Welcome, Middle School Students and Families!
Traditionally, Summer Challenge is a week of fun, faith formation and service. Monday through Thursday, teams of middle school students come together to learn a little about our Catholic faith and a spirituality of service before being sent out around Austin to do some service for others. The youth learn about different organizations that help people in our area. After serving each day, all teams return to St. Catherine's for lunch and sharing about what they learned by helping others. On Friday, we all go to Volente Beach water park to celebrate a great week!
This year, we have to be a little more creative!
Summer Challenge is an important part of who we are at St. Catherine's, and we're not willing to let Covid-19 stop us!
Now, more than ever, we need to help our young people learn to be part of the common good, to put others before themselves, to give of their time, talent and treasure so others might have a better life.
Yes, Summer Challenge will look a little different this year which is why we're calling it the
2020 Summer Challenge CHALLENGE!
Now, more than ever, we need to help our young people learn to be part of the common good, to put others before themselves, to give of their time, talent and treasure so others might have a better life.
Yes, Summer Challenge will look a little different this year which is why we're calling it the
2020 Summer Challenge CHALLENGE!
How to Register!1. Build your team! Instead of gathering middle school students here at St. Catherine's and grouping them into teams, your family is your team! Or, if you feel comfortable gathering with another family (maybe friends or cousins), they can be your team.
2. Name your team! We've had the "Couch Potatoes," the "Shreks" and the "Gummy Worms." 3. Click here and register your team! Every year we have Summer Challenge t-shirts. This year they are optional and available to purchase at cost for any and all members of your team when you register. |
How to Serve!1. Get inspired! Each day will begin with a short video introduction from one of our fabulous Summer Challenge Alumni. Also, there will be a video or short faith formation topic to watch or discuss. It will give you the theme for the day.
2. Get planning! As Team Leader or together with your team, choose a service project you are going to do today. If you hover the cursor over the Summer Challenge heading above, you will see pages for a variety of non-profit organizations as well as a page with a list of service ideas. You could choose to take on a week-long project such as planning a neighborhood diaper drive for the Austin Diaper Bank. Or, you could choose to take on one or two smaller service activities. It's up to your team! Some projects will have donations available from St. Catherine's. Check the web pages under the Summer Challenge tab at the top for service information. 3. Get going! Traditionally, Summer Challenge teams spend about 1.5 - 2 hours a day on service. The hotter, the dirtier and the more tired they get, the better! The point is that it's supposed to be a CHALLENGE! Don't just make one card for residents at Marbridge--set a goal of 50 cards! 4. Get deep! While the service aspect of Summer Challenge is important, the reflection questions and faith sharing aspect are equally important. During or after service, maybe while you eat a sack lunch outside under a tree go over the Discussion Questions provided for that day. |
How to Share!1. Click here for the Summer Challenge Flipgrid. (The ID code will be sent separately.)
2. As a team, make a video to upload. Everyone should have a chance to talk on video at some point during the week. Tell us what you did and how you answered some of the Discussion Questions for the day. 3. Upload your team's video for the day to Flipgrid. 4. Take time to watch the Flipgrids of other teams. |
How to Finish! |
How to Get Documentation for
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1. Friday morning, gather with your team and talk about the week.
- What was most difficult? What was the most rewarding? - What do you wish you could have done better or differently? - What lessons have you learned that you will take with you after the week of Summer Challenge? 2. Make one last Flipgrid as a team to share your team's answers to those questions. 3. Decide how you and your team are going to celebrate your hard work! Send us photos of your celebration! |
We recognize many schools require service hours of students, and those are more difficult to find due to Covid-19. For a student to receive service hours, she or he must complete the following.
1. Daily, actively participate in all four service days of Summer Challenge. 2. Daily, participate in the Flipgrid video in a meaningful way. 3. Daily, submit in writing the answers to the daily Discussion Questions. 4. Friday, submit your responses to the "How to Finish!" questions in the box to the left. We will provide up to eight hours of documented service hours depending upon the quality of the student's participation and written answers. Click here at the end of each day for the Service Hours Application: stcatherine-austin.org/2020-summer-challenge-service-hours-application. |
