NOTRE DAME HIGH SCHOOL BELMONT

Campus Ministry

Guidelines

(Community Service Information and Guidelines)

Graduation Requirement

Each student is required to complete 100 hours of community service over four years as a prerequisite to graduation. A minimum of 15 of these 100 hours must be completed in service to Notre Dame High School (see details below). Diplomas will be withheld for students who do not complete the 100-hour community service requirement. Transfer students are required to complete the equivalent of 25 hours of service (including 3 hours of service to Notre Dame) for each year they attend Notre Dame.

Service to Notre Dame

All students MUST complete a minimum of 15 hours of service to Notre Dame. Students MAY complete up to 30 of their 100 service hours of service to Notre Dame. Any service to Notre Dame beyond 30 hours will be recorded, but will not count towards the 100-hour requirement. Service to Notre Dame includes volunteering at school events (such as Admissions, Alumni, Development, or Athletic events) or assisting a teacher or department. Examples and upcoming opportunities can be found in Campus Ministry or by clicking here.

Guidelines and Rules for Community Service

  1. Service must be completed through a non-profit organization. Service hours are not earned for tutoring, babysitting, or helping a neighbor or friend.
  2. Students may not be paid for volunteer work. If students receive wages, tips, or other compensation for their services, it will not count towards the community service requirement.
  3. Service must be completed outside of class time. Students may not receive credit for service completed during the school day if they are missing class to do so. It is acceptable for students complete community service during free periods, at lunch, before or after school, weekends, vacations, and holidays.
  4. Service must be verified on the official Community Service Verification Form. This form must be filled out completely, include a supervisor signature and parent signature, and have a business card or other official document from the agency attached. Misrepresenting community service hours in any way will result in disciplinary action. If the service hours are part of the Christian Service Project, the incident will also be treated as a case of academic dishonesty. (Forms are available in Campus Ministry. Or, click hereto download a Community Service Verification form.)
  5. More details…
  • Overnight Service Trips - For overnight service trips, a standard ten (10) hours of service are earned per full day. In the case of overnight service activities which involve the responsibility of overnight supervision (such as overnight summer camps), service hours are earned for all hours worked except breaks. Service hours on partial days are earned according to the number of hours served.
  • Performing Arts - In the case of theatre, music, and dance performances that are performed as fundraisers for non-profit organizations or as service to a religious organization, service hours are credited to performers and stage crew for performance time only. Rehearsal time does not count towards the community service requirement.
  • Church/Religious Involvement - Students may earn community service hours for serving their religious community through liturgical ministries such as altar serving, Eucharistic ministry, music ministry, ministry of the Word, etc. Assisting with religious education and volunteering at events such as a parish festival or fundraising event or are also acceptable.
  • Youth Groups - Students who serve in a leadership role in youth groups, retreats, or other programs may earn service hours for time spent planning and leading these events. Service hours are not earned for participating in such events except in a leadership role.
  • Social Justice Activities- Service hours may be earned for volunteering at non-profit organizations that serve social justice causes, including participation in fundraising events for such organizations. However, service hours are not earned for attending marches, rallies, demonstrations, educational speakers, etc. for social justice or community causes EXCEPT in the case of the senior Christian Service Project requirement in the Social Justice course.
  • Honor Societies - Service hours are not earned when required as part of participation in an honor society such as NHS or CSF.
  • Service Retreat - Service hours are not earned when required for the mandatory Junior Service Retreat.
  • Courses- Service hours are not earned when required as part of an academic course (with the exception of the Christian Service Project).
  • Teacher's Assistants - Working as a Teacher's Assistant (T.A.) does not count towards the community service requirement.
  • Team Managers - Managing an athletic team does not count towards the community service requirement.

Let us do the work of the Lord with great faith, in a great spirit of charity.

- St. Julie Billiart, Foundress of the Sisters of Notre Dame

CONTACT INFORMATION

Campus Ministry Office
(650) 595-1913 x325

John Ottersberg
Director of Campus Ministry
(650) 595-1913 x350 (voicemail)
(click to email)

Kay Polintan
Retreat Coordinator
(650)595-1913 x287 (voicemail)
(click to email)

Father Stephen Howell
Campus Chaplain
(650)595-1913 x449
(click to email)