Giving Back: House Charities in Action
Mother Emily said, “It is not what we do, but how we do it that matters. It is not different work, but a different way of doing our work that God asks of us. The habit of doing common things with uncommon care is what will make us Saints.”
As I reflect on this quote, I imagine the care Mother Emily provided to those in need in her own community. I imagine her thoughtful nature, her determination, her desire for justice, and her willingness to give up for the sake of others – in other words, her compassion. It is this example of compassion that underpins our House Charity program.
Each of our four Houses has a charity attached to them, which the Year 10 Home Group has the responsibility of leading. The charities that our Houses support are:
Kennion – Kick Start for Kids
Kilburn – West Care Centre (Baptist Care SA)
Patteson – Mary Mags Dinners
Selwyn – The Smith Family
All of our Year 10 students engage with their respective House charity to fundraise and to provide practical service through volunteering. Let me share with you two stories from our current Year 10s, who discuss some of their experiences with their House charity so far.
The Kennion House charity is Kick Start For Kids, a not-for-profit charity that helps to provide children with breakfast at school every day. Every Tuesday morning, three Kennion students and a staff member go to Allenby Gardens Primary School and serve breakfast to the students. Through this, we have learnt to appreciate the importance of breakfast on the table each morning, allowing us to be ready to learn. The connections we make with students and seeing them leave with a smile remind us of the importance and impact of this service!
– Ros Stavrou (Kennion)
The Selwyn House charity is The Smith Family, which focuses on providing educational support to disadvantaged children and their families. The Selwyn cohort has enrolled in a ‘student2student’ reading program where we will buddy with a younger student from South Australia to help improve their reading. Two to three times a week for 18 weeks, we listen to students read while providing encouragement and support. So far from this experience, we have learnt the importance of patience and reassurance to ensure all students feel confident in their reading skills. This is a meaningful experience for us as we realise how lucky we are to have the education we do and the importance of helping those who are not as fortunate as us.
– Tilly Brimingham (Selwyn)
These stories are only a snapshot of the amazing work our students undertake as part of the House Charity program. Through this program, our students have the opportunity to learn from others, apply their leadership and organisational skills, and display compassion in a tangible and meaningful way.
Thomas Bassett
School Reverend / Religion, Philosophy & Futures Teacher