Upper School
Community Service
St. Margaret's is committed to helping students use their gifts to acquire a better understanding of and keener sensitivity to the needs and realities of their immediate and extended community. As students serve others, they have the opportunity to learn profound and life changing lessons. Those seemingly in need of help, often teach far more than they are given. In the Episcopal tradition, service to others is both our responsibility and our blessing, for it is God who has first served us.
Requirements
St. Margaret's upper school requires all students to participate in the community service program by completing minimum grade level requirements. Hours served in excess of the required hours may be used toward subsequent years, if they meet the specific requirements for that particular year. Service hours may not be used to fulfill the requirements for both a service organization like National Charity League and St. Margaret's. Students must complete the minimum grade level requirement each year before they are allowed to begin classes in the fall. Seniors will not receive their diploma until their grade level requirement is completed.
1. Ninth Grade - Service Starts at Home: Fifteen (15) hours of service within the St. Margaret's school community, to be completed by June 1st of the ninth grade year.
2.Tenth Grade - We Learn from Those We Serve: Fifteen (15) hours of person-to-person service to the "special needs"" community to be completed by August 1st before the eleventh grade year. Special needs include: the disabled, poor, those "at risk" and the elderly.
3.Eleventh and Twelfth Grades (combined) - Personalizing Your Commitment: Forty (40) hours of service to one non-profit organization of choice, other than SMES. The requirement must be fulfilled by May 1st before graduation. The majority of these service hours should be person- to-person, unless specifically approved of by the upper school Community Service Director. The only exceptions to the non-profit policy are medical or elder care facilities.