TCPS students in grades 6-8 participate in the International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme (IB MYP). In accordance with the IB philosophy, this program is meant to create life-long holistic learners who take ownership of and demonstrate pride in their educational learning process.
Service learning is an integral part of the MYP at TCPS and is a mandatory requirement for students to complete. It starts in the classroom and extends beyond it, requiring students to take an active part within the communities in which they live. This is achieved through a process of discovery of self and community and reflections inside as well as outside the classroom. Students may volunteer within the school, locally, nationally or internationally.
Service-learning activities are not only a way for students to give back to their local and global communities but are also an opportunity for students to identify and support causes they are passionate about, while honing fundamental skills and gaining valuable and life-long experiences.
The benefits of service learning include, developing community awareness and concern, learning to balance social, academic, and recreational avenues in life while maintaining a healthy lifestyle, becoming independent and developing the skills needed to make an effective contribution to society including personal reflection, resilience and working collaboratively.
TCPS has been instrumental in providing multiple volunteer opportunities for the grades 6 – 8 MYP students through the school. Some of their in-school service-learning activities this year have included the following:
- Setting up the Haunted Library Resource Centre (LRC) for Halloween
- Speaking at the Remembrance Day assemblies
- Decorating and stuffing boxes for Project Confetti
- Recording videos for Black History Month
- Organizing a school wide activity for Valentine’s Day
- Peer tutoring in their classrooms during Study Hall
- Assisting the librarian with LRC events such as the Scholastic Fair and Book Drive
- Volunteering with our Tech Department and learning the following skills:
- Decommissioning of old technology and preparing it for environmentally friendly recycling
- Installation and uninstallation of computer hardware
- System and software deployment
- Analyzing, troubleshooting and resolving technical issues
- Performing regular maintenance ensuring consistently working assets
Led by our Tech Department, students use common hand tools such as screwdrivers and pry tools to build and tear down computers and electronics. Student volunteers build a desktop computer allowing them to instill confidence and become comfortable working with hardware and tools. The acquired knowledge helps students apply real-world troubleshooting skills and offer timely resolutions to irregular technical matters.
Working in collaboration with the students, staff and parents, the service-learning program and experience has been a tremendous success. The students continue to do an amazing job!