What is Service Learning?
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The Wellbeing Committee has been reviewing the programs offered at school and have identified some new programs that will allow students to develop their knowledge of the Carey Attributes. Earlier this term I wrote about the Social and Emotional Learning Course that we are working through with year 7 and 8 students. This newsletter will look at another new Wellbeing initiative, Service Learning.
Through service learning, students are given opportunities to learn about and to understand the needs of others; to practise skills, or attitudes and then go out to apply these in the context of service that meets legitimate needs of others. This is directly linked to the WCCS community attribute “lead and serve for the benefit of others.”
This term, Year 10 students visited 1 of 4 charitable organisations, where they learnt about what they do to support the homeless and those living in poverty in Sydney.
Below is a summary of the organisations we visited and what our students did as they learnt to served others.
OBK is a community-run, non-denominational, industrial kitchen where meals are prepared for distribution to needy people across Sydney. Last year, they made 120,000 meals that were distributed to disadvantaged Australians. Our students had the opportunity to prepare meals in the industrial kitchen and see the organisation involved for the distribution of the meals.
Students cooked a large quantity of meals for the homeless community at the Kids Giving Back HUB in Paddington. The program includes an educational discussion about homelessness and breaking down the barriers, followed by students delivering the freshly cooked meals to Rough Edges, Darlinghurst, a community cafe for the homeless community.
Streetlevel Surry Hills is a place where everyone is invited to come and connect with others in the community. Our students were involved in the Streetlevel cafe and helped in the kitchen, on the coffee cart, and in the opshop.
Op shops help support various programs as well as providing low cost clothing and food for those in need. They also play a role in reducing ‘Fast Fashion’ waste and therefore environmental sustainability. Our students had the opportunity to sort and organise clothes for sale.
https://www.anglicare.org.au/locations/villawood/anglicare-op-shops-factory-outlet/
These incredible charities were genuinely assisted and helped by the efforts of WCCS students who came away with greater empathy, and confidence that they can make a difference by serving others in love.
Below are some of the comments from students about the day…
“…I can now see that helping others does good for not only others, but also yourself.”
” I found it confronting when I saw how many people had to come to salvos just to shower and have a meal and that they probably haven’t had a bed to sleep in the night before.”
“I learnt that there are actually active ways we can help in the community to support the homeless instead of doing nothing, that there are people trying to make a difference and that are making one.”
“How sheltered and lucky I am to be living in a proper household.”
“I learnt how many people have to give up a simple meal because they cannot afford it. Homelessness is not a fun thing, and it is painful.”
God Bless,
Mr Anthony Hudson
High School Deputy Principal
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger and you took me in; I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you took care of me; I was in prison and you visited me.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and take you in, or without clothes and clothe you? 39 When did we see you sick, or in prison, and visit you?’
“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’
Matthew 25:35-40
Year 9 Geography embarked on their annual excursion to Kurnell and Cronulla last week. They battled the elements of wind and rain through the day as they explored the coastal environment. They focused on the impacts of the 2022 heavy storms and the way erosion and longshore drift have been managed. Everyone loved exploring the remaining dunes at Wanda, the groynes on Silver Beach and the Seebee wall at North Cronulla.
The Year 12 Economics class visited Canberra on Tuesday 7th and Wednesday 8th March. We visited Parliament House for question time and met with the assistant treasurer Dr. Andrew Leigh who encouraged the students to study Economics because “You can use it in just about every aspect of your life”. We also got a call out from the Treasurer and members of the parliamentary front bench during Question Time
On the next day we visited the Department of Foreign Affairs to learn about Australia’s trade relationships. Here the students learnt about how trade deals are negotiated and the role of an Australian diplomat in foreign countries. Next was a visit to the Budget Office to learn how the Federal Budget is put together and the problems that are faced when there is a change of government. The Budget staff also talked about how a study of economics can lead to a job with the Department of Treasury. Everyone learnt a lot about Economics and the students rated the trip a big “10 out of 10.”
God Bless,
Mr Athavle
HSIE Department
