Community Service in the Primary School
As you can imagine, Community Service in the Primary School has looked rather different the last few years, adapting to the impact of COVID restrictions and thinking creatively about how we can continue to prioritise and support the girls to help those in our local community.
This term, as part of home learning in years K-3, the girls are completing a Community Service Booklet. This Booklet contains several suggested activities, where each girl will select one activity and commit to doing this one act of service to support others within their local community. The girls are excited to bake for their neighbours, donate their unused toys or clothes, write letters to people in nursing homes or hospitals, or pick up rubbish at their local park or beach, amongst many other things. A couple of families have even indicated they will host a bake sale or lemonade stand to raise money for a chosen charity or organisation. We look forward to bringing further updates throughout the term as this project unfolds for our youngest learners.
Community Service will also be a key focus of the time spent in House Families, with the Year 6 Leaders supporting all girls to engage in various ways. Within Houses, the girls have discussed the concept of community service and they help those in need, including various ways we can practically support some local organisation in our area such as Lou’s Place, Hope St Café, Bernardo’s, Beehive Community Centre, and others close by.
Today in House Families the girls learnt more about these organisations and the ways they support those in our local area.
Community Service Donations
As we partner with these organisations, we are requesting the following donations from the girls in each House:
Badham & Barton: Children’s Socks and Underwear
Why Socks and Underwear?
These items are unable to be purchased from second hand shops. Many families who find themselves in situations needing support, often lack these essential items. We are partnering with the girls in the Senior School in an initiative, Mr Lee-Lindsay has titled “Mr Lee-Lindsay Needs New Undies!” where these will be donated to various organisation in our local area.
Please note, this was communicated incorrectly in last week’s BTGG. Only girls in these two Houses are encouraged to donate these items.
Beck & Christian: Toiletries including toothbrushes, toothpaste, mouth wash and deodorant
Why Toiletries?
Like underwear or socks, other hygiene products such as toothbrushes, toothpaste and deodorant can’t be purchased second hand or shared. Many of those who find themselves homeless suffer from poor oral health.
Docker & Langley: Morning tea items with a long shelf life such as biscuits, crackers, chips, Muesli Bars
Why Morning Tea?
Many shelters or organisation providing meals to those in need, often receive donations of canned good, but sweets and snacks are often forgotten about. Local organisations benefit from these donations to serve morning tea to those that drop into their centres for meal, support, or community.
We invite you to partner with the us to support your daughters understanding of the positive influence and kindness and compassion she can demonstrate to others that may be less fortunate than herself. You might like to shop for these donations together and discuss the need for these items.
Consider together:
- Who might receive these goods?
- Why do they need these things? What situation may they find themselves in?
- How will the donation help this person practically?
- How might they feel receiving these?
- In what other ways could we as a family support those in need in our local community?
This is not designed to be an onerous task, but one we hope supports some meaningful conversation as family and one that continues to broaden your daughters understanding of her place in the world and the opportunity, she has to create positive change.
Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact you daughter’s class teacher, myself, or Reverend Garry Lee-Lindsay our School Chaplain, through the Primary office.
Rebecca Woodcock
Acting Head of Student Wellbeing
