Action
A lot of students choose this as an outcome for many of their activities but then neglect to show how they do it. If you go to the gym and it's something you have never done before maybe it is easy to say that everything is developing new skills but a good reflection will be one that talks about the actual skills and how they have been developed.
Even if you are doing a sport that you have done for years it is possible to develop new skills. Perhaps you start coaching others so you develop skills for teaching and planning. Perhaps you have always done you sport on a individual basis but you join a team. Or if you dance - you might try a new style.
Creativity
Some students decided to learn to knit - something they have never tried before. Others had already learnt to knit but decided to teach others or try patterns that developed new skills in knitting. You might give a presentation for an activity using a program you have not tried before. Or develop public speaking skills.
Service
All service activities can have an element of developing new skills. You might need to make presentations, learn how to fund raise, speak to groups of people you have never met before.
Don't be afraid to try activity just because you don't you have the skills - see it as a chance to develop new skills. When writing reflections explain what skills you have developed and how you have developed them.
Friday, 25 April 2014
Friday, 11 April 2014
Planned and initiated activities
Service
This week there is a post from one of our grade 12 students about some service activities. Please see the post below this. Thank you to Alexandra for putting that together.
In the post you can read about how some students planned and initiated a project to help homeless people. She also writes about a woman who started a facebook group at Christmas to give presents to people with low incomes.
Sometimes students find it difficult to think about how to start their own projects. It doesn't have to be a completely new idea or organisation. You can decided to support an established group but come up with your own plan or how to fund raise or get people involved in some other way. Many students in grade 12 have been part of Project Outreach and the Hunger Project. Within that activity some students have planned a presentation to give to the grade 10 students about what they achieved. Not everyone in the group can say that they met the 'planned and initiated and activitey' outcome. It depends on what you did as part of the group.
SIS is starting a project to train teachers and help children in Nepal. Whilst this project will be initiated by the school it is possible for CAS students plan and initiate their own activities to support this project. More information about this project will be coming soon.
Of course you can plan and initiate activities that are not 'service'. Perhaps a group to train for one of the many public runs that occur around Stockholm. Or organise a group to go hiking or walking on a regular basis.
In the past we have had a knitting group in the school. But perhaps you have another 'creative' idea. Currently one group organises regular jam sessions for budding musicians.
The point of planning and initiating is that you see a 'need' - whether it is for a service, action or a to be creative - and you think of a way to meet that need through a CAS activity.
This week there is a post from one of our grade 12 students about some service activities. Please see the post below this. Thank you to Alexandra for putting that together.
In the post you can read about how some students planned and initiated a project to help homeless people. She also writes about a woman who started a facebook group at Christmas to give presents to people with low incomes.
Sometimes students find it difficult to think about how to start their own projects. It doesn't have to be a completely new idea or organisation. You can decided to support an established group but come up with your own plan or how to fund raise or get people involved in some other way. Many students in grade 12 have been part of Project Outreach and the Hunger Project. Within that activity some students have planned a presentation to give to the grade 10 students about what they achieved. Not everyone in the group can say that they met the 'planned and initiated and activitey' outcome. It depends on what you did as part of the group.
SIS is starting a project to train teachers and help children in Nepal. Whilst this project will be initiated by the school it is possible for CAS students plan and initiate their own activities to support this project. More information about this project will be coming soon.
Of course you can plan and initiate activities that are not 'service'. Perhaps a group to train for one of the many public runs that occur around Stockholm. Or organise a group to go hiking or walking on a regular basis.
In the past we have had a knitting group in the school. But perhaps you have another 'creative' idea. Currently one group organises regular jam sessions for budding musicians.
The point of planning and initiating is that you see a 'need' - whether it is for a service, action or a to be creative - and you think of a way to meet that need through a CAS activity.
Monday, 7 April 2014
Helping people in need
All around Stockholm, people are finding new ways to help people in need; through donations, volunteer work and education.
Shoebox appeal
This is a project started by Sofia McConnochie. The project began through Facebook, where she asked people to donate a shoebox filled with items that could be of use to people who do not have a home. It resulted in a collection of over 6000 shoeboxes, and now she is even having trouble finding recipients for the gifts. In the future, Sofia aspires to create new ways for people to organise projects like hers as she noticed how willing people are to help. (Skokartongsappellen on Facebook/ skokartongsappellen@gmail.com)
Start your own project
Students at Kungsholmen's Grundskolan have initiated a projects to help homeless people. Students knitted scarves which they gave out to people in need at Christmas time.
Ny Gemenskap
There is a cafe in Vasastan for homeless and socially isolated people. They get to sit in a warm place, eat something and just socialise with other people. It aims to help people through establishing connections and relationships, and has an average number of 32 guests per day. The café is at the Korskyrkan, Birgerjarlsgatan 66B and is open weekdays between 9 and 12.
"Kammis" - a sewing and knitting café - is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12.00 and 17.00 and is at 58 Kammarkagatan (St Peters Church). The motto is 'stick together'.
Lunch is served to homeless at the Filadelfiakyrkan, Immanuelkyrkan, Korskyrkan and St Matteus Kyrkan on Saturdays between 9.00 and 16.00. They need people to help serving and cooking. These are all churches which are nearby the school.
Contact Andrés if you are interested in helping with these projects: volontar@nygemenskap.org or look at their webpage: http://www.nygemenskap.org/
Other organisations - local and international
Shoebox appeal
This is a project started by Sofia McConnochie. The project began through Facebook, where she asked people to donate a shoebox filled with items that could be of use to people who do not have a home. It resulted in a collection of over 6000 shoeboxes, and now she is even having trouble finding recipients for the gifts. In the future, Sofia aspires to create new ways for people to organise projects like hers as she noticed how willing people are to help. (Skokartongsappellen on Facebook/ skokartongsappellen@gmail.com)
Start your own project
Students at Kungsholmen's Grundskolan have initiated a projects to help homeless people. Students knitted scarves which they gave out to people in need at Christmas time.
Help established projects
Ny Gemenskap
There is a cafe in Vasastan for homeless and socially isolated people. They get to sit in a warm place, eat something and just socialise with other people. It aims to help people through establishing connections and relationships, and has an average number of 32 guests per day. The café is at the Korskyrkan, Birgerjarlsgatan 66B and is open weekdays between 9 and 12.
"Kammis" - a sewing and knitting café - is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 12.00 and 17.00 and is at 58 Kammarkagatan (St Peters Church). The motto is 'stick together'.
Lunch is served to homeless at the Filadelfiakyrkan, Immanuelkyrkan, Korskyrkan and St Matteus Kyrkan on Saturdays between 9.00 and 16.00. They need people to help serving and cooking. These are all churches which are nearby the school.
Contact Andrés if you are interested in helping with these projects: volontar@nygemenskap.org or look at their webpage: http://www.nygemenskap.org/
Other organisations - local and international
- The Red Cross, which accepts both money, clothes and various items http://kommun.redcross.se/stockholm/stockholm-city/bli-frivillig/
- Alla Kvinnors Hus, have a wish list and are currently only asking for specific items, such as towels and CD-players for their children's division. To work as a volunteer you need to be over 18. allakvinnorshus.org
- Plan Sverige - an international children's rights organisation www.plansverige.org
- Doctors without borders - humanitarian organisation www.lakareutangranser.se or doctorswithoutborders.org
- Convictus - you can volunteer to help homeless and HIV positive people email: volontarsamortdnare@convictus.org Homepage: http://www.convictus.org/index.html
- Ersta Diakoni- a volunteer organistation that runs hospitals, does social work and training. www.erstadiakoni.se
Friday, 4 April 2014
Engaging with Issues of Global Importance
Global Issues at a Local Level
Last week the Recycling Team held a presentation at the whole staff meeting. The students wanted to tell staff why it is important not to waste paper. They mentioned the school recycling programme but stressed that trying not to waste paper is a better option than recycling. They put across their point from a global perspective. We can help reduce rainforest destruction by taking action here - in this way we engage with an issue of global importance.
When students are looking for CAS activities to meet this outcome it is not always easy to see what we can do. Students need to think about global issues and see what is around them. 'Issues of Global Importance ' is a big concept. Issues can be environmental, social, cultural, economic, etc.
One of our students volunteers teaching her mother tongue to students who are living outside their home country. In this way she is helping them maintain their language and culture even though they are a long way from their home. Some of the students only have a connection to the language through their parents and might not even have lived in the country their parents are from. By teaching them the language and culture she helps them to maintain their cultural connection. Not only this, but she is promoting cultural diversity within the country she is now living in.
Other students have volunteered at local homeless shelters. This even led some to raise money and collect goods for the homeless and to encourage others to volunteer. Raising awareness of an issue is another way of engaging. Homelessness, poverty and migration are issues that face the whole world.
If you want to engage with an issue of global importance look around you first. What can you see? How can you help here and now? Remember that informing others and spreading the word about your activity is another way of 'engaging'. Help others to understand what you are doing and maybe create an ongoing contact with an organisation that passes on to the CAS students who come after you. Don't let it stop with you.
Meetings next week April 7 - 11
Tuesday - Compassionate Journeys 10.30 C10
Wednesday - Rhino Preservation 10.30 C10
Wednesday - Annexe Council 15.30
Thursday - Amnesty Group to present at Advisory
Friday - Amnesty 10.30 C10
Last week the Recycling Team held a presentation at the whole staff meeting. The students wanted to tell staff why it is important not to waste paper. They mentioned the school recycling programme but stressed that trying not to waste paper is a better option than recycling. They put across their point from a global perspective. We can help reduce rainforest destruction by taking action here - in this way we engage with an issue of global importance.
When students are looking for CAS activities to meet this outcome it is not always easy to see what we can do. Students need to think about global issues and see what is around them. 'Issues of Global Importance ' is a big concept. Issues can be environmental, social, cultural, economic, etc.
One of our students volunteers teaching her mother tongue to students who are living outside their home country. In this way she is helping them maintain their language and culture even though they are a long way from their home. Some of the students only have a connection to the language through their parents and might not even have lived in the country their parents are from. By teaching them the language and culture she helps them to maintain their cultural connection. Not only this, but she is promoting cultural diversity within the country she is now living in.
Other students have volunteered at local homeless shelters. This even led some to raise money and collect goods for the homeless and to encourage others to volunteer. Raising awareness of an issue is another way of engaging. Homelessness, poverty and migration are issues that face the whole world.
If you want to engage with an issue of global importance look around you first. What can you see? How can you help here and now? Remember that informing others and spreading the word about your activity is another way of 'engaging'. Help others to understand what you are doing and maybe create an ongoing contact with an organisation that passes on to the CAS students who come after you. Don't let it stop with you.
Meetings next week April 7 - 11
Tuesday - Compassionate Journeys 10.30 C10
Wednesday - Rhino Preservation 10.30 C10
Wednesday - Annexe Council 15.30
Thursday - Amnesty Group to present at Advisory
Friday - Amnesty 10.30 C10
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