Cistercian Community Service

James M. Collins Service Award Recipients
Community Service Officers, 2006-07
Big Brothers
Individual Volunteer Opportunities/Program
Responses from the Community 
Catholic Charities of Dallas

SPRING Community Service Activities
JANUARY
Cistercian Admissions testing - Sat., January 28
Fourteeen Juniors and Seniors volunteered to spend their Saturday morning giving back to the school, but serving as tour guides for both prospective students and their parents.  The volunteers provide a valuable resource in helping to answer questions, facilitate breaks, and many others functions.  Thanks to all who participated and to Mr. Haaser for coordinating their efforts.

FEBRUARY
Cistercian Admissions Testing - Sat., Feb. 4
Fourteeen Juniors and Seniors again volunteered to spend their Saturday morning giving back to the school, but serving as tour guides for both prospective students and their parents.  The volunteers provide a valuable resource in helping to answer questions, facilitate breaks, and many others functions.  Thanks to all who participated and to Mr. Haaser for coordinating their efforts.

Brave Art Set-up/Take-down - Sat., Feb. 18
One of the highlights of the Spring semester is the annual Brave Art activities that run from Thursday to Saturday, culminating in the Coffee House. Students volunteer in a variety of ways, along with faculty and parents, to make such a multi-faceted event possible.  Cistercian Community Service representatives are pleases to be able to contribute in any way they can with this wonderful and worthwhile effort. 

MARCH
Annual Community Service Weekend Blowout!!!- March 3-5
Continuing a tradition that began several years ago, but has occasionally through the years been missed, this year's Community Service Council wishes to continue drawing the attention of the whole Upper School to the importance of volunteering by supplementing other activities through the year, with a whole weekend of Service both to the school and those outside.  Though in the past, conjoined with a 30 hour famine, students this year are only being asked to dedicate this whole weekend to service for others.
Downs Syndrome Guild Spring Carnival - Friday, March 3
Given the over-whelming success of the first annual SPRING Downs Syndrome Guild Carnival, Community Service is happy to join again with students for Ursuline and Hockaday to host another this year.  Guests will be attending not only from the Downs Syndrome Guild, but also from the Notre Dame School of Dallas.  While D.J. Ken will not be ale to join us, we are very happy that our own Mr. Dave Tanner will spin the songs that make the evening most memorable to both guest and host alike.  Each form is responsible for offering at least carnival games for the evening.  The Junior Reps are joining with the Fish reps to coordinate the event. 
Individual Form Activities: - Saturday, March 4
     Forms VII-VIII - Habitat for Humanity
         35-50 people are invited from the junior and senior classes to come
         out and help work on the exterior walls and roof of a house in West
         Dallas.
     Form VI - Cistercian Abbey and School
          Paint the dug outs, build shelving, clear brush, build a retaining wall..
     Form V - Marillac Center, Oak Cliff
           Following in the footsteps of the Freshmen who did such a 
           marvelous job last year, the Class of 2009 will be helping to 
           complete the pre-school day care center of the Marillac Center.
Cistercian Book Fair - Friday, Mar. 3/Sunday, March 5
          As part of the Big Brother Program, Junior Big Brothers will assist 
          the current eighth graders in setting up for and taking down the 
          annual  book fair.
Austin Street Shelter - Saturday, March 25
22 Cistercian students volunteered this past Saturday to help prepare and distribute sandwiches, fried chicken, and rice for the Dallas Austin Street shelter. While it is not unusual to have kids out doing community service many weekends of each semester, I was only expecting a handful given how busy was this particular weekend (baseball tourney, track meet, US drama, 2 girl school dances, confirmation, etc.). That fact that so many showed up because of their concern that this service be accomplished successfully is a testimony to them that I wanted to recognize. Should you get the opportunity, please congratulate the following students for representing their school so well (some coming after the track meet just to be a part). Through their efforts and that of those at St. Francis Episcopal, over 3,000 sandwiches were prepared, a new all time record.

Participants included:  Seniors - Herz, Heyne, and Pruit;Juniors - Abola, Flanagan, Friedman, Stoick, Williams, and Wang; Sophomores - Box, Butler, Hunter, Hsu, Johnston, Loegering, Shea, and Shea; Freshmen - Albert, Jordan, and Savelli; 8th grade - Kemp and Korpiel. (A few of the boys also brought friends to help.)

APRIL
Voice of Hope Ministry Celebration - April 22
Organized by those Cistercian who attended a Spring volunteer leadership conference at SMU, Community Service is joining ESD and Hockaday to organize and host their annual Community Celebration.  The giant Block Party for the neighborhood children and their parents will run from 10:00 AM until 3:00 PM.  Volunteers are asked to come up with and
then implement the games and music for the party.  Contact Junior representative Will Arbery for further details. (See photos/slide)

MAY
Austin Street Shelter - Saturday, May 27
As a Big Brother Community Service event, rising Seniors and the incoming Freshmen Class are invited to come out on this first Saturday of Summer Break and prepare sandwiches and food for the homeless of Dallas.  A great note on which to end a great year of Community Service!! (See photos/slide)

FALL Community Service Activities
OCTOBER
Habitat for Humanity - Decking the Walls!!!
Cistercian Community Service has volunteered to assist with Habitat again this year, beginning on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2005.  The location was 1815 Reinthal Ct, Dallas, TX 75217 (Directions).  Students worked in two shifts from 8:00AM-Noon and from Noon-4:00PM.  Participants 16 years or older were joined by Mr. Williams and Mr. Flanigan.  Completed tasks included decking and sheathing the walls and gables.  We were happy to have over 20 students turn out. Liability forms for future participation in Habitat events must be signed and returned by both student and adult volunteers. (See photos)

Special Olympics Bowling Tourney - 45 in US Participate!!
Cistercian enjoyed a tremendous turnout this weekend (Sat., Oct. 29) as 45 Upper School students joined those of other schools and companies for the annual North Texas Bowling Tournament hosted at Don Carter Lanes off Walnut Hill (10920 Composite Dr., Dallas 75220 - Phone: 214-358-1382). Volunteers assisted in a variety of ways from escorting bowlers to their lanes and helping coordinate the awards ceremony to cheering with them their accomplishments. Helpers were asked to sign up for one or both shifts: 7:45-Noon and/or 11:30-4:00, with some staying on until 5:30 PM.  As always, all who attended are committed to return again next year. It is truly addictive!!! (See photos)

NOVEMBER
Downs Syndrome Guild Dance - So much FUN!!!
Cistercian Community Service was pleased to assist Dr. Pruit again in hosting the annual Downs Syndrome Guild Dance on Saturday, Nov.5.  Joined by 40 volunteers each from Ursuline and Hockaday, students worked from 4:00-7:00 transforming the school cafeteria into a "Pirates" extravaganza, that then lasted until 10:30 PM. One of a kind D.J., Mr.  Ken Procter, was back, as were the souvenir instant photo buttons of Billy Buttons, Inc.  In addition to dancing, the girls provided face painting and arts and crafts activities for our guests.  Thanks to all the Junior Parents who chaperoned and to The Meadows Foundation for helping to underwrite some of our expenses. (See photos)

Missionaries of Charity Christmas Drive - Nov. 21-Dec. 9
Now underway!!!!  Clothes, jackets, backpacks, and toys for over 240 boys/girls are expected to be collected again this year in both Upper and Lower Schools in conjunction with the annual Missionaries of Charity Christmas Drive. Students from each form will be asked to volunteer soon for 'adopting" one child for Christmas, purchasing a variety of items to meet their needs for the holidays.  Thanks to Alum parent, Mrs. Mary Clare Milner, for all her help in planning and execution of this wonderful program on behalf of the children of of St. James Parish in Dallas. (See photos)

DECEMBER
Habitat for Humanity - Saturday, Dec. 10
Liability forms for participation in Habitat events must be signed and returned by both student and adult volunteers. They may also be brought the morning of.  The address this time is 1817 Casey Ct., Dallas, 75217 .  To find directions online, use 2020 N. Masters Dr, Dallas, TX 75217 or click here -> directions.  There will be two shifts (8:00-12:00) and (1:00-4:00), with lunch from 12-1.  All Upper school Students and their parents are invited to come out and join us for one or both shifts.  Be sure to wear warm clothing and to bring lunch.  The school will provide a cooler of water and cups. See you on Saturday!!! (see photos)

ON-GOING
Hotel Personal Items Collection - All Semester
Thanks to all of those who have been bringing in these items.  We have collected a large box full so far, which has recently been delivered to the Austin Street Shelter.  They were most appreciative of our efforts.

Throughout the Fall semester, Cistercian Community Service will be collecting little bar soaps, shampoos, conditioners, tissue and other hotel amenities for the sake of the Austin Street Homeless Shelter of Dallas. Parents and students who travel a great deal are asked to remember to collect such items and bring them to a collection box near the desk of Ms. Kathleen Tinker. Supplies will be sorted and delivered to the shelter during our regular visits for distributing food. 

The Council will begin meeting soon to plan the events of the coming 2005-6 school year.  Keep checking back as these will be posted soon.

Should you know of other worthwhile endeavors (either collective or individual), please let us know at fr-paul@cistercian.org.

Hurricane Katrina Relief
Thanks to all who have generously responded to Fr. Bernard's Sept. 1 letter (and in its Sept. 2 supplement) requesting assistance for many of the ISAS families displaced by Hurricane Kristina.  In the words of Fr. Bernard, "The response has been really phenomenal!!"

Archives:
      Recap of Fall Projects 2004
      Recap of Spring Projects 2005
Photo Gallery:
Austin Street Shelter Participants - May 28, 2005