Giving Tuesday: Putting Community First

By Ms. Allyson Brown

Tuesday, December 1 is Giving Tuesday, a global movement for giving and volunteering that takes place every year after Black Friday. This platform provides the opportunity to encourage donating your time, resources and talents to address local challenges. Today, we recognize how our students are giving back to our communities, using their gifts and abilities to spread kindness and bring about real change.

As part of our Citizenship value, through service to others and the development of leadership skills, we encourage our students to become thoughtful, constructive, and contributing members of the local and global community. Local and global communities are strengthened by citizens chipping in to help at times of need. For the individuals doing the volunteering, this can also promote feelings of connectedness and add value to their days which may otherwise involve limited contact with others. While our day to day lives may feel busy and stressful as it is, studies show that service to others can actually enhance our mood by releasing endorphins and other feel-good hormones. There has never been a better time to give back. At a time when many could use a helping hand, it's a win-win for all involved.

This fall, many students took it upon themselves to volunteer, contributing to the school community, the village of Lakefield and further afield:

• Our Clean Casuals Day in November raised $709 for Kawartha Food Share.
• 40 students spent a few different weekends getting out in the community and helping people rake leaves and get their yards ready for winter. 
• 54 Grade 10 students dedicated their personal time (over 235 hours collectively!) to decorate and rehearse for the Lakefield Santa Claus Parade. On the day of the parade, 40 dancers, musicians, singers, tech extraordinaires and a cheering crowd were out in full force to bring spirit and cheer to those who drove by.
• Our first round of letters was mailed off to Bequia, an island in the Grenadines, as part of a pen pal program with students at the Bequia Learning Center. The aim of this program is to build relationships with another community through the almost lost art of writing letters on paper, while also providing an opportunity for grades 4-6 students at the Bequia Learning Center to practice their reading, writing, and communication skills.
• 4 students are volunteering with audiovisual needs during services at St. John Anglican Church in Lakefield.
• 12 students helped to harvest honey from the bee hives and at Northcote campus.
• Students helped as ushers during the LCS Dance Performance at the waterfront.
• Many students have set up tutoring with peers and younger students, as well as working to meet the needs of their own communities through activities such as volunteering at food drives.
• Upcoming community engagement projects in December include: creating gift boxes with essentials and treats for Brock Mission Men's and Women's shelter led by one of our very own Grade 9 students, Claire Hamilton '24; decorating an Ontario Provincial Police cruiser to help them spread some cheer while doing food deliveries.