TJ wants to give its students an awareness of the larger community beyond their school and their individual social circles.
We believe that volunteer work is an important way for our students to gain a sense of responsibility by helping others and participating in activities that do not provide monetary rewards. To that end, students complete a required amount of service by the beginning of their senior year.
The number of required hours of service varies according to when a student entered TJ:
If a student starts in the 9th grade or earlier, the requirement is 75 hours.
If a student enters in the 10th grade, the requirement is 60 hours.
If a student enters in the 11th grade, the requirement is 45 hours.
If a student enters in the 12th grade, the requirement is 30 hours.
All service hours must be completed while the student is in grades 9-12. If a student enters TJ above the 9th grade, any previous volunteer work may be discussed with the Service Learning Coordinator to see if it might count towards the TJ program.
We encourage parents to support their children’s dedication to service and to help them see the benefits—including the intangible ones—of such efforts. The annual All-School Service Learning Day is also a good way to learn about the many organizations that depend on volunteers for support, and a variety of volunteer opportunities organized by TJ are offered throughout the year, but students complete the majority of their hours through their own initiative.
Start Your TJ Journey
The best way to get to know TJ is by spending time on campus, meeting our students and experiencing our classes. See our community for yourself at one of our open houses, shadow days, or let us create the perfect visit just for you.
Thomas Jefferson School
4100 S. Lindbergh Boulevard Saint Louis, MO 63127 P. (314) 843-4151 F. (314) 843-3527