Service Learning Program
The St Paul’s Service Learning Program is being introduced to the School between 2011 and 2013 as part of the School’s philosophy aimed at preparing balanced global citizens with a heart for servant leadership.
Why Service Learning?
All too often we assume that the virtues such as honesty, integrity, compassion, respect, humility and kindness are acquired from the family or by some ongoing osmotic process.
The development of a service learning program will not only teach but also encourage our students to carry out well-meaning activities that will initially benefit others more than themselves.
The program will seek to raise awareness of the needs of others and develop a culture of spirituality, responsibility and care for them, inspiring a sense of empathy and responsibility towards all members of the community.
The program is about building relationships: for students to build relationships with Jesus through serving others and for the school to build relationships with the local and wider community.
What is Service Learning:
- Links service to academic, social and spiritual objectives;
- Involves young people in choosing and meeting real community needs;
- Includes on-going meaningful reflection;
- Promotes a sense of caring and community;
- Can be used in any subject area;
- Works at all ages, even among young children.
Common impacts of Service Learning Programs:
- Increase in academic engagement including affective, behavioral, and cognitive;
- Increase in valuing school;
- Increase in academic achievement;
- Increase in social-emotional outcomes such as resilience, managing conflict, respect for diversity and character development;
- Increase in community outcomes including knowledge, skills and dispositions.
Please refer to the attached for further information on the Service Learning Program.
