Fostering a Life of Service
at St Joseph High School
St Paul states “in every way I have shown you that by hard work of that sort we must help the weak, and keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus who himself said, it is more blessed to give than to receive.”(Acts 20:35). St Joseph High School’s mission is to provide opportunities that allow the student to understand that the ability to serve is not only his or her responsibility, but it is also a privilege to contribute, influence, and ultimately strengthen the community.
At St Joseph High School, we believe that community service is a means of acting on behalf of God and others with a sense of willingness and cheerfulness in response to the identified needs of a chosen community. By serving God and others with all of one’s spirit, the students have the ability to connect, help, learn, and teach one another. These acts benefit the surrounding communities and contribute to the student’s character and spiritual development.
By incorporating community service into the curriculum, the objective is not to burden the students, but to open their eyes and hearts to the needs of others. For that reason, service is a requirement that is necessary for grade promotion and graduation.
Four Points Service Program
In order to teach students the concept of an evolving community, each year the focus of service will change. This ensures that by graduation students are provided with the understanding and knowledge that service is necessary and crucial to every community to which we belong. The targeted areas are as follows:
- Freshman year the focus is SCHOOL to demonstrate that it is a privilege and responsibility to attend to St Joseph High School and each student should be engaged and involved in this community. The hour requirement is 15 hours.
- Sophomore year the focus is COMMUNITY to demonstrate that our communities (towns, parishes, schools) help us develop into the persons we become and this must be acknowledged with gratitude and service. The hour requirement is 20 hours.
- Junior year the focus is the NATION in order to underline the importance of students being aware that “responsible citizenship is a virtue and participation in political life is a moral obligation “(Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship). The hour requirement is 25 hours.
- Senior year the target is to develop GLOBAL/UNIVERSAL sensitivity. By this experience it is hoped that students realize their ability to make a positive difference in communities and lives of those around the world. This requirement does NOT mean that service needs to be completed abroad or that international travel is required. The hour requirement is 30 hours.
For service specifications and further details, explore each of the grade level service pages, which are linked through above.
Forms (Please download the following PDF files):
2320 Huntington Turnpike