What do I do as a Nativity Fellow? What is a typical week like?

Nativity Fellows are full-time members of the Nativity staff. They teach an average of 2-4 class periods per day while serving as advisors, tutors, proctors, coaches, nurses, janitors, drivers, monitors and all other responsibilities that promote the success of the students’ well-being.

Students arrive at the school beginning at 7:45am. Many participate in the school’s breakfast program. The academic day is scheduled until 3:30pm. Competitive sports and seasonal club activities occur until 5:00pm. An Evening Study program, which ends at 6:30pm, gives students the opportunity to address specific academic challenges and pursue enrichment. Occasional Saturday activities are offered. Nativity Fellows share the responsibilities for daily Evening Study and various field trips in rotation.

Where and how do Nativity Fellows live?

Nativity Fellows are provided with a furnished, community house – Casa Maria – which is located a few miles away from the school. Life in Casa Maria is an opportunity to form community and to engage in the tough work of sharing responsibility with each other for the myriad details which make life together possible and worth the effort. It is also a unique opportunity to engage in “simple living.”

What is “simple living”? How simply will I be living?

Simple living is a chance to “feel” what life on a tight budget means, particularly as the overwhelming majority of Nativity families struggle to make ends meet. While we can never achieve complete solidarity – financial or otherwise - with the community that we serve, the Casa Maria Community is our attempt to gain a deeper sense of the difficult conditions from which our boys come. To accomplish this goal, each Nativity Fellow receives a food stipend per month, an amount which is then pooled to purchase food for the community. Additionally, each First Year Fellow will receive a $300 personal living stipend per month, and each Second Year Fellow will receive a personal living stipend of $500 per month.

How is living in Casa Maria different from dorm life?

The Fellows are invited and challenged to move beyond dorm life by living with community members. Each volunteer has his or her own room and shares common living space within the residence. All members of the community share the responsibility of running the household, by taking on collective and individual responsibilities. For example, Fellows regularly cook and eat meals together and meet to discuss social and spiritual issues.

What expenses are covered through the Nativity Fellows Program?

Room and Board
Nativity School covers all costs associated with housing and utilities. As noted above, Nativity also provides volunteers a stipend for food and other household needs.
Transportation
Fellows are responsible for the initial travel expenses to Worcester. The Fellows travel to and from Casa Maria in three school vehicles (large 11-passenger vans).  Nativity covers all costs associated with these vehicles including gas, maintenance and insurance. Fellows are allowed to bring their personal automobiles, but parking at Casa Maria is limited.
Insurance
Nativity covers 100% of Fellows' health insurance premiums.  In addition, Fellows receive car insurance for school-related transportation.

What happens to my student loans during my two years of service?

All previous Fellows have received an AmeriCorps Educational Award ($5300 for each year of service up to two years maximum). An AmeriCorps Educational Award can be put toward future educational costs or toward current educational debts. Additionally, Fellows qualify for deferment or forbearance on their college loans during their time of service via their respective loan service organizations.

Fellows may also receive cancellation of a portion of their Perkins Loans as Nativity School is a qualifying school under the Perkins Loan Low-Income School Cancellation Program (15% canceled for each year of service).

What graduate degree opportunities does Nativity provide to its Fellows?

Fellows have the opportunity to pursue at Assumption College a number of graduate degree programs, free of tuition costs. Nativity will schedule teaching responsibilities to accommodate this unique opportunity. It is the responsibility of the Fellow to apply, to be accepted into the program, to enroll and to provide the principal with sufficient notice of Assumption College classes. Fellows may pursue the following courses of study at Assumption College free of tuition costs:
Master of Arts in Counseling Psychology
Master of Arts in Rehabilitation Counseling
Master of Arts in School Counseling
Master of Arts in Special Education
Master in Business Administration (M.B.A.)

Additionally, Fellows may pursue a Master's in the Art of Teaching (M.A.T.) at Clark University.  Through a partnership with Clark University, Fellows can pursue this degree through the application of their Americorps Education Award, with no additional tuition costs. It is the responsibility of the Fellow to apply, to be accepted into the program, to enroll and to provide the principal with sufficient notice of Clark University classes.

How do I apply to be a Nativity Fellow?

Download and fill out the following application:

Nativity Fellowship Application 2010  (MSWord Document)

Completed application materials are accepted on a rolling basis, with priority given to applications received by February 15th. Nativity will be in contact with applicants as application materials are received by the school.   

Any requests for applications and questions should be directed to:

employment@nativityworcester.org