Commitment to Service at Pensacola Catholic High School

But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, then we have fellowship with one another…1 John 1: 7

As each one has received a gift, use it to serve one another…1 Peter 4: 10

The purpose of the Pensacola Catholic High School Service Program is to provide for the kinds of powerful experiences that can change the hearts of our students and teach them to live as Christ has called them.  

.

All service hours must be performed through a proper agency which is a traceable, non-profit, charitable organization.  If we want to do a project involving a large number of hours, students should seek the approval of their Religion teacher or the Campus Minister to ensure that these hours “count” toward the service requirement.

Seniors are required to complete a total of 45 hours—5 at Catholic High School and the remainder through a SINGLE traceable, nonprofit charity. It is imperative that Seniors and their parents understand that they may only work at one organization throughout the school year.  A failure to complete service will lead to a failure to graduate.  Seniors may not simply donate items to CHS, find odd jobs around CHS, etc.  We must work with an organization which reaches out to others.

Seniors must be prepared to declare formally a service organization by Monday, September 12, 2022.  This will include a declaration of intent signed by both student and parents as well as a formal letter from the service organization.

All Seniors must complete their service requirement in order to graduate.  In addition, all Senior service contracts are due to the school by Monday, March 20, 2023  (this gives Seniors all of Spring Break to complete needed hours).  Failure to make this deadline will see a drop in grade for the THIRD quarter.  

Donations to local charitable organizations, as organized and executed by Pensacola Catholic High School can count toward the total number of service hours.  However, only 10 hours yearly may come from donations to CHS service activities (like stockings, birthday bags, etc.).  

Summer service hours will NOT be counted if they are turned in after the deadline of October 7, 2022.

Students must complete a minimum of HALF of their required hours by the end of the first semester.  Any students who have not completed at least ½ of their hours by the end of the first semester deadline, December 9, 2022,  will have their second quarter grade dropped by an entire letter grade.  In addition, underclassmen who have not completed their hours by the end of the second semester deadline, Friday, May 12, 2023 will see their fourth quarter grade dropped by an entire letter grade.

Pensacola Catholic High School will provide monthly opportunities for students to perform service. It is the responsibility of the Seniors to sign up for them.

Each student is responsible for tracking their Christian Service by completing the appropriate form which must be placed in the front of their Religion binder. 

In order for Pensacola Catholic High School to officially record completed service on the school record, students must fill out the proper forms and acquire the necessary signatures from the organization’s volunteer coordinator.

EXAMPLES OF OTHER SERVICE WHICH FULFILL SERVICE REQUIREMENT

Volunteer babysitting in the parish nursery during Sunday or Vigil Masses; volunteering at Our Lady Haven of Peace or other nursing homes; serving meals through Loaves and Fishes; being a Habitat for Humanity volunteer; doing trash clean-up as part of the U.S. Park Services Special Event days; service done through Confirmation program; CYSL gatekeeper, concession, or scorekeeper volunteer, not paid); Vacation Bible School; Wildlife Refuge; Humane Society; special summer CHS sports camps; Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Northwest Florida; activities at the various local elementary schools ( a list of agencies with which one might serve is on the website but we are not limited to these–pre-approval may be necessary, however)

EXAMPLES OF OTHER SERVICE WHICH WILL NOT FULFILL SERVICE REQUIREMENT

Babysitting for friends, family, or neighbors; helping grandparents or elderly neighbors with yard or household work; helping out in the family business; picking up trash around the school or community; dance troupes, theater groups to include performances at PLT, Scouting activities; any private business, boutique, or other organization; Fiesta, Yacht Club, etc.

NO SERVICE CONTRACTS FOR THESE OR SIMILAR ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED!

Parishes (or churches, if not Catholic) of the Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee:  Your parish is a great place to serve.  In fact, it really should be the first choice of all!

Alpha Center:
https://alphacenterinc.org/ 
            6400 Pernella Rd, Pensacola, FL 32504.
            850-479-4391

Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida:  (limited service opportunties)
https://ccnwfl.org/
            1815 N. 6th Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32501.
            850-436-6410

Loaves and Fishes Soup Kitchen:
http://loavesandfishessoupkitchen.com/volunteers/ 
            257 E. Lee Street, Pensacola, FL 32503               
            850-438-7616

Our Lady Haven of Peace: 
https://healthcare.ascension.org/Locations/Florida/FLPEN/Pensacola-Haven-of-Our-Lady-of-Peace
            1900 Summit Blvd, Pensacola, FL 32504
            850-416-7000  (ask for Volunteer Dept.)

Pensacola Habitat for Humanity: 
https://pensacolahabitat.org/
            1060 N. Guillemard Street, Pensacola, FL 32501
            850-434-5456

Sacred Heart Hospital:
Teen Volunteers:  Summer and School Year Sessions are offered for Teen Volunteers (ages 16-17).  To request an teen volunteer application packet, please send an email to llcole@ascension.org  and specify which session you are interested in. 
            5151 North 9th Avenue, Pensacola, FL 32504
            850-416-7000 (Volunteer Dept.)

Baptist Hospital:
Teen Volunteers:  Accepted only over the summer; volunteers need to apply in April, 2021
https://www.ebaptisthealthcare.org/volunteering

St. Vincent de Paul Society:
http://www.svdpnwfl.org/ 
            2200 W. Desoto Street, Pensacola, FL 32505
            850-434-6615

American Red Cross:
https://www.redcross.org/local/florida/north-florida/volunteer.html 
            800-773-7620

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Florida:
Ways to volunteer without being in person
http://www.bbbsnwfl.org/ 
            1149 Creighton Rd, Suite 1
            Pensacola, FL 32504
            850-433-5437

Waterfront Rescue Mission
Contact:  Clay Romano
Waterfront Rescue Mission – 380 West Herman Street.
Waterfront Rescue Thrift – 2125 W. Fairfield Drive
850.542.4501.

Ronald McDonald House NW Florida
Volunteer Coordinator, Krystal
850.477.2273 or krystal@rmhc-nwfl.org

Catholic Youth Sports League
(volunteer positions only would count, not paid positions)
Tony Howard
Diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee
850-435-3500

Humane Society Pensacola
volunteer@pensacolahumane.org

Waterfront Mission Thrift Stores
Contact Celeste Moreno, 850-542-4490
Must be 16 years of age