MONDAY: Celebrating Your Community

A central aspect of Catholic education is learning the importance of service to others. When students take part in service activities – both local and beyond – they demonstrate the values and faith they gain through their Catholic education and learn how to make the world a better place. When they observe how others serve the community, they gain an appreciation for how they can continue to serve others their entire lives.

TIP: Many schools have service hours and service projects already planned for the year. Don’t have time to plan something else? Find a way to incorporate what you already do into your CSW celebration, such as an assembly that shares total service hours or other real-time updates, or recognize those who have gone above and beyond the minimum requirement.

Ideas for Celebrating Your Community

• Donate educational materials for students in underserved communities.
• Host an awards assembly recognizing students and teachers who have demonstrated outstanding community service.
• Have students put together care packages to send to active duty military. If students or families in the school have active duty family members, create a package for them with personalized notes or other items.
• Write notes, make posters or decorate treat baskets to deliver to community leaders, local service organizations or local children’s hospitals.
• Write notes, make posters or decorate treat baskets to deliver to neighbors and local businesses around the school. Thank them for being great neighbors!
• Host a dress-down day fundraiser, asking students to donate $1 toward a Catholic charity or service organization to earn an out-of-uniform pass.
• Invite members of the community into the school for muffins or other appetizers, or a student-led tour or event. This is an opportunity for both community members to talk with students and students to interact with members of the community.

COVID Tips

• Identify local faith-based communities and have students write notes of greetings.
• Invite families of other faith-based communities to visit your school virtually using a short open house style video.
• Organize a Zoom meeting with local pastors and priests to pray and share ideas of how your school can support these faith-based communities through service work.