Service Learning

A meaningful and creative 

St George’s week

Last week our school united for a special week of Service Learning activities. Service is a central pillar of our school’s identity and this term each year group embraced the opportunity to give back in meaningful and creative ways. From raising awareness to direct action, our students across Year 7 to 12 showed compassion, leadership, and a real commitment to making a difference in the lives of others. 

Our Year 7 students participated in a hands-on initiative supporting individuals experiencing homelessness. They brought in an incredible number of backpacks filled with essential items such as toothbrushes, blankets, deodorant, socks, and other personal care products – all of which were donated to St Bart’s, an organisation supporting people sleeping rough or in transitional housing. During their Service Learning session, students also learned more about the issue by taking part in a quiz on Australian homelessness statistics, creating educational and supportive posters for St Bart’s, and reflecting on how small acts can often make a big impact. Impressively, two of their posters were shared on the St Bart’s social media stories – a fantastic recognition of their hard work and creativity.

Year 8 students ran a food drive in support of Foodbank WA, collecting, sorting, and packing a total of 132.419 kilograms of food – an incredible contribution! Thank You everyone! Their donations included 225 cans, 23 glass jars, 48 food packets, 24 cardboard-boxed items, and 22 cartons of drinks.

Students also rotated through a variety of activity stations, where they completed a quiz to build awareness of food insecurity in Australia and wrote thank-you cards to the volunteer workers at Foodbank WA. This combination of practical action and learning made for a rich and rewarding service learning experience.

Year 9 engaged in a dynamic Advocacy Workshop with representatives from Anglicare WA. The session began with an overview of the work Anglicare does in supporting vulnerable West Australians, followed by a deeper discussion on advocacy – what it means, why it’s important, and how young people can get involved.

Students then completed a personality-style quiz to discover what type of advocate they are – whether they lead by example, support behind the scenes, or speak out directly. One student, Taylor Rhodes, described the workshop as “very educating,” saying the mix of discussion and interactive activities kept everyone engaged throughout. It was a fantastic opportunity for students to understand their power to influence change in their communities.

The Year 10s showed incredible energy and enthusiasm during their Lap-a-thon at Wellington Square to raise funds for the Starlight Children’s Foundation. Starlight supports seriously ill children across Australia by creating moments of joy, fun, and hope through programs like Captain Starlight, hospital playrooms, and Starlight Wishes.

Every student completed at least five laps, with our leading participant, Heath Wilson-Clark, running 16 laps! The day was full of encouragement, positive energy, and community spirit. Our Anglicare Ambassadors will be following up with students and families over the coming weeks to collect donations. Thank you for supporting this wonderful cause and for helping to brighten the lives of children in need.

Year 11 students participated in the Resilient Landscapes Program at Kings Park. After enjoying a shared picnic lunch, students rotated through three hands-on learning stations focused on environmental conservation. They learned about the Resilient Landscapes project, contributed to data collection, and explored how Kings Park is working to protect native biodiversity and adapt to climate change. This immersive experience deepened their understanding of ecological stewardship and the important role we all play in caring for the environment.

Our Year 12s were invited to take part in a self-led service learning activity, recognising the balance they must strike between community contribution and the demands of their final year of school. After Period 4, students were dismissed to complete their own chosen act of service – whether that was helping around the house, doing extra chores, walking a neighbour’s dog, cooking a meal for the family, or caring for their garden.

This time was intentionally designed to give students autonomy while encouraging reflection on the importance of service in daily life. Their efforts, big or small, made a meaningful difference to those around them and we hope also showed them how much benefit we also get from being of service to others.

During Chapel, our Community and Service Captain, Ava Watters, shared her thoughts on the value of Service Learning and what it means within our own school context. She reminded us that service is not just a task or a requirement – it is an opportunity to see beyond ourselves and take meaningful action to support others.

Ava encouraged students to ask themselves, “What can I do?” – a simple but powerful question that can lead to important change. Ava reflected on how not everyone is handed the same circumstances in life, and how acknowledging this inequality calls us to act with compassion, care and empathy towards others.

She also spoke about service as a form of leadership – not defined by badges or titles, but by our everyday choices. “Leadership is about the small acts of service that have an influence on those around you,” she said. “When you help someone, when you stand up for what’s right, or when you lift someone else up, you are leading.”

Pilgrimage of Hope 25

To conclude an action-packed Week 2, a group of 21 students and four staff members from our school participated in the Pilgrimage of Hope – a powerful and reflective experience centred on unity, purpose, and service.

The day involved students and staff travelling to Perth College, where they joined Bishop Hans Christiansen and Reverend Eleanor O’Donnell for the final leg of their 100KM pilgrimage walk from St Jame’s Anglican Community School in Alkimos to St George’s Anglican Grammar School in the heart of the city and then onto St George’s Cathedral This symbolic journey, taken on foot, was a moment to reflect on hope, connection, and the importance of community.

Upon arriving at our school, the group climbed the stairs to the rooftop, where they received a blessing led by Father Gift and Bishop Hans. This was followed by some well-earned light refreshments on Level 4. Students then changed into their formal school uniforms and made their way to St George’s Cathedral for the Service of Hope, attended by students and staff from all the Anglican schools involved in the Pilgrimage. The service was a time for reflection and celebration, recognising the collective efforts made across schools to foster compassion, resilience, and hope in our schools and their wider communities.

We are especially thankful to the wonderful volunteers who joined us for the walk, and to those who supported this initiative by contributing to the fundraising efforts for Anglicare WA’s Sleepout and Trillion Trees Australia. This experience was a beautiful reminder of what can be achieved when students come together in faith, service, hope and solidarity.

Miss Sadie Yoxall

Camp & Service‑Learning Coordinator