SERVICE HOURS

General Information

The Most Holy Redeemer Inter-Parochial School Advisory Commission, with the cooperation and support of the Home and School Association (HSA), has a Parent Commitment Plan.  Based on the principle that a child will only be successful as long as the parents are actively involved with their child and his/her Catholic education, a commitment of time, financial resources, or both is required.  The primary purpose of the commitment of time is to generate income for the Home and School Association by having workers available for fundraisers and activities.  However, if a family is unable to offer its time to the service hour obligation by May 1st, then the family agrees to pay $15 for each service hour not completed. Either way, the funds generated are used for various school improvements.

For each child in school, the parents commit ten hours (or pay $15 per unfulfilled hour) with a maximum of 20 hours per family per year.  As noted above, a primary objective is to encourage volunteer assistance for fundraisers.  However, hours can also be fulfilled in such areas as baking goods, maintenance work, serving as a homeroom parent, serving as a representative on the Advisory Commission or the HSA, driving to games, chaperoning field trips, attending or helping to serve refreshments at HSA meetings, assisting teachers (when asked), assisting in the cafeteria, typing for teachers, and so forth. For specifics, see the Service Hour Sample Table.  Any activity not listed is subject to approval by the administration.  Please note, though, that service hours are earned through MHR School events only.  Hours for parish-related events will not be accepted.

How the Program is Administered

Service hour coupons are available in the office, from your homeroom parent or from any committee chairperson.

Parents keep track of their own service hours, complete service hour coupons, and submit them to a teacher, office staff member, homeroom mother or committee chairperson for approval at the time the service is performed.  Coupons without approval signatures are returned to parents without action.

The names and homerooms of all children in the family should be listed to ensure proper credit. If not, we may have no way of crediting the hours.

If a purchase such as office supplies, classroom materials or food was involved, save the receipt!  Receipts must be submitted with the service hour coupon; if not, claims for hours based on purchases will be returned to parents without credit.  

Time and expenses can be combined. For example, if one spends three hours baking for the Fall Fest Cake Walk, the service hour coupon would reflect the first three hours, and any cake ingredient receipts would be attached to the coupon for credit of an additional hour for each $15.

As soon as it's approved, the coupon (with receipts, if applicable) must be deposited in the service hour box in the school office (or in the box at HSA Meetings for attendance hours).  Parents keep a record of service hours submitted by retaining the stub half of the coupon. The deadline is one week; coupons are not to be accumulated until the end of the quarter.

Service hours do not carry over from one school year to the next.

Special Rules for Service Hours for Volunteer Work

As noted above, volunteering can earn service hours. However, before anyone can volunteer for activities involving supervising the children, a one-time process involving special requirements--not related to the Service Hour program--must be completed. These requirements include a Volunteer Application, payment for a background check, fingerprints, and completion of the Safe Environment Program training. The whole volunteer approval process takes three to five weeks plus whatever time until the next Safe Environments course is available. 

On July 1, 2007, the Diocese of St. Petersburg changed school volunteer requirements and, in effect, cancelled the volunteer status of all MHR volunteers. To reinstate volunteer status and be permitted to work with children, all prior volunteers must now complete a "Level II" background check with fingerprints. ONLY approved volunteers may assist in the school with activities that involve the supervision of children. Again, please see the above link for all the details.

SAMPLES OF WAYS TO EARN SERVICE HOURS (SH)

For more specific ways to earn your Service Hours, please contact your Homeroom Parent.