St. Gregory College Preparatory School is committed to providing students with opportunities to engage in community service; these experiences are essential in the development of character, scholarship, and leadership. Community service includes broadening student understanding of the issues and needs that exist locally and globally. A commitment to community service calls us to translate what is learned into action; the impact of one person upon the lives of others cannot be overestimated. In planning community service projects we attempt to coordinate service with our curriculum, involve students in the planning, and allow time for reflection and processing. The interests and research of the St. Gregory faculty and students, as well as the needs that arise during the course of a year, guide the projects we choose. The rewards of volunteering and community service capture the heart and mind, leading to a lifetime of service.
In order to help our students live this philosophy, St. Gregory School has adopted hourly requirements for each grade level. A goal of St. Gregory is to make volunteering a normal and regular activity, and one that is both rewarding and fun.
Hourly requirements by grade level:
6th and 7th grade- 8 hours per year
8th to 10th grade- 10 hours per year
11th and 12th grades- 12 hours per year
The slow increase in the number of hours is based on students' independence and ability to search out volunteering activities. Middle School projects will be developed by faculty and students and carried out at specified times throughout the school year. Upper School projects will be planned by community service clubs and supervised by the faculty. Upper School students will also have the option of meeting the required hours independently.
