Service Learning

Service Learning is the reciprocal relationship between the giving of time and energy to improve a situation and the learning that is captured by that experience. It provides an opportunity to think critically and creatively as students work with each other and community partners. Reflection activities help to measure students’ understanding, allowing them a chance to share their feelings, grow spiritually, internalise new concepts and evaluate the impact of the activities. The learning is planned and through hands-on experience embeds itself deeply in the recipient and provokes reflection and further action.

Service Learning activities allow our students to be courageous, constructive and compassionate world citizen with a will to serve. To this end, the Kindergarten to Year 12 Service Learning program links specific learning outcomes with genuine opportunities for service in the community.

Service Learning is embedded in the School's curriculum and in special programs such as our Year 10 Applied Learning Experience. Students apply their classroom knowledge to the planning and implementation of service activities. The experiential nature of these activities encourages the learner to make cross-curricular connections; strengthening her skills and understanding while building relationships with her peers, staff and community partners.

The focus of our Service Learning is varied and changes as new opportunities are investigated. Examples of some current learning initiatives include:

• Encouraging friendship with children with disabilities, promoting understanding of differences
• Building relationships and fostering learning in remote Aboriginal communities
• Improving housing for families, locally and overseas, with hands-on physical work
• Improving our natural environment through wilderness conservation activity, locally and interstate, including physical work and active research
• Understanding and addressing the challenges of schooling in developing nations through connections with schools
• Engaging with refugees to promoting cultural diversity and understanding 
• Participating in the annual ABBOX of FUN camp for children with a disability, organised by Abbotsleigh and Knox in conjunction with the Sony Foundation