Dear Students and Parents,
As many of you are aware, the state of Florida and Bright Futures Scholarship require that students graduate with a minimum of 100 hours of community service. In light of the unprecedented circumstances in which we are living and as we approach the extended April 30th deadline for the submission of service hours, we wanted to communicate with you some changes to our Service Learning Program for this school year.
To help ease any fears and anxieties about not being able to complete service hours by the extended deadline, we have decided to suspend the Service Learning Program requirements for the 2019-2020 school year, for the Classes of 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Please note, however, that students will still be required to have a minimum of 100 hours by their graduation, as required by the state.
True to the Lourdes Academy spirit of service, most of our seniors have already surpassed the 100 hours of service required for graduation. Seniors who have already earned 100 hours of service throughout their high school career at OLLA do not need to complete the 30 hours required by the school. Seniors who have not earned 100 hours of service during their tenure at Lourdes Academy, however, should contact our Service Learning Coordinator, Ms. Alexandra Rojas, at arojas@bobcats.olla.org immediately, so she can assist them in meeting the requirement. Because the number of service hours is a state graduation requirement, we are unable to amend the number of hours required for the Class of 2020, and it is a prerequisite for the Bright Futures Scholarship.
Without a doubt, in times of uncertainty, pulling together to help is crucial to the health, well-being and stability of our local community, and service, especially during these times, comes in different shapes and sizes. Oftentimes, the best things we can do are free - offering the gift of our time to lift others. Now more than ever, self-care, connection, empathy and presence are key, and we believe these to be the greatest needs in our community right now. Don't forget the value of a phone call to a friend, parent and/or grandparent. In the words of Robert Ingersoll, "we rise by lifting others."
God bless you and keep you and your loved ones safe and healthy.
