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HOPE
Taskforce Policies
The
following document contains the policies of Upper Columbia Academy’s
HOPE Task Force in the following areas:
Mission
Statement
With Matthew 25:34-46* in mind, Upper
Columbia Academy operates a significant community service program. This is
in order to (a) educate our students regarding the variety of needs within
a community and (b) to teach them, through example and experience, to be citizens
who will creatively and routinely be involved in meeting those needs. Ultimately,
we consider this to be the foundation and fiber of all effective evangelism,
for “Christ’s method alone will give true success in reaching the
people. The Savior mingled with men as one who desired their good. He showed
His sympathy for them, ministered to their needs, and won their confidence.
Then He bade them ‘Follow Me.’” MH 143
Six
school days are set aside each year for our HOPE Task Force program.
On these days, faculty, staff and students are involved in numerous
community service projects, each involving approximately four hours
of service. Opportunity is given ahead of time for students to sign
up for a project that interests them. Students who do not sign up
are assigned to a project and are expected to check the lists posted
for their assignment.
Projects
We seek projects that will give our students the opportunity to meet the needs
of people directly. Usually, these are people who are not of our faith
but we do not exclude Seventh-day Adventists. We also seek opportunities
to support and partner with creative organizations who are involved in
meeting people’s needs. These are often the projects that provide
the most thought-provoking experiences for our students. This includes
organizations that function within the Seventh-day Adventist Church but
most often involves other community service organizations. We are also
pleased to offer environmental projects from time to time.
Occasionally,
special needs arise on campus or among the faculty and, when appropriate,
these may be included in our projects, but not as extensions of our
maintenance or cafeteria programs. Because every church our students
will ever attend will need their involvement, HOPE Task Force regularly
sponsors projects involving the UCA church
In
order to protect the integrity of the program and to maximize the
opportunities that HOPE Task Force provides our students and staff
to interact in meaningful ways, all projects (including make-up projects)
are school sponsored.
Attendance
Community service is a vital part of the curriculum at UCA. Also, HOPE Task
Force days are recognized as official school days by our accreditation
authorities. Therefore, attendance is required. Requests to be absent
are processed by Ad Council. If attendance is excused it is with the
understanding that the student will make up the hours of community service
missed during the regularly scheduled make-up projects. Hours missed
due to illness will also need to be made up, just as homework is made
up, even when the absence from class is excused.
Faculty
and Staff
All full-time salaried faculty and staff members are available for an assignment
on each HOPE Task Force day. Of the three deans in each dormitory, one is in
the dorm with the Dorm Relief crew, one is on a regular HOPE project and one
is off. Staff members who are on a part-time salary are asked to participate
in proportion to their salary (i.e., a staff member employed on a half-time
basis is asked to participate in three HOPE Task Force days per year). Employees
who are paid by the hour are always welcome to be involved.
Faculty
and staff members who need to be excused from service on a specific
HOPE Task Force day should process that request with the principal
as early as possible.
Publicity
Because the mission of this program does not include image enhancement for
the school, UCA does not in any way seek attention from the secular media
for this program. If, however, one of our projects is noticed and media
coverage is given or requested, UCA will cooperate appropriately.
Given
our school’s responsibility to communicate with the parents
of our students and with the constituents of Upper Columbia Conference
(who provide significant financial and administrative support), we
routinely report our activities in publications such as the NPUC
Gleaner, Parent Communiqué, In Touch, etc. We sometimes communicate
within the larger Seventh-day Adventist family through publications
such as The Adventist Review or The Journal of Adventist Education,
especially when we feel we can encourage and educate other organizations
regarding community service.
We
avoid using terms such as “volunteer” or “volunteerism” ourselves;
however non-UCA editors and writers sometimes use them. At these
times, it may be helpful to remember that while individual students
are required to participate in this program, as a school we are volunteering.
Donations
Occasionally, people that we help offer to make a donation to the school. Since
accepting any kind of payment for our service would be in conflict with
the spirit and purpose of our program, we graciously decline. If they
insist, we suggest they make the donation to their favorite charity.
Matthew
25:36-40*
Then
the King will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are
blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared
for you since the creation of the world. For I was hungry and you
gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something
to drink. I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes
and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in
prison and you came to visit me.”
Then
the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when did we see you
hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?
When did we see you a stranger and invite you in; or needing clothes
and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to
visit you?”
The
King will reply, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did
for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.”
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