Service Learning Program

About the Service-Learning Program

The SGMHS Service Learning is a graduation requirement based on responding to the Gospel’s call to love and serve others so that we can promote social justice and respect for all human life. It calls on students to work in direct service to other under-served people and communities. Many of our students live our mission and go above and beyond the required service learning hours requirements.

Service Learning Requirements

Direct service is emphasized. You must interact with the people who are in need.
It must be with non-profit organizations outside of your community. The goal is to step outside your nearby comforts and offer your service to other under-served communities. (We do not accept service hours from any of your former schools or any schools your siblings have attended. Nor do we accept service hours from anywhere your parents work. Service at these places should already be happening. Our program challenges the students to go beyond that to share their gift of service to other communities they are not normally a part of.)
You must keep a running log of your hours using the appropriate form, verified and signed by the supervisor at the site. You also need to be logging in your hours to Aeries.
Refer to the attached list for some suggestions on already approved sites. If there is another site you are interested in, please fill out the New Site Approval form and submit it to the Service Learning Moderator. Once she has determined whether the site meets our Service Learning requirements, she will email the student accordingly.

Academic Requirements

Service Learning comprises 20% of a student’s religion grade each semester.

Freshmen & Sophomores:

25 service hours are required per year during a student’s freshman and sophomore years.
Take this opportunity to explore different organizations who champion different causes. Hopefully you will find a cause that you will develop a passion for and feel called to serve.
Theological reflections and service logs/time sheets are administered by the Service Learning Moderator and are collected for Religion Class credit. Your religion teacher is the theological reflection facilitator for the class.
For sophomores, a portfolio and oral presentation on your service learning is due in place of the 3rd quarter exam.

Juniors & Seniors:

70 hours of service to one approved non-profit organization and Peace/Justice issue; 35 hours are completed junior year and 35 hours are completed senior year. By this time, you will have chosen a single cause you will devote all your service to.
Theological reflections and service logs/time sheets are administered by the Service Learning Moderator and are collected for Religion Class credit. Your religion teacher is the theological reflection facilitator for the class.
A capstone project is due in the 3rd quarter of your senior year.