Service Learning

R

SE

G IN

1960 L E A E RN C I V

inter-co

The Inter-Community School is committed to providing a supportive and enabling learning environment in which all members of the community are challenged to achieve their individual potential, encouraged to pursue their passions, and expected to fulfil their responsibilities.

1960

inter-community school

zurich

Service learning and character

development Instilling character traits such as trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, caring, fairness and citizenship in our students is an integral part of ICS’s educational programme. Service Learning is one of several activities included as part of Character Development at ICS. Shaping character Character development and community engagement is intertwined at ICS as an integral part of a student’s educational journey in the Primary, Middle and Secondary classes.

Participating in service learning activities helps students develop several positive character traits. When character development is an inclusive part of the educational programme, there are a number of benefits which extend well beyond the classroom. Character development supports successful relationships at home, in the community, and in the workplace.

Furthermore, it develops the values and virtues needed to promote sustainable participation in an increasingly complex and globalized world.

Investigating, taking action and reflecting are key elements of the Service Learning and Community Engagement (SLCE) experience.

The development of positive character traits evolves during a continuous cycle of inquiry, action and reflection. After researching issues, students set and put into action measureable objectives in their local and global communities.

They receive guidance and support from their

teachers and others to help them implement their action. They are then encouraged to reflect on the processes and outcomes. During this process, they gain a deeper understanding about the issues which challenge mankind in today’s world.

Service learning activities, like the ICS Colour Run or Round Square events teach students about the values of caring about other people, acting with integrity and being responsible and honest. By engaging and interacting with people around them, these values help them come face to face with challenges and show them how to become upstanding members of the global community. Being part of the events, either as an organiser or as a participant, helps develop the character traits that are associated with responsible and compassionate global citizens.

SLCE and the IB learner profile Catherine Berger Kaye, M.A., the leading Service Learning expert worldwide and author of “The Complete Guide to Service Learning”, describes Service Learning like this: “Simply

put, service learning connects school-based curriculum with the inherent caring and concern young people have for their world – whether on their school campus, at a local food bank, or in a distant rain forest. The results are memorable, lifelong lessons for students and foster a stronger society for us all.” (1) In researching solutions, students are encouraged to be open-minded using their talents to make a positive difference in the lives of others. Within the IB Programme at ICS, service learning begins in Primary Years with teacher-accompanied action and continues to the MYP with SLCE supported by tutors and the SLCE coordinator. The Diploma Programme further develops service learning in CAS (Creativity, Activity, Service) where it is supported by tutors and the CAS Coordinator.

At ICS community engagement activities begin when students inquire into an issue that they care about. Researching concerns that may potentially develop into initiatives, students identify and investigate choices for student-led community action. Within their own contexts, they are encouraged to think critically, challenge previous assumptions, and plan activities that will effectively provide the desired service results. As awareness grows that their actions affect others and that their goal should be to make those effects positive, service learning students, supported by ICS teachers, take their initiatives from the classrooms to the surrounding local and global communities.

“We’ll never forget the “image” of the participants running across the field, laughing, with all the colours swirling around the runners; the enthusiasm of the participants and everyone enjoying and having a fantastic time; a great event with a wonderful response from the ICS community.”

Anna M. and Natalya L., Colour Run organisers

Making an impact In their efforts to ‘make a difference’ and become ‘agents of change’, students are involved in four major types of action: Direct, Indirect, Advocacy and Research. Direct Action involves face-to-face interaction with people, animals or the environment.

Indirect Action, by the same token, meets real needs people may have, but is not necessarily seen by those who benefit from what students do.

Advocacy involves making others in the community aware of issues and encouraging them to take action in order to effect change. Research helps a community deal with concerns by providing information students have gathered and reported on. All four types of service help instil the values which we want students to develop as they provide service to benefit others.

Advocacy and Indirect Action Colour Run, Global Community During the intense planning, preparation and project implementation phases for this year’s first Colour Run at ICS, organizers Anna M. and Natalya L. held regular meetings with SLCE Coordinators

Rob McHarg and Lydia Eckstein, who worked closely with both students.

“They were our advisors as needed, but very low key. They let us make our own mistakes, helping out as needed, supporting us and helping us really think about and solve problems that came up.”

Initial inspiration for the Colour Run came to Anna after she attended a presentation given by Sarah Brook, the young British woman from the North of England who founded the Sparkle Foundation in Malawi. Anna says, “I had the idea of the Colour Run: I wanted to do something big to help Sarah out. And I wanted ICS to be involved in helping and raising money for the foundation!”

Anna and Natalya complemented each other perfectly in their collaboration to make the Colour Run initiative work, with “very direct” Anna speaking her mind when necessary, and “diplomatic” Natalya refining her interpersonal skills by handling occasional touchy situations with suppliers and sponsors.

The CHF 2748.70 earned at the 2016 Colour Run provided 200 children in Malawi with 3 meals a day for 1 month, but the Colour Run became a forerunner and an excellent example of a successful, student-led service learning initiative: it celebrates and supports children living in another part of the world; promotes the fitness and well-being of local community participants; encourages charitable giving to a reliable foundation, and offers an ethically sound and pro-active Service Learning solution emanating from a caring and responsible school community.

Indirect Action Photo Wall, Local Community Included among many successful SLCE initiatives at ICS is the G7 Round Square photo wall project, which ensured that Secondary teachers were easily recognized by all ICS students throughout the school.

Advocacy and Indirect Action Peace Day, Local and Global Community The Grade 5 Peace Day brought members of the ICS community together in an interactive and creative environment to exchange ideas and reflect on the meaning of peace.

Indirect Action “The Journey that Makes Us”, Global Community This year, ICS Round Square representatives Daniela, Aleksandra, Julie, Anna and Juyoung, as well as ICS teachers Lydia Eckstein and Rob McHarg, attended “The Journey That Makes Us”. Each Round Square conference has a theme based on the ideals of Round Square and offers keynote speakers, group discussions, workshops, cultural visits, community service and adventure activities.

One of the things all Round Square members have in common is a shared passion for what is happening in our world, now and in the future.

Before they started their trip, our Round Square students looked forward to discovering much more about “empowerment”, or as they themselves put it: “what we can do, as members of Round Square, both academically and in the area of service to help us realize that we really can make a difference.” As the girls collaborated with participants from around the world, demonstrating intercultural understanding through action, regularly scheduled group feedback sessions at the conference

provided them with opportunities for exchanging ideas with their peers, reflecting, and evaluating the impact of what they had experienced.

All conference participants were expected to share responsibility for parts of the programme throughout the week and the Round Square team from ICS were no exception: Anna was the ICS flag bearer at the opening and closing ceremonies and Julie attended the Prince Alexander Lunch and presented Round Square with the money ICS had raised for Round Square International Service Projects. During the Cultural Evening, which is intended to provide students with an opportunity to enhance their social skills and broaden their own cross-cultural understanding, Juyoung performed a flute solo dressed in a traditional costume.

Direct Action On the Farm, Local Community Several of our Grade 10 to Grade 12 Round Square students visited the Hof Narr Farm in Hinteregg in November to help out where needed.

Hof Narr is an organic, sustainable farm which houses rescued animals and is supported by the local community. ICS Round Square students volunteered working with animals and planting trees. They were very well looked after by their host, Sarah, who even provided them with hot chocolate! Our Round Square students plan to continue supporting this interesting project and will revisit the farm in the spring of 2017.

The girls returned to ICS inspired and deeply moved by accounts of the personal journeys some of the exceptional key note speakers shared with the Round Square audience. In particular, the qualities of leadership and decision-making demonstrated by some presenters left a lasting impression on the G10s.

“We were encouraged and inspired by the speakers – to take risks and to leave our comfort zones,” they said.

Indirect Action Food Drive, Local Community Round Square students are collecting food and toiletries to aid the homeless and those in need living in our host community, Zurich.

Donations collected are delivered to Sozialwerke Pfarrer Sieber, an organization that provides food and emergency accommodation for the homeless during the winter months.

(1)https://www.aisa.or.ke/images/AISA_Service_ Learning_Handbook_2016_FINAL_10May2016.pdf

1960

inter-community school

zurich

ICS Inter-Community School Zurich Strubenacher 3 8126 Zumikon Switzerland Tel: +41 44 919 8300 Website: www.icsz.ch ICS is fully accredited by the Council of International Schools (CIS) as well as the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC).