- Guiding Principles
- Defining Core Service
- Support Service AKA “not core service”
- Service at SI (with teams and clubs)
- Journal Policies
- Transfer Students
Principles and Policies for Service Graduation Requirement
- Students complete service between the first day of their Freshmen year and registration day of their senior year.
- Service before the start of Freshmen year is not credited towards the graduation requirement. Students must be enrolled at SI to obtain credit.
- Senior students who do not complete their requirement by registration day (either because they have not participated in service or because they have not provided official, written verification of service by that date) will be assigned activities probation and their transcript will be placed on hold. Upon completion of requirement, students will be removed from probation and their transcript will be released. Students that fail to finish this requirement by the first quarter break of the school year, may not graduate from SI.
- Students receive credit for service provided with and for nonprofit organizations only.
- Students who volunteer within religious ceremonies (such as lecturing at mass, altar serving, music ministry etc.) do not receive credit for this service.
Service Verification:
- Any service activity (with a nonprofit organization) can be credited to a student’s service record. St Ignatius requests that students turn in official verification of service to the Christian Service Office in a timeline manner. Ideally, we would like service verification within the semester that the student participated in the service or within 6 months. If you have a question about whether service can be credited to the graduation requirement, please ask the CS Office as soon as possible.
- Service Verification forms are available outside the CS Office and/or can be downloaded from this website (just go to Necessary Forms). Students must include a signature from their service supervisor and a parent/guardian.
- The same form is used for both support and core service activities.
Core Service Policies
All students must complete a Core Service Project which is an important part of this requirement. Core Service aims to bring our SI students into contact with social justice issues within our communities. The goal of this service experience is to challenge SI students to:
- Go beyond their own parish or immediate community to provide direct, hands-on service to others by volunteering for a nonprofit organization that embraces and works towards a social justice mission. SI intends that students meet people through relationships that allow them to learn about communities and situations that encounter marginalization/injustice;
- Core Projects can be of any length as determined by each student. However, the project must be 40 hours or longer in length (we often require longer time periods to ensure a strong, lasting experience within the community organization);
- Reflect through an on-going journaling and/or sharing process;
- Build personal relationships with agency clients and staff through significant and enduring service.
Click here download a One-Pager on Core Service Projects!
Gentle Reminders
Core Service must always be pre-approved.
Students must have a journal with them during their Core Project. Journals are provided to students once their project plan is approved by Christian Service staff.
The core journal is given to students by the CS Staff in person only, not digitally. This journal follows a process and has questions that the student will respond to throughout their service. Christian Service updates and revises this journal annually.
How does someone obtain a journal and begin Core Service?
Check out The Process-How to Get Full Credit!
Definitions of Core Service
Most students participate in a Core Project that directly assists people in need. There are many different "types" of Core Projects. We will describe the "types" of Core Projects below so that students are familiar with their choices. We empower students to come and speak with our CS staff as they are choosing and setting up their projects.
There are 3 types of Core Service from which students can select. Once selected, students must complete the experience in full in order to obtain full credit.
- Direct Service Core Project
- Provide 40 hours or more of on-going serviceto a nonprofit agency that addresses a serious social justice issue;
- Volunteer activity is through person-to-person contact with “an under-resourced segment of the population” such as individuals who experience poverty, discrimination, poor health, old age, or mental and/or physical limits;
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Volunteer activity must engage student volunteers in direct interaction with clients (for at least 85% of their total time with the agency).
Student Example
From February-May 2002, Gloria volunteers with a tutoring program in the tenderloin. She goes to the agency every Wednesday afternoon from 3:00-6:00pm, teaching math and English to 4th graders who are from the community. She completes 48 service hours during her time tutoring and regularly reflects in her CSP service journal.
- Stewardship Service Core Project
- Provide 75 or more on-going service hours with a nonprofit agency addresses a pressing environmental issue in the community;
- Because this type of volunteering typically is more behind the scenes, students are asked to make a larger commitment in this Core Project;
- As the SI student volunteers, we hope they will be empowered to serve in a leadership or teaching
role during the term of service.
Student Example
Between September 2001-May 2002, John volunteers on Saturday mornings (9am-1pm) with the Golden Gate National Recreation Area as a junior park docent. His activities include training other teens to restore the local ecosystem through trail maintenance and removal of non-native plants. He completes 80 service hours during his experience and regularly reflects in his CSP service journal.
- Residential Service Core Project
- Provide at least 5 consecutive days in a “residential” capacity with a nonprofit whose mission is focused on social justice;
- Students will receive the service credit that the agency provide. However, legally SI will credit service only up to a maximum of 14 hours per day;
- Examples of programs include: social justice oriented summer camps, weekend respites,
non-SI sponsored mission trips;
Student Example
Pat and Jenna volunteer from June 20-27th at Camp Costanoan, a camp for kids who are mentally and physically handicapped. As Counselors in Training, they work directly with the kids to make their camp experience the best ever! During their service experience, they write regularly in their journals.
Mission Trip Policies
Mission trips with and for local churches or international NON-PROFIT organizations are an experience of service which SI does provide credit. These mission trips include direct volunteering activities alongside a comprehensive youth development program. Mission trips, by their nature, often involve youth participants in activities that enhance the whole experience---such as daily reflection time, on-site education about the community, community tours, group building activities, Liturgy etc.
It is SI’s policy to give credit for any/all direct service activity during a mission trip (such as physical labor to build homes or time spent teaching kids in the community). Youth development components (fundraising, pre-trip training, team building, site seeing in country etc.), which are part of the mission trip experience for student participants, are recognized as vital as part of a mission trip; However, these aspects are not direct service to the local community and, as such, do not receive credit.
In all cases (both support or core), students should always turn in a completed Service Verification form (with signatures from the Mission Trip leader and parent) for credit.
***It is strongly recommended that students check in with CS staff prior paying for and/or going on a mission trip to make certain, in advance, what credit will be given.
***SI is aware that there are many for-profit tour companies that guide people in travel experiences which may include volunteer activities during the trip. Please NOTE these trips are NOT eligible for graduation credit. The reason is not to suggest the activity is not meaningful, but is because the managing organizations do not meet SI's basic criteria of non-profit organization status. The policy of asking students to serve with and for non-profit organizations is an integral part of the SI graduation requirement.
To receive Support Credit for mission trip
**In order to receive the most accurate service credit, students must include a written itinerary as verification. This itinerary should point out the direct service hours in which the student will be personally engaged in volunteer activity.
**The Christian Service Center wants to support all our students who engage in meaningful service to local communities at home and abroad. We value fair service credit for all our SI students. This is why we encourage students to bring us a detailed schedule so that together we can determine the best service credit.
**If for any reason, students are unable to provide such details, Christian Service will discuss other options with regard to credit.
To receive Core Service Credit for mission trip
**Students that would like to receive core service credit for a mission trip MUST apply in advance, in person, with the CS office prior to leaving on the trip.
**It is strongly recommended that students check in at least one month before the mission trip.
**Students must fill out both an application and a Core Petition Form in order to receive a journal for mission trips. This form asks for detailed information about the trip (sponsoring organization, itineary etc.). The more accurate a student can be with their schedule, the more likely they will receive credit for their mission experience.
Volunteering Outside the SF Bay Area
**Students that wish to volunteer outside the Bay Area should make sure that they serve with a non-profit organiation.
**Students should include a brochure or web print out about the agency where they volunteered. This information should clearly state that the organization is a non-profit.
**If students want to receive Core Service credit, they must fill out the Core Application and Core Petition forms. These forms will ask them to provide details about where they will be volunteering.
**It is strongly recommended that students contact the CS office in advance of doing service outside the Bay Area in order to learn what credit may be given for their volunteer involvement.
Students are encouraged to participate in core service for their entire service commitment, but this is not mandatory. Students can be involved in other types of service which we term “support service.”
Service that is ALWAYS Support Service (never Core) includes:
- Volunteer activities at student’s home elementary school such as coaching or tutoring;
- Volunteer activities that are organized through St. Ignatius clubs, sports or classes;
- Coaching activities with St Ignatius sports camps, Parks and Recreation programs, YMCA/YWCA programs, Boys and Girls Clubs, and Boy Scouts etc. (some coaching may be approved as core service, always ask at the CS Office if there are any questions);
- Faith-based service not within religious services, such as helping at annual parish festivals, leading confirmation classes or retreats;
Non-credited Aspects of Service
- Ministry within religious services (such as altar serving, liturgical ministry, eucharistic ministry and music ministry) is not credited as part of SI's graduation requirement. SI believes participating in religous services in this way is important ministry as part of a faith community. If a parish wants to write a letter of commendation to be included in a student's service file, please encourage them to do so.
- Service with a BUSINESS OR FOR A PERSON is not credited to the graduation requirement. Only service to nonprofit organizations is credited for the graduation requirement.
- Political action and fundraising efforts can be credited to a student’s Service Commitment. However, these volunteer activities cannot make up more than 10% of the student’s total service commitment (no more than 10 hours per 100 hours volunteered).
REMEMBER!
If you have questions regarding your service, don’t hesitate to contact the CS office!
If you find a service opportunity that seems to be Core, but is not officially listed as a Core Agency in the CS Office, you can make a petition requesting that your service be considered as a core experience.
REMEMBER!
The CS Office has a list of Pre-Approved Core Agencies!
Come into the office to see where you can go to do Core Service.
Service at SI Policies
- School clubs that provide service to the SI community do not qualify for service credit.
- Clubs or Teams that provide service to organizations outside the immediate SI community can receive support service credit for this activity. Club/Team Leaders must submit information about this service activity and can obtain such forms from the CSP Office.
Journals are intended as a tool for capturing the core service experience. Students are required to follow the process of the reflection journal and to make entries on a regular basis. Complete journals include reflections before, during and after the service (as mapped out in the journal). Most journals are between 12-15 hand written pages. Christian Service staff review each and every journal. During their senior religion class, SI students will be reunited with their journal as a part of the curriculum that discusses Ignatian Spirituality.
- The Core Journal is a key part of the graduation requirement. Without a legible, complete journal, SI’s graduation requirement will be incomplete.
- The Christian Service Center does not authorize students to make copies of journals. Journals are adapted and changed often (at least twice annually) and students should not assume their peers have a journal that is identical to their own.
- Student MUST officially register their Core Service with the CS office and be given an original journal in order to obtain full credit.
- The journal’s due date is on the cover of each journal. Students work with CS staff to determine the due date as it depends on when the student will complete the core service hours.
- If a student does not have a due date this means their journal is not recorded in their CS file. It is very urgent to make sure a record of your journal is kept.
- Extensions are available if requested in a timely manner and if the student has good reasoning behind the request (such as they are finishing up their service hours). Students should come to the CS office before the due date to make this request and to have their due date changed in their file. The CS office reserves the right to consider all extensions and to make decisions that both support the student as well as the Christian Service Center.
- Overdue Journals: Journals not turned into the CS in a timely manner may not be credited to the student. CS staff make every effort to provide notification to students on the status of their journals. At the start of each month, students whose journals are due in that month are notified. Students who are absent from school on the day their journal is due must turn in their journal on the first day they return to SI. Typically, students are given a one-day grace period for turning in their journal without penalty. The CS staff will provide at least one reminder/warning to a student’s about their overdue journal. Students are empowered to take the initiative to follow through with their journal responsibility. After this the journal may not be credited to the students service record.
- Students will be officially notified when their journal has expired. The service hours done in conjunction with that journal may be credited as support service as long as the student turns in appropriate verification within the semester.
- The journal will be kept confidential and will be reviewed by the Christian Service staff who will provide feedback to you, if necessary, and may ask for clarification.
- If a student applies for the Immersion Program during their Junior year, their journal will be part of this application process and other SI Faculty may read the journal.
Transfer Students
- Sophomore Transfer Students are required to complete the entire service requirement of 100 total hours. As with their peers, sophomore transfer students must participate in at least 40 Core Service hours in conjunction with a reflection journal.
- Junior Transfer Students are required to complete half of the SI service requirement which is a total of 50 hours. Basically, junior transfer students are asked to complete a Core Service Project. This project should last a minimum of 50 hours and the student should serve with the same nonprofit organization for the duration of the entire experience. SI's goal is that the student will engage in meaningful, direct service with a nonprofit that addresses a social justice issue (such as homelessness, elder care, hunger etc..). For more information about core service, please see above.
- Students can transfer service hours from their previous high school
by providing to the Christian Service Office an official letter from that school (on
school letterhead) which includes the following information:
- Student Name
- Agency(ies) where student volunteered
- Number of Total Service Hours
- Past service activity will be applied to a student’s service record upon completion of the student's SI service requirement.
- Sophomore students can apply service hours from their Freshman year (totalling no more than 50 hours) towards their SI requirement. These will not be credited as Core Service. Sophomore transfers must complete their Core Service during their time at SI.
- Junior students must participate in their entire service requirement (50 hours of Core Service) during their time at SI. Juniors can apply past service hours (from previous schools) to their overall service record. These past service hours would be detailed on the student's transcript as service activity above and beyond the requirement hours.
- Since transfer students enter into SI at a unique time, they may need personal support in order to understand and plan for their Christian Service. Please do not hesitate to contact the Christian Service Office! We are here each day--particularly before school 8-8:25, recess, during both lunches and after school for at least 30 minutes. We also don't mind making appointments! Just email Ms. Girard!