Round Square - Edition 11 - 2019

Why is ‘Service Learning’ so important for young people today?

Throughout the year, we offer our students at Westminster a number of opportunities to participate in ‘Service Learning’. There are many reasons why students choose to help others and give their time to volunteer. The fact that it is not a compulsory activity as in some schools, does not seem to stop our wonderful Westminster community from volunteering to help others. I personally would love to see even more of our students involved in these activities, not because they have to but because they want to. I am always looking at ways to increase our student and staff involvement in a variety of projects so stay tuned!

Service Learning provides students with opportunities to develop civic engagement skills. By working with community members, students can enhance their group, organizational and interpersonal skills. They also can gain important experience working with diverse members of their communities.

Young people who volunteer:

• Gain confidence in themselves
• Make a difference to others
• Meet new people and make new friends
• Become part of a diverse community
• Learn new life skills
• Take on new challenges
• Develop a better understanding of the world in which we live
• Have fun!

Red Dove Café at the Royal Adelaide Show

Recently I asked our Year 7 to 12 students for interest in helping out with the Red Dove Café at the Royal Adelaide Show in September. It is pleasing to say we have had a number of students volunteering their time not only on weekdays but also on weekends and early shifts. The roster is almost complete and those students involved will receive this shortly. If you missed out on volunteering this year, then please keep your eyes and ears open for next year to become involved.

Red Dove Café has been a Royal Adelaide Show institution for over 60 years. Since 1951 Red Dove has served food and drinks to Adelaide's show-goers with the purpose of raising money for mission. The café offers a healthy range of home-style meals and a full range of snack and drink items.

If you're heading to the Royal Show this year, why not drop in and share some great food while supporting the work of the Uniting Church in the community.

The cafe will be open every day of the Show, Friday August 30th to Sunday 8 September, located in Sideshow Alley near the Dog Pavilion.

Our Westminster students look forward to serving you and saying hello!

Legacy Week - Badge Selling

On Friday 6 September some of our Senior students will be involved in selling badges and teddy bears for Legacy. A notice has been placed on SEQTA to ask for interest, however we still require a few more people, so if there is anyone else interested in selling badges at Parkholme Shopping Centre for shifts of one to two hours, please email me immediately.

‘Legacy Week is Australia’s iconic fundraising campaign which began in 1942. It is also known for its Badge Day and the iconic badges offered as a token of appreciation for the donation made by the public.

Legacy Week is the annual national appeal to raise awareness and funds for the families of our incapacitated and deceased Veterans.

It is held in towns and cities big and small across Australia and supported by young and old.

The funds raised from Legacy Week help Legacy continue to assist approximately 65,000 widow(er)s and 1,800 children and people with disabilities Australia-wide, with essential services such as, counselling, special housing, medical, advocacy and social support.

Public support will also help Legacy nurture children’s education, by contributing towards their school fees, books, uniforms, and recreational activities to aid their self development and confidence.’

SEW-sational! – New ‘Sewing for Charity’ Initiative for Year 6 to 12

We have recently started a new group called ‘Sew-sational’ who will be meeting regularly in the Senior school on a Wednesday lunchtime to sew items for charity. So far we have a group of about six students from Years 6 to 12 and certainly welcome more if anyone else is interested. You do not need to know how to use a sewing machine to be involved, we can teach you the skills you need as you go! Ultimately students will be donating some of their sewn items and selling some for fundraising. We are also keenly looking for fabric donations from our Westminster community to reduce the cost of our projects. If you have any sewing related donations you would like to contribute please contact me directly.

Round Square Student Committee Fundraising

There are a number of ways that our Westminster community supports charities and organisations, both local and international. The Round Square Student Committee in particular tries to organise at least two or three activities per year in which they raise money for a variety of groups. We are so incredibly lucky to be in a position to assist others and whether this is done by donating our time or money, we always think carefully about how to best help those in need. This year the Committee has decided to support the following organisations:

• The Royal Flying Doctor Service
• Queensland Flood Relief
• Drought Angels
• Bali Smiles Organisation (school fees for Putu Julie Sesa to attend her second year of school)
• Round Square Prince Alexander Fund (to support students to attend Round Square projects and conferences)

In addition to these donations, we are also continuing to support a number of people through KIVA:

www.kiva.org

‘Make a loan, change a life’

Kiva is an international nonprofit, founded in 2005 and based in San Francisco, with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. We celebrate and support people looking to create a better future for themselves, their families and their communities.