At St. Rita School in Alexandria, a sixth grader is saying “no” to screen time in favor of service opportunities.
Wilson Gonzalez Soto, 11, said that for him, serving others in his Alexandria community is more than just about screen-free distraction — it’s biblical. “God healed the paralyzed man, fed the poor,” he said. “I think it brings us closer to God because you give something that you already have to people in need.”
It’s all a part of a St. Rita School initiative, the “Real Presence Collective.” Parents who join the collective pledge to keep their kids off screens both in school and at home. Students sign the pledge, too.
So far, 64 families have signed up to stay offline and keep each other accountable. The school also organizes regular service opportunities, such as serving with diocesan Catholic Charities Christ House in Alexandria and St. Lucy Food Project.
“St. Rita School not only boasts a de-emphasis on technology in the classroom, but we also maintain a strict cell phone policy,” the initiative states. “We also want our students to be present and active in their lives. The Real Presence Collective guides St. Rita families in de-emphasizing technology at home, not just at school, creating a community which learns together, plays together and grows together.”
Wilson and his parents said that over the past year, they’ve regularly volunteered with Catholic Charities St. Martin de Porres Senior Center, Christ House, St. Lucy, and a secular organization, Volunteer Alexandria.
Wilson said his favorite act of service is baking for others, such as whipping up brownies for Christ House. At the senior center, he enjoyed leading the seniors in a rousing card game of “Trash,” and, of course, a classic bingo match.
He has even used service opportunities to practice servant leadership. While attending a service event at the St. Lucy Food Project with younger St. Rita students, he helped shorter students lift bags of food onto shelves they couldn’t reach. “It’s good to walk a good, inspirational person’s path,” he said. “One day, they’re going to be your age.”
At Volunteer Alexandria, Wilson said he worked with volunteers to pack hundreds of sandwiches for those in need. At Christmastime, they created ornaments for Alexandria residents.
While his service efforts started out as a way to ditch devices, today it’s more of a pastime, he said.
“It starts to become a hobby,” he said. “That’s where you find joy in it, and maybe a little bit of gratitude.”
