Following the Catholic tradition of service, St. Anastasia Catholic School believes service is an important part of a student’s growth and development. We offer several opportunities for our students to engage in service projects and outreach including:
Student Council: Our Student Council is for students in third through eighth grades. Elections take place in late spring for the following year. The Student Council initiates a number of fundraisers through bake sales or the purchasing of the right to wear special accessories to class. These fundraisers are used to send donations to help victims of natural disasters, cancer, and other special needs.
School Families: We have found that service and stewardship is better accomplished together. That is why we have created School Families. Our School families are comprised of one or two members of each class (K-8) that stay together for the duration of their time at St. Anastasia School with the eighth grade student serving as the leader. School families meet to work on service projects throughout the year. These include decorating the crosses for outdoor Stations of the Cross, assembling Easter baskets for St. Margaret’s Center, and assembling care packages for soldiers overseas as part of the Boxes for Soldiers program.
Advent Buddies program: In addition to School Families, Advent buddies are paired students from different grades that work together to do various activities together.
Stewardship: With guidance from the PTO, students are encouraged to participate in various school and parish stewardship services including:
- A school supply drive for Alexandria House
- Thanksgiving food and toiletry drives the Westside Thanksgiving Dinner and St. Margaret’s Center
- A monthly collection for St. Joseph’s Center
- 100th Day of School toiletry drive for St. Margaret’s Center
- “Giving Boxes” – a shoe box with small presents for children at Ascension Parish at Christmastime
- Adopt-a-Family – a classroom collection of money, decorations, gifts, and food staples for Christmas.
- Boxes for Soldiers
- Easter Baskets for St. Margaret’s Center
- Several collections including funds for victims of natural disasters and special needs
- Coin collections in baby bottles for the Westside Pregnancy Center
- Cards and letters to veteran, soldiers, and patients in convalescent homes.
Adopt a Family: The Adopt A Family program seeks to make Christmas more enjoyable to families in need. During the Christmas season each school grade “adopts” a needy family, and the class collects and creates gifts for them. The very real good done by this program brings participating families together by reminding us both of the great need which exists in our community and the sustaining power inherent in deeds of charity and love. Parents and children together touch a truer Christmas.
Saint Margaret’s Center identifies families needing Christmas charity and cheer. Class coordinators organize each grades gift collecting and creating. Class angels (families) take on specific gift requests and help with delivery.
The commitment is modest, and the rewards are great!
Matt Fissinger, Rose Healy Fissinger
Saints of Service: SOS is sponsored by a faculty member, and is comprised of interested sixth through eighth graders. The SOS members support parish and school activities, including the Blessing of the Animals and Las Posadas. These students also provide services to younger St. Anastasia students with “Reading Buddy” and “Math Buddy” tutoring programs.
Service Hours for Graduation and California Junior Scholarship Federation: Seventh and eighth graders are required to perform service inside and outside of the school in order to graduate. Seventh graders must complete fifteen hours, and eighth graders must complete twenty-five hours. In addition, those seventh and eighth graders who wish to earn recognition in the CJSF program must complete an additional six hours of service per trimester of participation.
