SHINE Service Program

“You are the light of the world. . . let your light SHINE before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.” -Matthew 5:14-16 

SHINE is designed to help students become active evangelists in the church and the greater community. This service program is optional as transportation can be difficult for middle school students to obtain. Students that do choose to participate and meet the minimum requirement of service hours per trimester are awarded, extra service trips, and/or out of uniform days. 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Trimester 1 Rewards 

 ● Students will have the opportunity to attend a service trip in November to clean graves at the Ankeny Cemetery. This trip has been a student favorite in the past and is a wonderful way to honor the faithfully departed.

 ● The student with the most service hours in their grade will receive an additional 5 stars for their house. 

Trimester 2 Rewards

 ● Students will have the opportunity to go on a service trip (details to be announced during the school year).

 ● The student with the most service hours in their grade will receive an additional 5 stars for their house. 

Trimester 3 Rewards 

● Students will receive an out-of-uniform pass. 

● The student with the most service hours in their grade will receive an additional 5 stars for their house. 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

Distribution of Hours per Trimester

6th Grade 2 hours minimum—-up to 1 hour will be counted for one activity 

7th Grade 4 hours minimum—-up to 2 hours will be counted for one activity 

8th Grade 6 hours minimum—up to 3 hours will be counted for one activity 

Summer Hours: Service hours earned during the summer after the academic year should be applied to the upcoming school year’s first trimester. Summer hours begin the day school is dismissed for the summer and end the day before the first day of school. An up to date list of service hour opportunities is available on the middle school website. 

_____________________________________________________________________________________________

How to Participate: 

Use your SHINE Service Hour Log to record ALL hours for each trimester. 

● Arrange for a qualifying service-learning opportunity.

 ● Participate in and enjoy your service-learning opportunity. 

● Fill in the row on your log with information about your service. After you have completed your service-learning experience, have the site supervisor initial to verify the information.

 ● Turn in your SHINE Service Hour Log by the following Monday after the last day of the trimester. Third Trimester sheets must be turned in 2 weeks before the last day of school.

 ● If you wish to obtain hours for an activity not listed in the “Pre-Approved Organizations” link, you must obtain pre-approval from your Religion teacher before you undertake the activity. If approved by e-mail, the e-mail must be printed and attached to service log. 

● Since SHINE is an optional program, only half your hours may be counted from one activity in order to encourage students to serve in a variety of ways. 

By participating in this optional program, you are meeting the following Diocesan standards. Students that do not participate will still meet these as they participate in middle school service opportunities and in class curriculum. 

Student Testimonies

"When I was packaging meals I saw how important it is for people to have food. At the end of each session they give an example on how not having food can affect the way you look and process stuff. Of course after two hours of doing this you would want to go home, but the demonstration convinced several people to stay for another two hours. It was a great experience not only to support my grandpa but also everyone in need in other countries."

"I helped package meals through Then Feed Just One. The meals we packaged went to people in Haiti. I learned about malnutrition and was able to listen to a speaker show us images of those that we helped. I was shocked to see a 2 year old's wrist be the size of a marker because of malnutrition. It was terrifying, but taught me to be grateful for everything that I have."

"The bags that I helped organize at Mary's Helping Hands prepare the baby and their mother for the first year of their lives. We got to pick clothes and accessories to put in the bags.  At one point, two women who didn't know English came in and I translated for them and helped them get the information they needed."

"When my friend and I went and made meals for the homeless and gave them the meals one-on-one, it was so crazy! It showed me to not take the stuff we have for granted. Also, it was really fun to be able to help." 

"I was able to learn about how a food pantry can grow vegetables in bags. It was so cool being able to use a cement mixer in order to mix all the soil ingredients together. My friends and I packed 21 bags of soil...that will be used to grow 210 pounds of potatoes for people in need!"

"I made Kindness Bags for the YMCA for Shelter the Homeless (Corporal Works of Mercy) and Solidarity.  These bags are given to those transitioning out of homelessness. The bags give them a smile and some basic necessities while they are getting back on their feet. It made me realize how lucky I am to have a home and the basic necessities. I am hopeful that these bags will remind others that they are not alone!"

"When I was cleaning graves it made me realize how precious life can be. I saw some graves of very old people and some of babies. I also saw that there were people who were members of Knights of Columbus while they were alive. It was cool to see how they helped the Church during their lives. I liked being able to pray for their souls and show that respect to them."