Christian Service

Summer Christian Service Hours must be submitted on the 2024-25 Bishop Verot Christian Service Form (summer) by September 3, 2024, to receive credit. After that date, paper forms will no longer be accepted.

Effective September 9, 2024, all Christian Service Hours will be documented via MobileServe.

Click the following link for a student tutorial. MobileServe for Students 

More information can be found at www.mobileserve.com 

Purpose. 

Service is an integral part of the Christian life. The service requirement for students is designed to reflect the teachings of Christ, who came not to be served but to serve. His teachings reveal God’s compassion and special concern for those suffering from poverty, persecution, or neglect: 

The King will say to those at his right hand, “Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?” And the king will answer them, “Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of my brothers and sisters, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:34 

The purpose of the service requirement is to emphasize a Christ-like concern for the poor and suffering. A service hour system has been devised to promote and encourage service experiences in which students have direct contact with people in need. The Christian Service Coordinator will organize student groups to assist service organizations in the Fort Myers area. Parents interested in volunteering are invited to contact the Christian Service Coordinator. 

Requirements 

Freshmen and Sophomore students are required to complete a minimum of 20 documented service hours via MobileServe (see addendum A) per year. Junior and Senior students are required to complete a minimum of 30 documented service hours via MobileServe per year. Senior students must turn in service points via no later than April 4, 2025. Freshmen, Sophomore, and Junior students need to turn in completed service on or before May 2, 2025. In addition, there will be a mid-year checkpoint for all grades on January 10, 2025. Students must turn in one half of the required service hours by this date. Failure to turn in completed hours on the specified dates will result in disciplinary action, co-curricular activities will be limited, and exam passes withheld until completed. Seniors who do not have their completed service hours by April 4, 2025, will be barred from senior privileges and events including Grad Bash and Prom until completed. Service performed after May 31, 2024, may be counted toward requirements for the following school year. Hours exceeding the minimum requirement will not apply to the next school year. However, students may turn in more than the required amount if they would like them recorded. 

Christian Service Hour deadlines are as follows: 

• Mid-Year Checkpoint - January 10, 2025 a. Sophomores & Freshmen- (10 hours) 
  • Seniors & Juniors - (15 hours) 
  • Students must have half of the required hours completed. All students who fail to meet this requirement will be subject to disciplinary action. 
• Final Christian Service Hour Deadlines a. Seniors- April 4, 2025 (30 hours) 
  • Juniors- May 2, 2025 (30 hours) 
  • Sophomores & Freshmen- May 2, 2025 (20 hours) 

 All service should be completed off the pre-approved location list or approved by the Christian Service Coordinator before service is performed to ensure agreement exists regarding the nature of the service and the hours will be awarded as Christian Service. 

Lists of pre-approved and service project sites are available from Theology teachers and the Christian Service Coordinator. Service not listed as pre-approved should not be assumed to fulfill the requirement. 

Pre-Approved Locations:

• All Diocese of Venice Parishes and Schools
• Boys/Girls Clubs
• Builders Care
• Calusa Nature Center
• Catholic Charities (After School Tutoring)
• Catholic Charities - Casa Maria Soup Kitchen (Immokalee)
• Children's Home Society
• Clare House-After School Tutoring
• Coalition of Immokalee Workers
• ECHO - (Educational Concerns for Hunger Organization)
• Habitat for Humanity
• Harlem Heights Organization / St. Columbkille
• Harry Chapin Food Bank
• Hope Hospice / Thrift Store
• Humane Society of Lee County
• Lee Memorial Hospital
• Lee Health Park
• Lifeline Family Center
• Big Brothers / Big Sisters
• Nursing Homes: Shady Rest, Cypress Cove, The Woodlands, Heartland, Heritage Park, Hidden Oaks
• Lee County Public Library
• Quality Life Center
• Red Cross
• Ronald McDonald House
• Salvation Army
• Senior Friendship Center (The Dream Team)
• Soup Kitchen / Meals on Wheels
• Special Populations
• Special Equestrians
  • Thrift Stores: Blessed Pope John XXIII, St. Vincent De Paul Society, St. Columbkille Thrift
• Tops Soccer - CCSA
• YMCA

Service which is not pre-approved but is performed in public, non-profit endeavors such as schools, hospitals, Churches, nursing homes, soup kitchens, thrift stores, and other organizations who provide for those in need can be presented for approval. 

Projects or Activities which will NOT receive credit 

Projects or activities that do not meet the listed criteria, either in whole or in part, should not be assumed to fulfill the school requirement. Examples include: 

• Chores done at home, baby-sitting, helping family members, or other examples of duties or responsibilities that would otherwise be performed will not qualify as service. 
• Being an “office runner,” attending club meetings, assisting coaches during the high school season, or providing ordinary assistance to a teacher when asked during the school day are all encouraged but will not be considered a fulfillment of the service requirement. 
• Volunteering with “for profit” organizations, companies, or individuals will not qualify even if it is done for no pay. 

Approved service to be done on or off campus must take place outside of regular school hours.

Student Organizations, Clubs, or Athletic Teams may require members to participate in particular service projects or require students to exceed 20/30 hours as conditions for membership.

No student may earn more than half their total service hours from Bishop Verot Catholic High School affiliated activities including clubs/organizations associated with Bishop Verot Catholic High School.

Documenting Hours. All service hours must be documented via MobileServe effective September 9, 2024. Summer service hours must be returned to the front office by September 3, 2024. Hours turned in after the September 3, 2024 deadline will not be accepted. It must be the original copy of 2024-25 Christian Service Form and signatures must be in blue/black ink. No electronic signatures will be accepted. Additional information can be found in the Student-Parent Christian Service Hour Agreement (Addendum A).

Verification. All service hours must be verified through MobileServe. Verification of hours is a three (3) step process; 1) Email verification from official representative on file with MobileServe 2) Electronic signature of an official representative on file with MobileServe 3) Geolocation from your electronic device. Timestamped photos while at the service site are encouraged, but not required. Verification from family members, peers, or anyone under the age of 18 are not acceptable. See Student-Parent Christian Service Hour Agreement (Addendum A).

Submittal of Service Hours. Service hours must be verified and submitted in MobileServe within two (2) weeks of service date. Hours performed during the Summer MUST be submitted by September 3, 2024 to receive credit signatures must be in blue/black ink and no electronic signatures will be accepted. All students who fail to submit service hours by the deadline will be subject to disciplinary action.

Service Performed During Summer. Projects completed over the summer must be submitted to the Christian Service Coordinator for approval. Approval forms are available online at the BVHS website. During the summer, students are strongly encouraged to engage in Corporal Works of Mercy by working with the poor, the sick and dying, or persons otherwise in need. Deadline to submit summer service hours is September 3, 2024.

False documentation of Christian service will be punished as academic dishonesty and a violation of the honor code. Hours falsely documented or forgery of signatures will be made-up in-service placements chosen by the administration. In addition, the student will be subject to disciplinary action for honor code violations as outlined in the Handbook.

Students who do not complete Service Hour requirement will be given one Saturday detention for every week (past the due date) their hours are not turned in, students may not be promoted to the next grade, and final exams will be withheld. In the case of seniors, students will be barred from senior privileges, events and will not be allowed to graduate. In such cases, a Summer Service Agreement will be required, with approval of sites from the Christian Service Coordinator.

Student-Parent Christian Service Hour Agreement

Christian Service Form (Summer 2024)

For more information or pre-approval, please contact the Christian Service Coordinator, Mr. Rode, at richie.rode@bvhs.org. 

Theology - Christian Service Assignment

Beginning in the 2019-2020 school year, all students will be required to submit a comprehensive assignment reflecting on their Christian service each semester, which is weighted as a project/test grade. It is recommended students keep a detailed record of all Christian service completed over the summer including the specific tasks done. Pictures and videos may be taken also as long as they are approved by the facility and reflect a spirit of compassion and humility. Completing the Christian Service form with signatures is required. 

Bishop Verot Students Working in our Community