Service Learning at St. Greg's

In order to facilitate authentic, meaningful, reflective service learning at St. Gregory the Great High School, we have created an innovative service program beginning in the 2009-2010 school year.

Every SGHS student has been drafted to a service site team of his or her choice.  Each team is coached by a member of the SGHS faculty/staff.  All members of each team is be trained in the skills necessary to serve at their site.

Beginning in November, and for four subsequent months, the service teams are dismissed after lunch to go out to the community and perform service at their chosen site.  Coaches model our beliefs and work ethic for service, as well as encourage the students to grow and use their talents.  Students develop a specific skill set and experience accountability to the team with whom they work and to those they serve.  By becoming “regulars” at the site, students experience service as a reciprocal journey with others.

Students have opportunities in their team, in class, during advisory and at worship to reflect on and share with each other their insight and experience.

This new program fulfills our school goals for service learning:

• Every student realizes that, regardless of their own situations, they have something to contribute.
• Service experiences foster a sense of community awareness and encourage giving back to the community.
• Students develop teamwork and leadership skills.
• Students are encouraged to return on their own time to the site to perform expert service.
• Students develop experience to take with them into their career, school and other service opportunities.
• Students become self-motivated to be present and do good work in order to serve those with whom they have developed a relationship during multiple visits.
• Students are encouraged to participate and hopefully lead the team in prayer, and perhaps even offer to pray with cooperators and clients at the service site.
• Students develop skills to articulate verbally and in writing the experience of service learning.
• Students practice Gospel values in challenging situations.
• Service becomes an integral part of our entire school curriculum, prayer life and culture.

Students volunteer at the following sites:

• Nuemann Association
• Misericordia

• Bethany Retirement Community
• European American Association

• St. Matthias School
• Greyhound Children’s Theatre

• Deborah’s Place
• Howard Area Community Center
• Goldie’s Place