Getting involved with the community through school

Image Credit: De La Salle College, Victoria

 

 

Getting involved with the community through school can open up many opportunities at school.

Your child getting ‘involved’ during their schooling years allows them to obtain all the benefits of their schooling.

What do we mean by “getting involved with the community through school?”

Having your child get involved with the community through school often is the volunteering of their time outside of school hours to enrich their experiences.

How can your child get involved with the community through school?

There are many ways for your child to get involved with the community through school.

This can look like:

Volunteering at community events

Many schools have made connections to help students volunteer. Common opportunities include charity work, fundraisers or helping members of the community.

Forming men and women for others is a key component of a Jesuit education. Each week over 100 Xavier students choose to share their time and talents generously with the less fortunate members of our society through a range of after school Ignatian service programs on offer, including tutoring recently arrived migrant children, visiting, serving meals to, and knitting for the homeless, visiting the elderly or playing with the children at a special school.

Rasika Crowley, Ignatian Service Coordinator at Xavier College

Schools are also a huge part of the community. Your child could begin by volunteering at their own school.

Schools often provide plenty of opportunity (often with some sort of reward) for students to volunteer at school events including sports carnivals, assemblies, school tours or information nights.

Attending/joining extracurricular activities

Joining extracurricular activities and clubs will help your child get involved with the community through school.

Joining team sports

Team sports are a pillar of the school community.

Encouraging your child to join a team sport is a great way for them to gain the benefits of involvement in the school community.

Many schools have a wide selection of sports to choose from. Even if your child is not typically sporty they may be able to participate in different sports including  dance, badminton or table tennis.

Joining clubs and committees

Schools offer an array of clubs and committees where your child can meet others, develop, grow and get involved with the community.

Many of these are student led, allowing students to gain leadership skills and independence within the school environment.

Projects and tasks associated with school clubs often incorporate the community.

For example, the social justice committee may organise events or host meetings to discuss issues and raise awareness within the school community.

Participating at school

Getting involved with the community at school can begin within the school. Schools have many opportunities for students to help other students or the school community.

Encourage your child to get involved in opportunities such as:

• Learning support volunteering

• Peer support

• Mentoring volunteer

• Student Representative Council or other leadership forms

• Join committee’s

Even encouraging your child to put their hand up in class and participate is a great way to get connected with the teacher and school community.

Why is it important for your child to get involved with the community through school?

Having your child get involved with the community through school offers a wide range of benefits.

Connecting with the school community allows students, teachers, parents and the school to learn from one another.

Skills for their future

The different ways to get involved with the community through school allows students to build skills for their education, future job hunt and careers.

Your child may even find their purpose by helping others!

Leadership

Many opportunities to get involved with the community through school require students to be in leadership positions such as Student Representative Council, Peer Mentoring and more.

Many volunteering opportunities, clubs and committees are also student led or have students in positions where they require strong leadership skills.

Authentic skills

Connecting with the community by volunteering or offering a helping hand develops authentic and unique skills.

The South Australia Department for Education identifies the following skills:

• Empathy

• Collaboration

• Leadership

• Critical and creative thinking

• Ethical reflection

• Respectful communication

South Australia Department for Education, https://www.education.sa.gov.au/schools-and-educators/programs-students/student-volunteering/benefits-student-volunteer-program-your-school

Social skills

Getting involved with the community increases your child’s social and relationship skills.

Students often learn how to collaborate with others in a less casual setting for the first time. Students who are naturally shy can meet new people with common interests.

The social benefits of volunteering or connecting with the community have been proven to better brain function and lower the risk of depression and anxiety.

Research shows that volunteering can make students feel more confident and connected to people.

Networking

Volunteering or joining extracurricular activities is a great way to network with people from different industries.

Your child’s volunteering may help them meet others with similar interests and hear about further opportunities to advance their career or growth.

Your child may meet people within an industry they are interested in pursuing after high school.

Academic performance

Volunteering has also been linked to stronger academic performance.

The Corporation for National and Community Service reports that students performing better in school are more likely to be volunteers.

Additionally, students encounter social and cultural experiences that may resonate with classroom learning.

Choosing a school for your child can be difficult, if you wish to receive further information please see Choosing a School NSW 37 or Choosing a School VIC 34.