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How Students Give Back to the Community at Our Girls School in Ontario
Students at The Bishop Strachan School comprise a community of conscious and responsible girls who are committed to making a difference in the world. Our Service Learning initiatives offer a transformative experience that teaches young people the importance of giving back to the community and supporting others in their goals. We give our students the chance to engage with the issues facing local and global communities as they find a purpose larger than themselves. At BSS, students learn that these are the values of a true leader. Discover how we encourage our students to give back to the community during their time at BSS.
Helping Those in Need
Self-awareness, ethical citizenship and leadership are some of the signature attributes of a BSS girl. Through service-learning initiatives, students have the chance to put those qualities into practice.
At BSS, we encourage students to extend a helping hand to those in less fortunate positions than their own. Throughout the year, our students take charge of raising funds and resources for local community organizations. This includes sorting donations for local food banks for the annual Trick or Eat food drive, giving gifts of basic necessities to families in need for Holiday Love and distributing homemade meals to senior citizens complete with handwritten notes through the Meals on Wheels program. In giving back to others, students at our private school for girls expand their realms of empathy while developing a strong sense of duty to their community.
Addressing Social Issues in the Community
Service-learning is an informative part of our all girls education in Toronto that helps students to broaden their understanding of the world around them. Through the Community Voices program, students have the chance to engage in civic life, launch initiatives to address pressing social issues and advocate for change beyond the school. Students take part in conversations in and around their community in their efforts to become more conscious and involved citizens. This includes topics on gender inequality, injustice facing Indigenous communities and the UN Sustainable Development goals in a global and Canadian context.
As they take the time to listen and reflect on the voices of individuals who experience barriers to inclusion, students at BSS gain awareness of and respect for the experiences of others. These are crucial qualities that help students make decisions to positively impact those around them.
Supporting Their Peers
The act of giving back to the community is encouraged on every level at our school – no matter how big or small. For example, students have the chance to take the lead in peer-to-peer tutoring for elementary school students to support their academic development in areas such as math, coding and reading. Other students may take the lead in running workshops for their peers that are designed to promote a culture of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging.
For example, members of the Black Student Union have run workshops on topics such as micro-aggressions. Similarly, students who participate in the Gender Sexuality Alliance at BSS have run initiatives that aim to bring awareness to the history of Pride and educate their peers on the experiences of 2SLGBTQ+ students. By working to inform their peers and bring important discussions to light, students at BSS can take pride in inspiring change in their communities.
Are you interested in learning more about the learning experience at our girls school in Ontario?
Contact The Bishop Strachan School today!
