Service
Service puts the Loretto School Values of faith, community, justice and respect into action. Students learn the importance of reaching out to those in need.
Service gives even the youngest students opportunities to understand issues around people in need so that even simple food drives become lessons in learning. In 2009-2010, High School students worked at over 120 sites completing over 8,200 hours of service.
High School
The Community Service program at St. Mary's Academy High School exists to provide the students an opportunity to begin fulfilling the commitment to love, to learn from those we serve, and to discover the best in ourselves and our ability to make a difference in the lives of all people.
Community service is a chance to learn and grow in ways that are impossible in a classroom. Although students do not receive academic credit for service, 100 hours are required to graduate from SMA, and hours will be pro-rated for transferring students. Within each grade level, the students are provided a learning context in which to perform their community service (see below for grade level requirements).
We encourage the students to step out of their comfort zones and challenge themselves to grow as much as possible. We offer many service trip opportunities, including, but not limited to, a Spring Break trip to New Orleans and a trip to the Sisters of Loretto Motherhouse in Kentucky during the summer. These service experiences allow students to come across challenging situations and circumstances that expose the social issues present in the world and the significance and value of their work.
Although there are many opportunities to volunteer, we have a few restrictions for qualifying hours. Hours completed doing the following work will NOT be applied towards the required total:
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Volunteering with animals (veterinarian's office, animal shelter).
- This excludes sites where animals are used for therapeutic purposes
- Organizations with political affiliation (campaigns, rallies)
- Fundraising
- Sporting events (working a score clock, refereeing)
- On campus work - we encourage students to get out in the community!
There are a number of community service sites around the Denver area that have wonderful volunteer opportunities. We encourage students to choose sites that involve their interests and challenge them to grow as individuals.
For further information, contact Ms. Smith at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
(See below for approved sites)
Middle School
Throughout the year students participate in three areas of service, in addition to other opportunities that take place during the year in advisory:
RISE program: All students volunteer in the Read, Imagine, Share & Explore, a literacy and learning for preschoolers.
St. Elizabeth's Food Line: Every advisory group prepares food at least one week a year for homeless persons in downtown Denver. Each week four eighth graders take the food, work at the soup and sandwich line, and help at St. Elizabeth’s kitchen as needed. Middle Schoolers participate in ongoing collections of canned food and ground coffee for St. Elizabeth’s. Meridian Assisted Living Centers: Fine Arts classes performed for the elders at the Center.
In addition, advisories initiate other service throughout the year.
Lower School
Students are not only engaged in hands-on service but also learn the how’s and why’s of families who lack basis necessities. In the past two years students have been involved in the following activities:
Friends of St. Andrew (sponsored by Queen of Peace Parish): collected, filled and helped Queen of Peace parishioners distribute food baskets at Thanksgiving and Easter.
Aurora Warms the Night: Made blankets and collected toiletries and snacks for homeless persons.
Emily Griffith Opportunity School: collected 1600 books for adult refugees learning English. The refugees planned a culture and country day for the SMA students with time to chat informally and get to know one another.
Earth Day: grade level activities and all-year reuse/recycling efforts Valentines: Student made valentines for residents in nursing care facilities
Afghanistan: student packed boxes of goodies for troops.
When doing my community service at a healthcare and rehabilitation center I was able to connect with people on a different level than I do in my everyday interactions. I found myself being committed to serving them and, as a result, learning more than I thought possible.
