Christian Service Learning at Clontarf Aboriginal College

What is Christian Service Learning?

Christian means to be like Christ, living the Gospel values of love, justice, care and humility.

Service means students undertake actions for the benefit of individuals and/or community groups for no financial reward.  Service at Clontarf Aboriginal College has been divided into three key areas: School, Home/Boarding and Community.

Learning occurs through participation – as students experience different service activities, learning happens.

Program Philosophy

The Clontarf Aboriginal College Christian Service Learning Program is inspired by Blessed Edmund Rice. Blessed Edmund Rice was the founder of the Christian Brothers. Students at Clontarf Aboriginal College are encouraged to live out their call to service as Edmund Rice did and to make service a core aspect of College life. Christian Service is a fundamental responsibility of each Christian person. As reflected in the motto of the Christian Brothers – ‘To do and To teach’ as well as the College motto of ‘Learning for Life’.  So therefore, it is our responsibility as Christians and as a Catholic College to actively live the Gospel values and ‘To do’ Christian service whilst learning valuable lessons for life.

What is Christian Service Learning?

Christian Service Learning:

1. Provides students with opportunities to meet people with needs;
2. Challenges students in developmentally appropriate ways to think and act in ways that reflect values that are consistent with the Gospel. Catholic schools support and challenge students to explore Catholic teaching on social justice including the common good and reflect on why they serve as part of an integrated and articulated school plan which actively seeks to promote justice;
3. Provides students with the experience of ‘service’ as a way of learning and living that permeates all aspects of life rather than an activity that is isolated from the rest of their lives. (CEOWA, Christian Service Learning in Catholic Schools, Policy No: 2-A2).

One of the key roles of Catholic schools is to form young people committed to the love, compassion and justice of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Catholic schools foster a Christian attitude in society and encourage the development of the kind of world envisaged by Christ (Mandate para 6 and 22). Christian Service Learning in Catholic schools enables students to grow from a Catholic faith perspective as people of service and justice. The Catholic school challenges students to grow in their understanding that faith is not just a personal response to God’s love but a communal response to love one another as Jesus taught in order ‘to make the world a better place for all’, (Mandate, para 24). (CEOWA, Christian Service Learning in Catholic Schools, Policy No: 2-A2).

Christian Service Model

The Christian Service motto is: “Opportunity, Work, All” inspired by the bible text in Galatians (6:10): “So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all”.

All students are part of this important and exciting tradition at Clontarf Aboriginal College that, amongst many things:

• Provides students with opportunities to meet people with needs;
• Challenges students to think and act in ways that reflect values that are consistent with the Gospel;
• Provides students with the experience of ‘service’ as a way of learning and living that is part of all aspects of life rather than an activity that is isolated from the rest of their lives.

All students in Catholic schools around Western Australia participate in various forms of Christian Service Learning programs. It is expected that all students from Year 7 to 10 will complete their Christian Service Learning. From 2020, all students from Years 7 to 12 at Clontarf Aboriginal College will be part of the program, with students in Year 10, 11 and 12 able to gain recognition towards their Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE).

Each year group will be briefed about what Christian Service Learning is and why they are participating in this learning.  The program will formally run for Term 2 and Term 3.

The Year 7 students will complete a minimum of 7 activities;

The Year 8 students will complete a minimum of 8 activities;

The Year 9 students will complete a minimum of 9 activities;

The Year 10 students will have three years (during Year 10, 11 & 12) to complete 55 hours of service to gain WACE recognition.

The activities will come from the three key areas:

Examples Of Service

**The activities need to be of service in nature.  Personal development activities such as reading at a Mass/assembly/event, work experience or playing in a sports team are excellent opportunities for students personally but are not considered as Christian Service Learning.  Any task that is given when on Yard Duty/Detention/Internal Suspension does not count as Christian Service Learning.**

Home/Boarding Service Examples

• Helping a family member mow the lawn;
• Helping a family member with gardening;
• Cook a meal for your family;
• Help your brother/sister/boarder with their homework or reading;
• Wash the family or neighbours’ pet (dog, cat, clean fish tank etc.);
• Help with the dishes (at home or at boarding);
• Help in the kitchen (at home or at boarding);
• Show parents/grandparents computer or internet skills;
• Doing some gardening or weeding in the back/front yard or at school.
• Put the bin out each night for a week.
• Wash and vacuum the family car.
• Packing up/Setting for dinner at Boarding.
• Cleaning bathrooms at Boarding.

Students must not participate in service outside the home/boarding without adult supervision.

School Service Examples

• Offer to help the teacher on duty
• Raise and lower the flags for a week
• Cleaning the Woodwork Area or Art Room
• Helping set-up for Mass, Assembly, Special Occasions
• Helping pack-up for Mass, Assembly, Special Occasions
• Helping with fundraising activities (Caritas; LifeLink)
• Helping at College special events; Edmund Rice Day, Sorry Day, National Reconciliation Day, RE Week, NAIDOC Week
• Volunteering to help with College Mass and other Campus Ministry activities;
• Assisting House Co-Ordinators; Heads of Learning Area; Assisting staff with Coaching of teams;
• Assisting in the Academy activities/events (Umpiring, Running Water, Scoring, Coaching)
• Assisting Academy staff when on camps
• Tutoring of younger students;
• Cleaning out buses;
• Ask your teacher if they need any help with small tasks (e.g. stapling, folding) at lunchtime;
• Assist a staff member on duty by picking up rubbish in an area of the College;
• Help out in the College library for one lunchtime (see Teacher in library);
• Volunteer to clean a classroom of your choice at lunchtime; Volunteer to help at a College event (e.g. Mass, Assembly, Music concert – setting up, Altar serving, AV)

Community Service Examples

• Visiting social justice organisations
• Refereeing/Scoring/Volunteering/Coaching at a sports/community organisation
• Project Compassion fundraising
• Wheelchairs for kids- Ring Pull Collection
• Freerice
• Prayer Cards for Elders, Community Members
• Aboriginal Catholic Ministry Activities

Students are encouraged to participate in activities out in the community with strict parental supervision.

Mr Salvatore De Luca, Head of Religious Education and Campus Ministry