and Recreation volunteer programs, programs for persons with disabilities, Christmas or Thanksgiving charity projects, service organizations (Red Cross, Habitat for Humanity, Goodwill, United Way, YMCA-YWCA).