Service Learning

Each member of the Class of 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028 will receive a PASS or FAIL for Service Learning on her final report card and transcript and this will be included in PowerSchool. Each member of the Class of 2025, 2026, 2027, and 2028 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 upon request by the transfer student to the Director of Service and Social Justice.

Villa Maria is using the Mobile Serve platform for the submission and recording of service opportunities. Students are responsible for submitting their own service hours to Mobile Serve and ensuring that their service hours are verified by their service contact according to the above-listed due dates. Students must submit service hours to Mobile Serve within one week of the completion of service. Verification of service hours may only be done by the direct supervisor of the service opportunity.

• Service Learning Verification Form (PDF) 
• Service Hours Charts 2024-25

The following types of service fulfill Villa's service requirements: 

• Service completed during the school day which is in addition to the academic requirements of the school day
• Service opportunities sponsored by Service Learning and Mission and Ministry
• Service to the Villa Maria community which is NOT part of a student’s responsibilities or role in a VMA student organization, club, or activity. Any service to the Villa Maria Community must be discussed with the Director of Service and Social Justice by the service supervisor prior to publication of the service
• Service to the Church (local parish or diocese) including ushering, altar serving or teaching religious education classes
• Coaching, mentoring, and tutoring (any non-family member) through a nonprofit organization
• 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 must be completed through a nonprofit organization.
• Service at a nonprofit organization that meets the above-stated service hour requirements.

The following activities do not fullfill service requirements: 

• Service completed during the school day which is NOT in addition to the academic requirements of the school day.
• Service which is required or in any way part of one’s responsibility as a member or leader of a Villa Maria organization, club, or activity. Any service to the Villa Maria Community must be discussed with the Director of Service and Social Justice by the service supervisor prior to publication of the service.
• Any work which includes a stipend.
• Travel time, unless it is directly connected to the service being performed and approved by the Director of Service and Social Justice in advance.
• Service provided to family, friends, neighbors, and/or community members, unless it is facilitated through Villa Maria or a nonprofit organization or entity.
• Hours completed during middle school or grade school.
• Babysitting, unless it is through a nonprofit organization or entity.
• Altar serving at Villa Maria Academy.
• Work at a for-profit organization or entity even if the work is for a pro-bono project or a charit event or collection/drive.
• A student may only earn 5 hours of service per semester 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.
• Fundraising.
• Shopping or buying gifts or supplies for individuals, families, or organizations in need
• Facilitating collections or drives for any organization or entity.

If a student is unsure that a 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 toward the service hours requirement.

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.

Students from the Class of 2025 who have NOT completed the required minimum service hours on the dates indicated in the service hours charts will be placed on the Extra-Curricular Ineligibility List. Students from the Classes of 2026, 2027, and 2028 who have NOT completed the required minimum service hours on the dates indicated in the service hours charts will be placed on the Extra-Curricular Ineligibility List.

Students may only be removed from the Extra-Curricular Ineligibility Lists when their service hours have been completed, verified, and approved. Removal of a student from the Extra-Curricular Ineligibility List will only occur once a week.