By Daily Press staff
St. Monica Catholic High School requirements go beyond biology and calculus — it extends to serving the community.
Christian Service, part of St. Monica’s religious studies curriculum, is a requirement for all of the school’s 600 students. During their four years, students log a minimum of 100 hours of community service.
The Community Service requirement for freshmen starts with 20 hours for the academic year, and includes outreach with a parish, synagogue, mosque, temple or other religious community. Sophomores also log 20 hours, but the challenges are ratcheted up. Focusing on helping young people, students care for drug-addicted babies and those with AIDS, work with at-risk youth, and provide tutoring in approved programs. Upperclassmen must log 30 hours a year, with juniors spending at least 20 of their hours working with the elderly, or disabled. Seniors must work at least 20 hours with the poor.
Students quickly learn they can’t take the easy way out meeting their service requirements. Unacceptable projects include working on charity drives, participating in dance-athons or doing office-clerical work. Service must involve direct interaction with the target population so that students “see the faces” of those they serve.
“People gave us hugs when we served them food,” said senior Marissa Parker, 17, who has been serving meals at the SAMOSHEL homeless shelter. “It made me appreciate what I have.”
At St. Monica Catholic High School, the classroom can be as big and challenging as the city. Students leave their desks and go to hospitals, nursing homes, homeless shelters — any place where they can help to “transform the world” while they’re learning.
Principal Tamara Martinez-Payne said Christian Service, applied throughout the school year, helps to create St. Monica High School’s “phenomenal community.”
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 27, 2005. Read the original PDF.