St. Andre Project
The St. Andre Project is a service-learning capstone initiative at Cathedral High School designed to engage students in meaningful community service during their junior and senior years. Named after St. Andre Bessette, the project encourages students to combine their personal passions with societal needs, fostering both personal growth and community impact.
The project unfolds in four phases:
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Catholic Social Teaching Course: In the first semester of their junior year, students enroll in a Catholic Social Teaching course where they develop an action plan for their St. Andre Project, reflecting on their unique gifts and how they can emulate the spirit of St. Andre Bessette.
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Project Development: Throughout the remainder of their junior and senior years, students execute their service projects, guided by their religion teachers and an external mentor of their choice.
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Service Fair: At the start of the second semester of junior year, a student-led service fair is held, allowing juniors to showcase their project ideas. This event offers freshmen and sophomores the opportunity to volunteer or support these initiatives.
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Senior Symposium: Concluding their senior year, students present their completed projects during a Senior Service Symposium, highlighting their efforts and the impact of their service.
Through the St. Andre Project, Cathedral High School students actively contribute to their communities while embodying the values of service and compassion central to their education.
Examples of St. Andre Projects
Projects can be charity and/or justice focused as both are necessary to help the common good in our community.
Awareness: Education - share information and teach others in order to positively change people's behaviors. All education should be rooted in Catholic Social Teaching.
Examples: speak to grade school classes about anti-bullying, plan a youth sports clinic, organize a session about the importance of seat belt use, plan an event at the local library.
Service: Volunteer - use your creativity, time, and talent to directly meet a need in your community. All service should promote the common good according to Catholic Social Teaching.
Examples: 3 v 3 soccer tournament partnered with Coats for Kids, organize 3-5 freshmen/sophomore students to go to Gleaners Food Bank, collect and fix used bikes to donate, build and donate a corn hole set, partner up with your parish to help deliver food to the elderly, partner up with a non-profit to fulfill a need they have, construct a new shed at your church.
Advocacy: Advocate - Speak out, join others, and persuade policymakers to change policies and laws. All advocacy should promote Catholic Social Teaching.
Examples: organize a petition to end the death penalty, voter education course, create marketing material for a non-profit in need of help.
Philanthropy: Give - Collect and donate financial and in-kind support. All support should be given to causes in line with Catholic Social Teaching.
Examples: organize a fundraiser to purchase car seats for a non-profit, plan a raffle to support the humane society, fundraise money for cancer research.