Rationale:

In Year 8 we ask our students the question “What is it that makes a community work?” We remind them of all their parents have done for them over the years and we ask them what if they hadn’t? We discuss and promote the need for members of a community to contribute to the benefit of each other if indeed it is to be a vibrant, loving community to belong to.

In the Bible, Matthew speaks of light… “You are a light for the whole world. A city built on top of a hill can’t be hidden, and no-one would light a lamp and put it under a clay pot. A lamp is placed on a lamp stand, where it can give light to everyone in the house. Make your light shine, so that others will see the good that you do and will praise your Father in Heaven.”

At St Norbert College, we discuss the idea that God is represented by the presence of love in our lives and that each of us is a beacon, capable of spreading that light of love to others through serving one another – thus the more we act in love and goodness, the more we create the kingdom of God - a community that operates in love and harmony.

Our Year 8 students are now at a stage in their lives where they are ready to become more proactive in the ways they contribute to the communities they belong to and so we ask them to give seven hours service to their families – one of the most significant communities they’ll ever belong to.

As a result, students become empowered through the realisation that they are capable of making a significant difference to another’s life by loving them through the gift of service.

In Year 9 we take this concept one step further by asking students to give seven hours service to the College community – another very important community that they belong to.  

In serving the community, they will become aware of what it takes for St Norbert College to function successfully on a day to day basis and just how dependent we all are on each other contributing to its success. It is each of us choosing to serve one another - to spread our love and shine our light on each other in action, which makes St Norbert College a great place to be and contributes to each of our students and staff becoming the best people they can be.    

It is hoped that this project will contribute to the overall betterment of the St Norbert College community and that through serving each other, we are more able to create and sustain a community that operates in harmony and peace.  

Aims  

• To recognize God as the presence of love and goodness in our lives and to take on the mission of sharing that love and goodness with others through service.
• To further expose students to the experience of giving service in the community – in this case their school community.
• For students to discover the intrinsic rewards that come with giving service to others, eg. self-respect, the value of the service they give through the appreciation shown by others, discovery of skills and talents, etc.
• To reinforce the belief that each person is capable of making a valuable contribution to whatever community he/she may belong to.
• To further reinforce that a community works because everybody in it contributes to it.
• For students to experience the unity, harmony and feeling of belonging that comes with serving others within the communities they belong to.

Resources

Serving at School Journal