Service learning benefits the Cancer Society and the YWCA

So, we can only truly find security in the present moment, and we can only do that by being present in that moment rather than living either in the regrets of the past or the hopes for what the future might bring.

What our Christian faith offers us in this most mixed-up and paradoxical of times is radical peace. In John’s Gospel, Chapter 14, we hear Jesus speaking at length to his disciples about the time of great paradox in which they are about to find themselves, on the eve of Jesus’ crucifixion. Jesus says to them, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.” When we trust in Christ, we also find this peace that passes all our understanding. When we give up regret about the past and we give up worry about the future, all that remains is the blessing of the present moment and our response to it.

American author Sarah Ban Breathnach said this: “Both abundance and lack exist simultaneously in our lives, as parallel realities. It is always our conscious choice which secret garden we will tend… when we choose not to focus on what is missing from our lives but are grateful for the abundance that’s present – love, health, family, friends, work, the joys of nature and personal pursuits that bring us pleasure – the wasteland of illusion falls away and we experience Heaven on earth.”

As we approach Christmas and make time to remember once again the birth of Christ, may we give thanks for the simplicity of Jesus’ birth and life, for his focus on love, inclusion and justice during his ministry. May we commit ourselves to playing our part in the ushering in of the Kingdom of God where all are loved and valued, where we care for earth and strive for peace and justice. May we find a place of peace within ourselves in which to sit and look at the true reality of our blessed lives, counting not what is lacking, but the richest gift we have each been given – the gift of loving and being loved, for in the end, that is all that truly matters.

SERVICE LEARNING

me... you... us.... SERVING OTHERS

The Year 10 Service Learning is centred around the Cancer Society and raising funds to help support the Cancer Society’s services, health promotion programmes and cancer research.

We were touched when we discovered that everyone in our year level had known of either a loved one or a close family friend whose lives had been affected by cancer; everyone had a connection to someone who had been through cancer or was going through cancer and they wanted to make a difference to help reduce cancer in our community.

Sadly, the annual Relay for Life event that the Year 10s had been looking forward to organising this year had to be cancelled due to COVID-19. This did not stop the Year 10s from coming together as tutor groups and a year level to put their own personal touch on ‘their event’ to raise funds in creative ways that circumvented the restrictions in place at the time.

“Ma tini ma mano Ka rapa te Whai”

“Many hands make light work, unity is strength”

Each tutor group’s reflection board held messages and photos that were special and meaningful for each student.

We were still able to celebrate cancer survivors and carers, remember loved ones lost to cancer and fight back by raising awareness and funds to support the work of the Cancer Society.

We were united in our desire to do the best we could to help the Cancer Society and to date have raised a total of $40,000; a wonderful team effort for a wonderful cause.

MUFTI DAY

Term 3 Mufti Day fundraising was in support of the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) and their Period Poverty initiative, supporting young girls and women who do not have access to sanitary products, most often due to financial difficulties. This can have an immensely negative effect on self-esteem and become a barrier to attending school and going to work. The Senior School students dressed up in the theme of their favourite female heroines. In the image (above left) the student on the left came as Katherine Johnson, an American mathematician who worked for NASA. The student on the right is dressed up as Kelly Wilson, a New Zealander who works with horses and who wrote the book she is holding, Taming the Wild.

Mufti Day in the Junior School was about empowering our young women, with proceeds also going towards raising funds for the YWCA to help with their initiatives to help young women in Auckland and around New Zealand. In Year 6 we had girls dressing up as teachers, various inspiring sporting heroes such as Laura Langman, activists such as Jane Goodall, Malala and Greta Thunberg, as well as inspiring women like Mother Teresa and Margot Frank. It was lots of fun and wonderful to hear the girls share why they chose these fabulous women and how they inspire them every day. We loved the mini Mrs Brewin!