Service Learning

Service learning is a form of experiential education where learning occurs through a cycle of action and reflection, as students seek to achieve real objectives for the community and deeper understanding and skills for themselves. In this process, students link personal and social development with academic and cognitive development. Experience enhances understanding, understanding leads to more effective action.

The emphasis of the school’s Service-Learning Program is on community—actively responding to the identified needs of the community. As a school, we understand that observing the needs of our community, utilizing our faith to make moral judgments, and putting it into action allows us to learn about God, ourselves, and our world. This knowledge and self-awareness helps us to commit ourselves to being Christ’s presence in our world, working toward a more just and peaceful society.

There are many proven benefits of adding service learning to the curriculum. Research has shown that around 80% of students who participated in a service-learning project found the experience “highly beneficial.” Furthermore, a service-learning program can:

• Help students make connections between different academic subjects by using an interdisciplinary teaching approach.
• Encourage students to positively contribute to their communities, while also aligning to class curriculum.
• Allow for a hands-on learning experience.
• Improve academic outcomes, attendance rates and class engagement.
• Promote mutual respect and kindness.
• Boost levels of self-esteem, empathy, and responsibility.
• Increase awareness of community needs and local or global issues.
• Reduce the risk of behavioral problems in the classroom.
• Strengthen classroom communication.

All service hours are to be offered for those who are in need or in vulnerable situations. In addition, all service hours must be done through a non-profit organization [501(c)(3)]. 

Persons in a community in need include those associated with age, social, or economic background, physical, mental, learning, or emotional deprivation, or disabilities. Furthermore, students may serve the community by being good stewards of God’s creation through environmental initiatives and advocating for human rights and social justice issues.

As part of the service learning program students will be encouraged to step out of their comfort zone to help the poor and vulnerable of our community. Although these experiences may be challenging, they do change student's perception regarding social justice issues and injustices found within our society. Therefore, as a Catholic school in the Marist tradition, students must complete the majority of their service hours (80 hours) in “direct service” to those in need or in vulnerable situations through a non-profit organization, meaning that the student has direct contact with the people or community they are serving. Thus, highlighting what it means to be a Christian man in today’s society. The remaining 20 hours may be done through indirect service, meaning that the student may contribute through donation-based activities or activities within the school community.

Examples of Direct Service: Missionaries of Charity Soup Kitchen; Camillus House, Lotus House, Shake-a-Leg, Miami Learning Experience School, Miami Rescue Mission, Special Olympics, Feeding South Florida, Blue Missions, Encuentro Project, Mid-Hudson Valley Camps, Environmental clean-up initiatives.

Examples of Indirect Service: Donation based activities that do not bring the student in contact with the poor or vulnerable such as can food drives, clothing drives, gift baskets, or parish activities such as altar serving, pig-roasts, and fairs.

In addition, volunteering or assisting in school related activities such as open house, Scholastic Olympics, etc.

Also, students may not submit hours for tutoring or service done through their respective Honor Society (Math, Science, English, History, Spanish, etc..) until they have fulfilled their requirement for that particular honor society or fulfilled their requirement for the National Honor Society.

Students should always check the x2Vol account for school approved service opportunities.

Students must complete a minimum of 100 service hours to graduate from Christopher Columbus High School (80 Direct and 20 Indirect). 

The following timeline is recommended to ensure that students complete their service requirement in a timely manner:

• Grades 9 and 10 - 20 hours per year
• Grades 11 and 12 - 30 hours per year

Students who have completed 300 or more hours of service to the community will receive honor cords recognizing their service and contribution to the community.

The 100-hour Service-Learning requirement is prorated for students who transfer to CCHS from another state, after freshman year, is as follows:

Sophomores: 75 hours
Juniors: 50 hours
Seniors: 25 hours

If a transfer student wishes to receive credit for service hours performed while attending his previous high school:

• He must provide acceptable, verifiable documentation of qualified service (see GETTING CREDIT FOR QUALIFIED SERVICE HOURS).
• This documentation must be uploaded to the x2VOL System by the student within 30 days of the student's matriculation at CCHS.
• Approved service hours performed during the school year in which the student transfers to CCHS will be credited against the prorated requirement.
• Approved service hours performed during high school years previous to the school year in which the student transfers to CCHS will be credited against the full 100-hour graduation requirement (in this instance the student waives the transfer student proration).

If a student transfers to CCHS from another Florida school he is still responsible to complete the 100 service hours as part of the school and state requirements.

1.    To Receive Credit:

• Qualified service hours must be properly documented by the organization. Documentation must have the student's name, a description of the service performed, dates and times of service, and a signature by the supervising agent of the organization.
• Documents must be submitted according to procedure using the x2VOL system.
• Hours must be logged on-time according to published deadlines.
• Hours must be done through a 501(c)(3) organization. 
• All personal and Mas Service projects must receive prior approval by the Director of Service Learning.

2.    Student Integrity:

The student is responsible for the truth and accuracy of the information contained in the documents he submits.  Submitting false information may result in disciplinary action by the school.

To be eligible for credit, service must be performed on behalf of a non-profit organization (with the exception of certain health-care organizations as described below).  

Note: Non-profit status can only be conferred by state and/or federal government.  

CCHS will recognize the non-profit status of any organization that has been granted either:

• Florida Non-Profit Corporation status by the Florida Department of Corporations.
• 501(c)(3) status by the U.S. Internal Revenue Service.

Online Tool For Checking Florida Non-Profit Corporation Status
Students can check to see if an organization is recognized as a Florida Non-Profit Corporation by using the handy online search tool provided by the Florida Department of Corporations.

If an organization is a Florida Non-Profit, that label will appear at the top of the search result.

Checking 501c3 Status
Students can check 501c3 status of an organization by calling the IRS toll-free at: 1-877-829-5500 

Need Help?
Any student who needs help determining the non-profit status of an organization should ask Br. Al (his office is behind the LBC in front of the nurse's office) or Mr. Echevarria by email.

If the hours, you are submitting are from the “pre-approved list” please follow these instructions:

• login to your x2vol account
• Go to the “Opportunities" page and look for the entry for that organization.
• Click on the blue tab "Add to my opportunities.”
• Go to "My Activity Log" (this is found at the top of the page)
• Find this event and click "add hours.”
• Click on the green tab "add files" and upload your documentation letter provided to you by the organization.
• Fill out the "Date of the event” (If multiple dates use the date indicated on the letter.)
• Fill out the hours earned.
• Write a brief reflection about your experience. (Mandatory)
• Assign your service hours…Are they direct or indirect hours?
• Check the oath indicating that the information you are submitting is correct.
• Submit claim. If all is submitted correctly you should see “SUBMISSION SUCCESSFUL”. If not, you will see a red line indicating what information is missing. Correct the mistake and submit.

If the hours, you are submitting are a “Personal Project” please follow these instructions:

• login to your x2vol account.
• Go to "My Activity Log" (this is found at the top of the page)
• Look for the Tab “Personal Project – Create New”.
• Complete the documentation with all the necessary information.
• Click on the green tab "add files" and upload your documentation letter provided to you by the organization.
• Fill out the "Date of the event” (If multiple dates use the date on the letter.)
• Fill out the hours earned.
• Write a brief reflection about the experience (Mandatory).
• Assign your service hours…Are they direct or indirect hours?
• Check the oath indicating that the information you are submitting is correct.
• Submit claim. If all is submitted correctly you should see “SUBMISSION SUCCESSFUL”. If not, you will see a red line indicating what information is missing. Correct the mistake and submit.

Other aspects to consider:

• If the service activity is offered by a CCHS faculty or staff member, no documentation is generally needed, simply approval or verification from the faculty or staff member is required.
• If the service activity is an in-house collection, students will need to take a picture of their donation, will all items clearly visible, a hold their CCHS issued ID or a paper with their name and CCHS ID #. This will serve as their documentation/proof.