Service Learning

Service Learning

“Were we to know the merit of only going from one street to another to serve others for the love of God, we should treasure it more than gold or silver” - Blessed Edmund Rice

ThevisionofAquinasasa“Catholicschoolinthe EdmundRicetradition”asksustoseekjustice andcompassionforothers TheService-Learning Programisavitalpartoftheschoolcurriculum It reflectsourCatholicteachingsandithasunique educationalvalue.YoungstudentsinJunior Schoolbegintheirawarenessofcommunity needsthroughgroupactivitiesinvolvingguest speakersfromvolunteeragencies;aswellas regularexcursionstoseeserviceprogramsat workintheircommunity Someoftheirsubject learninginschoolwillbringthemintocontact withcommunitygroupsthatworkforthe bettermentofothers

TheService-LearningProgramprovides opportunitiesforallsecondarystudentsto becomeinvolvedinawiderangeofvolunteer activitiescateringfordifferentagegroups It allowsthemtoexperiencethejoyofgivingand sharingwithothersandprovidesaunique learningexperiencethatgoesbeyondthe classroomandschoolenvironment Thetimeto reflectandgivemeaningtotheirservice experienceiscriticaltothesuccessofthe program Theintegrationofgospelvaluesand thosevaluesdemonstratedbytheworkof BlessedEdmundarethecornerstoneofChristian Service-LearningatAquinasCollege

ItisexpectedthatallgraduatesfromAquinas Collegewillhavedemonstratedawillingness andabilitytoassistthoseintheircommunity whoareinneed.Itisimportantthatourstudents developcompassionandempathyforthoseless fortunatethanthemselvesthroughactive preparation,involvementandcriticalreflection A gradualprocessoflearningandinstructionhas beendesignedtodevelopthesevalues

General Information

DirectorofChristianServiceLearning(Year10-12)

JohnRichards Phone94500613

Mobile0417933470 Fax93131901

E-mailservice@aquinas.wa.edu.au OfficeGroundFloor,MtSionFormation Centre

DirectorofServiceLearning(Year7-9) PaulRich Phone94500668

Mobile0420989119 Fax 93131901

E-mailpaul.rich@aquinas.wa.edu.au OfficeHASSDepartment

Website (Students)

LogontothePortalandgotolink‘Charism’ andthenServiceLearning’ 1

Website(Parents) 2 Logonto: www.community.aquinas.wa.edu.au 3 /portalTabs/charism/serviceLearning.php

Transport

Alldayboystakingpartinserviceplacementsare requiredtofindtheirowntransport Arrangementswillalwaysbemadeforboarders atnocosttofamilies

MIDDLE SCHOOL PROGRAM

Introduction

AquinasCollegeisaCatholicschoolinthe EdmundRicetradition AllAquinasstudentsare calledtobe‘menforothers’ Faith-basedChristianService-Learningisan exampleofexperientiallearning.Thismeansthat studentsareencouragedtousetheirtalentsand skillstoactivelyserveothersintheircommunity Becauseitisfaith-based,studentsarealsoasked torecordandreflectontheirserviceexperiences andhow,bytheiractions,theyenteredintoan encounterwithChrist TheCollegeprovidesastructuredprogramfor volunteerserviceandoutreachforallyears TherearethreeprogramsforMiddleSchool students ForeachYearLevel,studentsareasked toserveothersandreflectontheirexperiences accordingtotheiragelevel ForallMiddle-School programs,studentsmustcompleteanonline journal SometimeisgivenduringReligion classestocompletetheexercisesinthejournal andadditionaltimemustbespentathome At theendoftheyear,students’reportswillindicate whetherornottheyhavecompletedtheir program

YEAR 7

THE YOUNG AQUINIAN PROGRAM (MINIMUM 10 HOURS)

Thisisanintroductoryprogramthathastwo mainaims;

Topromoteserviceasanimportantpartof personaldevelopment 1

Topromoteserviceasanimportantpartof spiritualdevelopment 2

Therearefourkeyareasinlifethatcanhelp studentsbecomemoreawareoftheirsocial developmentandplaceinsociety 3 GoalSetting 4 Understandingtheimportanceofservice 5 Preparingtoserve 6 Commitmenttoservice7.

YEAR 8

HOME BASE PROGRAM (MINIMUM 10 HOURS)

Thisprogramfollowsonfromtheyearbefore andfocusesonastudent’shome Ithasthree mainaims:

Promoteamoreactiveroleathome 1

Beginamoreactiveroletoservetheirschool andparishcommunityactiveintheirlocal community 2

Reflectdeeplyonwhatneedsexistintheir community 3

YEAR 9

BEYOND HOME PROGRAM (MIN 10 HRS)

Thisprogramencouragesstudentstobe community-mindedandtoseekareasofneed wheretheycanmakeadifference.Ithasthree mainaims:

Promoteamoreactiveroleintheir community 1

Understandingserviceasanimportant requisiteforleadership 2

Establishingatypeofservicethattheyfeel passionateabout 3

How to get involved?

UndertheguidanceoftheAssistantDirectorof Christian-ServiceLearning,studentswillbegiven accesstotheironlinejournalsinstagesduring TermOne Therewillbeinformationsessionsfor allyearlevelsandthesewillbepublicised throughtheStudentBulletin,TheAquinian newsletter,Tutorperiodsandbyemailto parents

TheMiddle-Schoolprogramsthatareorganized bythecollegeincludeAgedCareVisits,Bush CareDays,EarthAssist,FriendsofBlueGum Lake,AfterSchoolEnvironmentand Conservation,StreetAppealsandDoorKnocks andgeneralfundraising Intheircommunity, studentscanalsoincludeservicesuchas communitygardens,conservationprojects, animalshelters,MealsonWheels,preparingfood forthehomelessorassistingotherswhohave disabilities

StudentsshouldvisittheServiceRoomtosign upforallrostersandevents Thisroomislocated onthegroundflooroftheMountSionFormation Centre

Mt Henry Peninsula Conservation Group

Soup Patrol, Eddie Rice Camps, Peer Support, Aged Care?

Encounter Retreat Leader, Mentor, Earth Assist?

MtHenryPeninsulaConservationGroup (MHPCG)

AquinasstudentsfromYears4–12can participateinenvironmentalworkonMtHenry PeninsulaaspartoftheCollege’sService LearningProgram MHPCGhasthefollowing programs: SaturdayBushCareDays–115pmto330pm (afternoonteaprovided)

AfterSchoolEnvironmentalServiceLearning onWednesdayandThursday-3.15pmto 4.45pm

TheprogramsarecarriedoutduringTerms2and 3 Parents/guardiansarewelcometoparticipate withtheirsonsinconservationofthenatural bushland Theenvironmentalactivities,which aresupervisedbystaffandparent/friends volunteersinclude: Weeding,plantingandwateringnativeflora Trimmingandspreadingmulcharoundthe DFESvehicleaccesstrack CleanUpAustraliaDay TheAnnualGreatCockyCount

WHATWILL YOUDO?

Let’s go Surfing, Leisure Buddies?

MHPCGnewslettersarefeaturedintheCollege newsletter‘TheAquinian’. Thesephotographsshowsomeofthe environmentalactivitiesundertakenbystudent volunteers Furtherinformationisavailablefrom MrsMavisAndrews–Coordinator,MtHenry PeninsulaConservationGroupat mavisandrews@aquinaswaeduauor0407447 669

Derby Immersion, Philippines Immersion?

Community Service Awards

Althoughitshouldneverbethepurposeoraim ofanystudenttoseekawardsorrewardsofany kindforparticipatinginvolunteerwork,itis neverthelessimportantfromtheschool’sand community’sperspectivethatwerecognise achievementandeffortinthesamewayaswe recogniseachievementandeffortinother areasofCollegelife

ServiceLearningAwardsareavailabletoall studentsatAquinasCollege Thelevelsof achievementaresignificantandovermanyyears theyhaveservedtoreflecttheimportanceand effortattributedtomanyhoursofunselfish generosityandservice

Service Award

Thisawardisavailabletoallstudentswhohas completedandrecordedaminimumof30 hoursofCommunityServiceoverONE academicyear Atleast50%ofthesehours eachyearmustbe‘corehours’

Service Colours

Thisawardisavailabletoanystudentwhohas completedandrecordedaminimumof60 hoursofCommunityServiceoverTWO consecutiveacademicyearswithaminimum of30hoursperyear Atleast50%ofthesehours eachyearmustbe‘corehours’Aformal reflectionpaperandevaluationmustalsobe completedattheendoftheprogram

Service Honours

Thisawardisavailabletoanystudentwhohave completedaminimumof100hoursof communityserviceoverTHREEorFOUR consecutiveacademicyearswithaminimum of30hoursperyear Atleast50%ofthesehours eachyearmustbe‘corehours’ Studentsmust alsoprepareoneoralreflectionreportduring theirfinalyear.