Service Learning

Service Learning is an instructional method that fosters student learning and service to one’s community. Students apply knowledge and skills developed in the classroom to service opportunities in the community. In turn, the service experiences help create conditions for students to succeed in the classroom and in life

Minimum Service Hours Based on Grade Level

(unless service hours requirements have previously been met based on grade level)

Class Year	Hours Required	Minimum Hours Due 1st Semester	Minimum Hours Due 2nd Semester
2023	25	13 hours by or before 11/4/22	12 hours by or before 3/23/23 (graduation requirement)
2024	20	10 hours by or before 11/11/22	10 hours by or before 3/29/23
2025	25	8 hours by or before 11/11/22	7 hours by or before 3/29/23
2026	10	5 hours by or before 11/11/22	5 hours by or before 3/29/23

Total Service Hour Requirements By Grade for 2022-2023

Class Year	Total Hours Due First Semester	Total Hours Due Second Semester
2023	55 hours by or before 11/4/22	65 (graduation requirement) by on or before 3/23/23
2024	35 hours by or before 11/11/22	45 by on or before 3/29/23
2025	18 hours by or before 11/11/22	25 by on or before 3/29/23
2026	5 hours on or before 11/11/22	10 by on or before 3/29/23

Requirements and Activities

Service Hours – Grading and Submission

Each member of the Classes of 2023, 2024, and 2025 will receive a PASS or FAIL for Service Learning on her final report card and this will be included in PowerSchool. Each member of the Class of 2023, 2024, and 2025 will receive a PASS, INCOMPLETE, or FAIL for service learning on her semester one report card and this will be included in PowerSchool.

Service hours for transfer students will be prorated by the Director of Service and Social Justice.

Villa introduced our new service hour platform, MobileServe, to the students at the start of the 2022-2023 school year. All of the past service hours for sophomores, juniors, and seniors have been transferred to MobileServe, and we expect that the students will find MobileServe to be user-friendly.

Service hours can now be recorded and verified on student phones at the service sites, if the students wish to do so. However, we still accept the traditional Service Learning Verification form (link below) if the service supervisor prefers to sign a hard copy.

Students are responsible for submitting their own service hours to MobileServe and ensuring that their service hours are verified by their service contact according to the above-listed due dates. Verification of service hours may only be done by a direct sponsor or moderator of the service opportunity.

Types of Service that Fulfill Service Requirements

Service opportunities sponsored by Mission and Ministry such as bi-monthly service at Good Samaritan Food Pantry (partner with Chester County Food Bank); monthly service at Cuddle My Kids, and various other service opportunities offered on a weekly basis
Service to the Villa Maria community sponsored through the Admissions Office, Campus Ministry, the Director of Retreats, Advancement Office, Athletics Office, and the school store
Service at a church (local parish or diocese) including ushering, altar serving or teaching religious education classes (altar serving at Villa Maria does not count towards service hours requirements)
Coaching, mentoring, and tutoring (any non-family member)
Outside service opportunities which provide an opportunity for students to provide direct assistance to people who are socially or economically disadvantaged and marginalized including service to the poor, the homeless, the disabled, the sick, the elderly, and the unborn and/or expectant mothers (any non-family member)
Service at a nonprofit organization which meets the above-stated service hour requirements.

Types of Activities Which Do Not Fulfill Service Requirements

Work performed as a member or leader of a Villa Maria organization, club, or activity
Any work which includes a stipend
Travel time, unless it is directly connected to the service being performed
Help given to family or friends that does not provide an opportunity for student to assist people who are socially or economically disadvantaged and marginalized
Hours from middle school or grade school
Babysitting for family or a friend
Altar serving at Villa Maria Academy
Work at a for profit entity or organization
A student may only earn 3 hours of service from baking activities which meet the previously stated requirements
Virtual or online service opportunities and creating cards off-campus that were permitted previously due to Covid-related concerns.

If a student is unsure that an outside service opportunity meets the service requirements, she must meet with the Director of Service and Social Justice. Students assume the risk for all service opportunities which are not approved as the hours completed may not be counted.

Participation in Activities

Ordinarily, no student may participate in any school-related activity, including activities sponsored by other schools, unless she has completed her service hour requirements (which include the verification of service hours by the service contact) by the published due dates. Activities involved include — but are not limited to — dances, field trips, athletic competitions, musical performances, and honors convocations.

Ineligibility Pull for Incomplete Service Hours

Service Ineligibility Pull

Students from the Class of 2023 who have NOT completed the required minimum service hours on the dates indicated in the service hours charts will be placed on the Service Ineligibility Pull which will be published on November 8, 2022 for semester one and March 27, 2023 for semester two; however, the service hours due dates of 11/4/22 and 3/23/23 are the dates used for the compilation of the Service Ineligibility Pull.

Students from the Classes of 2024, 2025, and 2026 who have NOT completed the required minimum service hours on the dates indicated in the service hours charts will be placed on the Service Ineligibility Pull which will be published on November 18, 2022 for semester one and April 12, 2023 for semester two; however, the service hours due dates of 11/11/22 and 3/29/23 are the dates used for the compilation of the Service Ineligibility Pull.