Optional Year 12 Christian Service-Learning
Senior Project

Rationale:

The senior project is offered to all students in their last year of the College. It is initiated towards the end of Year 11 in order to provide students with the chance to complete the bulk of the project over the school holidays. This provides students who are doing TEE, the opportunity to focus on their course of studies in Year 12 with minimal interference by the senior project.

The project builds on their Christian service experience in Year 11, which is compulsory and allows those students who have experienced the powerful personal transformation which takes place when one offers oneself in service, to volunteer thirty hours of their time. The project provides opportunities for students to get close to individuals who experience suffering and/or are disenfranchised in some way in our society.

The student spends thirty hours in direct contact with people offering loving service with compassion and understanding. A very important part of the project is the completion of a reflection journal and the opportunity to discuss and deepen insights with the Director of Christian Service-Learning via group sessions and on an individual basis as required.

The senior project offers a broadening of understanding and perception of the nature of justice in our society. It helps students to mature in their own awareness of the responsibilities they have as Christians to bring the word of God to others in loving action. It provides opportunities for a deepening and a maturity of faith in the power of goodness as the student learns to bring their faith and light into the world.

Aims…

• For students to experience a longer term service placement within a community based agency.

• To give students an opportunity to develop relationships with those they serve and to get to know the person not the  disadvantage.

• To enable students busy with their TEE to maintain a level of involvement with the St Norbert College Christian Service-Learning program.