AROUND THE SCHOOL
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IT'S ALWAYS A GOOD TIME TO GIVE BACK At St Peters Springfield we have a strong commitment to community, and we instil this value of social responsibility in our students. In the past few months, the Springfield campus has been involved in various initiatives and activities to give back to both the local and greater community.
MAI THATCHER
springfield marketing & events officer
W
ith the ever-constant changes the community has been through since the pandemic began, the importance of being able to give back and build a strong sense of ‘community’ has never been more prevalent at the College. When given an opportunity to give back, our Year 10 students Pari Ravula and Neerja Raniga volunteered. Both students gave up their own time to participate in a collaborative project in partnership with Lendlease and the Street Library program, to help design and paint a Community Library Box for the residents of Springfield Rise. The students considered the diversity of the local community and its people when developing their designs and included mandalas and native florals as representations of stories about our community. They also included the motherboard circuit on the box to symbolise innovation and technology. The Street Library Box is currently open for use and is located next to the Cottonwood Café at Springfield Rise, giving residents access to free books for all ages. At Springfield we work to support the development of students to serve their community. Throughout the year the College hosts various activities to help raise money for different causes. These activities teach the students the benefits of service and the importance of being grateful, humble and connected. One of our annual activities is our Coin Trail, where we encourage students bring along
Pictured (clockwise from top): Nerrja and Pari with their Street Library box; Years 5 & 6 Jump Rope students; annual Coin Trail.
coins to donate to a worthy cause. This year it was to raise awareness and funds for dyslexia. The entire school competed to see who could make the longest trail with their coins. Our Prep and Year 7 students had the longest trails this year. The students were able to raise just over $2,600 and the money was used to provide decodable readers to three Queensland remote schools Eromanga State School, Thargomindah State School and Cunnamulla State School. The decodable readers are designed specifically to assist in the development of phonics skills. Another initiative the Springfield College held this year was Jump Rope for Heart. Our Years 5 and 6 students got involved in a ‘Jump off’ to help raise funds to fight heart disease. The students trained for a few weeks to see who could skip the most in three minutes. Jump Rope for Heart teaches school children how to keep fit and healthy. Conducted by teachers, children learn physical activities to improve their strength, gain confidence and stamina. They were able to raise over $1,200 for heart disease research. The activities that the College hosts throughout the year are not just to raise funds and give back, it is to also teach students valuable lessons and the importance of teamwork and community which transcends into life after school. We give thanks to all the students for their spirit, generosity and commitment to giving back to others.
Plus Ultra | November 2021
