Service Requirement

Every McQuaid student must fulfill a service requirement of one hundred hours by the last day of classes his senior year in order to be eligible for a McQuaid Jesuit High School diploma. “Service” is defined as work done by the student without monetary compensation and without promise of a reward, award, or some other type of rank or status achieved in an organization. Service hours may be acquired any time between freshmen and senior years. They may be done during the school year, on weekends, during the summer, etc. Students may initiate their own projects or join activities recommended by the school.

Why Service?

We believe that all of us have been chosen, blessed, and deeply loved by God. Christian service comes out of gratitude as we recognize these gifts and the goodness of God. The gratefulness in our hearts naturally moves us to reach out to others in need, because we have first been loved. “To whom much has been given, much will be expected” Luke 12:48. McQuaid challenges its students to take this ideal to heart. Service in a Jesuit school is about more than doing good. Instead, it aims at developing a habit, a habit of reflection about how God is at work in our brothers and sisters in need and how God’s Kingdom continues to unfold in the midst of our own labors. Fr. Pedro Arrupe, former Superior General of the Society of Jesus, wrote “Our prime educational objective must be to form men and women for others… men and women who cannot even conceive of love of God which does not include love for the least of their neighbors; men and women convinced that love of God that does not issue in justice for others is a farce.”

Senior Magis Program

The “Magis” program, which in the past has referred to the entire Christian Service Program, is the name of the senior school day release program. Magis is a Latin word meaning “more” or the “greater good”. The Magis program is the culmination of the Christian Service Program in which seniors participate in an off-campus service project once a week. This will account for twenty five hours of the four year service requirement. The Magis program also includes an important reflection piece, which will be expanded this year. Reflection allows the students to integrate their experiences into their faith and their academic studies. Successful completion of the Magis program and all its assignments is part of the requirement for graduation. McQuaid has allocated this valuable “in-school” time for students to travel off campus to continue their education and formation through service. This commitment by the school reflects the importance of the Magis program. The goal is for the students to give as much of themselves as possible through service, and also to receive and gain as much as possible through the Magis program. I will be traveling to the students’ volunteer sites to confirm that their time and talents are being used well, and also that the students are putting their time and talents to good use.

1. Starting Tuesday, September 27th, Seniors will be released from school at 12:01pm to go to their service sites.
2. Seniors are to complete a minimum of one hour of service each Tuesday. In the spirit of “Magis”, we encourage the students to stay for additional time if possible.
3. Seniors must be at their service sites by 1:00pm. This allows time for travel and lunch. If needed, a different schedule can be created with the site supervisor and Mr. Hood.
4. Seniors are allowed to go to lunch en route to their service sites. They are not allowed to go to any establishments that serve alcohol (except Zebbs), congregate in local parks (such as Cobbs Hill) or go to a student’s house for any reason.
5. Magis students represent our school and our values at all times. This must be reflected in their volunteer work as well anytime they are away from school. The Magis director will be in regular contact with the site supervisors to monitor the students driving, behavior, and punctuality.
6. Students must follow all sign-in/out procedures of their service sites recording their arrival and departure times and the dates.
7. All student conduct and McQuaid rules must be followed while the Magis students are away from school. Any infraction of the dress code, improper language, dangerous driving, arriving late, leaving early, skipping, etc., will be dealt with by the Magis director and Assistant Principal for Student Affairs just as they would on campus.
8. The Magis director will be traveling to the service sites each Tuesday to supervise the students’ work and to ensure these guidelines are being followed.

Magis Reflection

The Magis program also involves a reflection component that is being expanded this year. Students will be asked to reflect theologically and personally on their volunteer experiences through a combination of reflection papers, case studies, and reflection groups. One assignment will also require students to examine their volunteer service through an academic lens of their choosing.

Magis Dates for 2005/2006 School Year

September:							January:
	20 - Magis Orientation						 3 -  Magis

	27 - Magis							10 - Magis

October:								17 - Magis
	4 - Magis
								    	24 - Magis
	11 - Magis									
									31 - Magis
	18 - Magis
								February:
	25 - Magis					        	7 - Magis

									14 - Magis

									21 - Magis

November:								28 - Vacation
	1 - Magis
								March:
	8 -  Magis							7 - Magis

	15 - Magis							14 - Magis

	22 - Magis							21 - Magis 

	29 - Magis 							28 - Magis

December:								29 - Magis
	6 - Magis
								April: 
	13 - Magis							4 - Magis
								
	20 - Testing, no Magis						11 - Magis

	27 - Vacation							18 - Vacation

 									25 - Magis

								May:
									2 - Last Day of Magis

Volunteer Opportunities

McQuaid students participating in the Christian Service Program have volunteered at a wide range of agencies. We welcome this diversity, and encourage students to be creative as they seek out volunteer opportunities. Volunteering is an excellent way to explore different areas of interest as well as future career opportunities. Here are some examples of McQuaid students previous volunteer placements: schools, shelters, food cupboards, soup kitchens, hospitals, nursing homes, churches, daycares, YMCAs, parks and rec. programs, not-for-profit agencies, etc. Students have worked doing everything from web design to simply sitting and talking to nursing home residents. Service required for other programs cannot be counted towards the McQuaid service requirement, such as Eagle Scout Projects, Confirmation projects, Counselor In Training programs, etc. A file of volunteer opportunities will be kept in the campus ministry center, and projects will also be posted on the Service bulletin board. Additional volunteer opportunities can be found on line through the links page of this website.

Submitting Volunteer Hours

To receive credit for volunteer work, students fill out an activity record and return it to Mr. Hood in the campus ministry center. A Christian Service Program timesheet can be downloaded through this website, or picked up in Mr. Hood’s office. Also, you can now submit hours online by following this link and recording your hours on the proper form. Your activity will then be reviewed by Mr. Hood before being added to the Christian Service Program database. If there are any questions about what qualifies as community service, and possible projects see Mr. Hood.

Service Trips

Also new this year will be the creation of extended service opportunities and trips. We are seeking to expand our program as many other Jesuit high schools have to include immersion/service trip experiences, whether in the inner city of Rochester, the Appalachian regions of West Virginia, or an international trip to a country in Central America. These trips would take place during a school vacation such as spring break, or during summer recess.

Final Thoughts…

The Christian Service Program and especially the Magis program have the potential to be one of the most formative parts of a student’s time at McQuaid. It is an opportunity for the students to be challenged and stretched working with a new population or in a new environment. It is also an opportunity for the students and those they work with to have a lasting impact on another person’s life, and to serve God. The service program at McQuaid requires the cooperation of the students, parents, teachers, non-for-profit agencies, and the community at large to be successful. We are grateful for your support of and participation in this valuable program.

Contact Information

If you would like to learn more about the Christian Service Program or the Magis program at McQuaid Jesuit High School please contact:

Mr.Christopher J. Hood
McQuaid Jesuit High School
1800 South Clinton Avenue
Rochester NY 14618
585-256-6169
fax: 585-256-6171
chood@mcquaid.org