Dear Parents,

As an expression of the charism of the Sisters of Saint Joseph, education at St. Joseph's Academy emphasizes the importance of relationship with the dear neighbor. The service component of our curriculum is one way we encourage our students to express God's love not only within our school community, but also in the context of the broader world. As the campus minister at St. Joseph's Academy, I am pleased to share information with you about our service program.

Our service program is a complement to the charism theme for this school year: Great-Hearted Love: Serving the Dear Neighbor. Through service, your daughter will meet and identify with others so that all may be one. The connections made with suffering, impoverished and marginalized people afford an SJA girl the chance to reflect on her personal dignity and what her dignity means in the context of the human family. As our students struggle with what it means to relate on the most basic human level, they grow in awareness of themselves and become increasingly connected with all God's creation. We strive to ensure that our service program embodies this philosophy. The following is the basic information about our service program.

1. Each student will complete 15 hours of service. The first 15 hours will be Category A: Gospel Mission Hours. Any additional hours may count in Category B: Building Community Hours or Category A: Gospel Mission Hours, depending on their classification in the service directory or as assigned by the campus minister. There is one change in the policy this year. To encourage students to be involved in their Church parishes, the first five hours of any service in her parish will be counted in Category A: Gospel Mission Hours. Please refer to the service directory, as some programs have a maximum number of hours. In addition, the Student Handbook contains information about the service program. Service hours are due on Monday, April 7, 2008.  There will be checkpoints each quarter to ensure timely completion of the requirement.



2. Our comprehensive service directory, posted under both the Student and Parent dropdowns on the SJA website, is an excellent starting point for contacting agencies and locating places to serve. I realize there may be other opportunities for your daughter, and I want to honor her desire to serve in any capacity in which she may feel called. However, her safety and security are my first concern. As a result, your daughter will be asked to meet with me prior to serving with an organization not listed in the SJA service directory. Her hours may be denied if she fails to meet with me first.



3. A necessary piece of the service program is the experience of reflection. By processing her Gospel hours, your daughter is able to seriously consider the effect she is able to have on others and the effect others have on her through service. Upon the completion of her service hours, your daughter will be asked to write a paper. The paper is requisite for your daughter to finish her service. Your daughter will also participate in a day of guided reflection through meditation and conversation during her religion class to share a bit of her experience as a way to spark discussion about service and justice.

I appreciate your support of our efforts to educate your daughter in and out of the classroom. I ask that you initiate conversations with your daughter about her experience of service. As a parent, you play an essential role in her personal reflection and understanding the need for this integral element of a St. Joseph's Academy education.

Please do not hesitate to contact me with any questions, comments or concerns. I can be reached at 388-2321 or via email at mcrobert@sjabr.org.

Pax Christi,

Tori McRoberts
Campus Minster
St. Joseph's Academy