Impact Programme Handbook

Direct Service Local

Direct service (local) is modelled through a variety of scaffolded service opportunities in which students interact directly with our community partners on the Gold Coast. Through their direct interaction with our community partners students will form new and genuine friendships with people outside of Somerset College and will get to see firsthand the benefits that their genuine contributions have to those with whom they interact. In addition to this, student involvement in direct service opportunities will assist them to develop the confidence to engage with people of diverse ages and backgrounds, empower them to lead others and cultivate strong communication skills and will assist them to empathise with the unique situations of others. Students are encouraged to participate in at least one of the scaffolded direct service opportunities provided by Somerset annually; however, they are also encouraged to find additional ways of serving their local community independent of the College. To ensure that every student has the ability to engage in a direct service opportunity within our local community, each of the scaffolded opportunities has a nominated target group (Year Level and House). Priority registration for each of the local service opportunities is given to students from within these nominated target groups; however, participation is not exclusive and if vacancies exist following initial registration with the target groups then any student can register to participate. Local Service Opportunities – Junior School For students in the Primary Years Programme (Prep to Year 5), participation in local service opportunities occurs through their integration in to the classroom units of inquiry. As such, although specific local service opportunities aren’t explicitly listed they do exist. For more information on the nature of the local service opportunities that are available to students in your child’s Year Level please email their classroom teacher. Students in the Middle Years Programme (Year 6) are required to participate in service and are expected to engage in at least one service opportunity per semester. This service could be scaffolded or autonomous and may or may not come from curriculum activities.

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Somerset College Impact Handbook 2019