SERVICE PROGRAM AND FORMS

It has been said that faith is not faith unless it overflows into action.  Our job at Notre Dame de la Baie Academy must stretch beyond the realm of reading, writing and arithmetic.  If we are to be successful educated followers of Christ, we must be willing to help one another.

Rationale for Service

The motive for service: that our students to become more aware of the needs within the community we live. This is the groundwork of our faith in Jesus Christ.  By their efforts, we strive to empower them to serve others, to defend the dignity of others, and to pursue a lifestyle reflective of the gospel.

Objectives

To foster the values of empathy, compassion and sensitivity so as to experience the true joy of reaching out beyond oneself.

To bridge the gap between theory and practice.

To challenge students to deepen their awareness of their fellowship with all people, and to emphasize the responsibility to express compassion and service.

To affirm students of their worth and contribution to the community.

To strengthen the ownership for developing a community that cares for one another.

To help students appreciate individual difference.

To foster and encourage a desire to be of service for others, based upon our Catholic Christian principles.

To broaden the opportunities for our students to gain experiences in a number of (job) settings.

To provide for our students the opportunity to identify the causes of social inequalities.

General Expectations

Students are encouraged to do a minimum of 30 school and/or 30 community service hours per year.  Summers may be used to fulfill the expectations in addition to the school year.

Service hours completed for confirmation is acceptable.  All service completed for confirmation must be documented and filed with the Director of Ministry at NDA.  Your parish is not responsible to pass on this information to NDA…the student is responsible.

Service hours completed for sophomore religion classes are acceptable.  All service completed for these courses must be copied and filed with the Director of Ministry at NDA.  Teachers will not be responsible for passing information on to the Campus Ministry Office.

Service hours performed as part of a club/organization toward membership requirements in that group are not acceptable (i.e. Triton Club, Student Government, Outreach Branch of Student Government, National Honor Society, etc.)

Service is only service when there is NO payment, monetary or otherwise.

Campus Ministry Office

All service hours that are completed must be documented and handed into the Campus Ministry Office. 

A file is kept on each NDA student.  Parent(s) and students may check on their file at anytime or call the Campus Ministry Office at (920) 429-6105 for information regarding their personal file.

Service files are utilized for applications to the National Honor Society, colleges, scholarships and jobs.

Click here to download the Service Hours Form

Click here to download the Social Justice Form (Sophomores)

Five Categories of Service

Parish

All students are strongly encouraged to be active members of their parish.  Some areas of involvement are: parish picnics, mailings, babysitting, ushering, serving, reading, singing in church choir or cantering, teaching Religious Education, visiting elderly or shut-ins of that parish.   Call your parish for more information.

Hospitals/Nursing Homes, etc.

Students may help with activities that are planned for the area hospitals/nursing homes, etc.  Students may consider being a volunteer, visit individuals hospitalized from their parish, visit elderly in their own neighborhood or parish.  Contact your area hospitals/nursing homes for more information.

Community Organizations

Students should take note of possible service locations listed.  Also pay attention to service opportunities that are given over the PA system.  Service opportunities continually are called into NDA…check with Campus Ministry for suggestions.


School

Any service work that is completed for NDA is classified as school service. For example:  working at the Packer food booth, helping tutor, liturgies, ambassadors, office work, sport camps, NDA Tritonfest, campus ministry, etc.

Social Justice

Sophomores are required to do "justice-related service," that is, direct service to a marginalized population or those who are outside of the mainstream of society, such as those cognitively, psychologically or physically handicapped, the elderly, sick and economically disadvantaged, and racial minorities.