Community Service
Reflections
Community service reflections
Reverend Janet Woodlock, Religious Education Teacher
One of the projects in Year 7 religious education is six hours of community service. This is one way for students to put into practice the School motto 'Not for our own, but others good'.
In 2020, students had to be very adaptable as many community groups were closed or restricted during the Victorian lockdown. I have been impressed by the creativity the students have shown. They have baked for others, mowed lawns for neighbours, picked up rubbish in local parks, given away toys to local children, created and given away artworks, washed cars, done extra housework, and many other tasks. I am so proud of them.
Our School vision encourages each student to discover and develop their God-given gifts and abilities, and to use them to serve others. As Winston Churchill famously said “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give”. Our wonderful Year 7 students have demonstrated the Kilvington spirit in an exemplary way.
I hope that you will have a safe and happy Christmas and New Year. May God bless you and your families.
Here are some of the delightful reflections from students on their community service experience:
What are some things you SAW during, or as a result of your service?
Maya Wimalasundera, Year 7
I saw lots of happy, smiling people after I baked for my uncle’s workplace, and I loved to see little kids happy when helping them with their work. It warmed my heart, and I really enjoyed working with them.
Addison Hammond, Year 7
I put lots of things I no longer need in a tub out the front because I live next to a park so lots of families walk by. I saw lots of little kids running up to the tub and looking through it. I loved seeing the little kids faces when they found something they liked and ran off to the park to play with it.
Isabel Barnes, Year 7
The friend who I gave the drawing to, looked really happy with it, which in turn made me feel proud of myself ... that I had done something worthwhile for another person. With washing the cars, it was quite satisfying to watch the dirt get washed off the car as it was hosed down and scrubbed.
What are some things you HEARD during your service?
Joe Ashmore, Year 7
My mum told me that she was very grateful for me cooking dinner when she came back from work.
Maya Wimalasundera, Year 7
I heard things about the Kilvington Cares program and how grateful the families were. I also heard lots of thank yous.
Addison Hammond, Year 7
I heard lots of kids who knew about the tub of toys asking their parents if they could get something as they walk down the street. I heard lots of gratitude, especially when we gave some things to a single parent who couldn’t afford to get their child toys for their birthday.
Chase Harran, Year 7
When helping others out during my community service project, many people were very grateful and thanked me for my help. When helping out in the art room, many of the smaller kids also laughed and giggled with me. They also talked to me about who they were and the things they loved. Overall, ‘thank you’ was the word I heard most often.
What are some things you FELT during your service? What do you feel about this NOW?
Isabel Barnes, Year 7
I felt pretty good when I was doing my service, with the nice feeling of knowing you are helping someone out. It really fills you up and keeps you going for the rest of the day, or maybe longer. It also made me feel a lot more energetic about doing work and geting outside.
Maya Wimalasundera, Year 7
I felt really happy about it because I actually really enjoyed doing what I chose to do for the service, and I also felt very grateful for the thank yous I received and good inside seeing all of the smiles.
Addison Hammond, Year 7
I felt proud of myself because I knew that I had really helped lots of people. I also felt grateful because some of the little kids came back to my house and dropped off a letter/drawing that they had made for me. I still have them up on my wall because they remind me of how happy I felt when I helped people out for this project.
Chase Harran, Year 7
Where do I start? Thinking about how I helped others, I can’t help but smile. Knowing that I could make someone's day was heart-warming. When making post-COVID packages, I had so much fun creating the little trinkets inside, and creating something that would make people smile.
Joe Ashmore, Year 7
I felt good helping my grandfather do something that he couldn’t do on the computer. It felt really good to help out.
What are some things you have LEARNED through your service?
Maya Wimalasundera, Year 7
I learned that it makes you feel really good inside when you do something for someone else, and there are also a lot of small simple things you can do to just make someone smile or make their life a bit happier.
Addison Hammond, Year 7
I learned that when you help people, they are not the only ones who benefit. They benefit, but so do you, because you know that you have done something to help someone else. People watching the act also benefit, because they see something nice happening, and that makes them want to help others too.
Chase Harran, Year 7
Something I learnt, that will stick with me through life, is that by helping others not only are you making them feel happy, you are also making yourself feel good too.
On a more artistic note, I learnt how to make gratitude stones from my mum, and how to create dot paintings on them. I also learnt how to create origami butterflies and to make pancakes and pizza.
Something else that stood out to me is that, no matter whether the idea is extravagant or simple, it’s the thought that counts. As long as it comes from your heart, that’s all that matters.