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 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.
For their MYP Community Project, the grade 8 students selected many important local and global issues to focus on and several of our Grade 8 students have decided to include fundraising as part of their action plan. These students hosted a Winter Market on December 20th. Setting up their own market booth, the students sold a variety of baked goods, candies, treats, handmake arts and crafts. All money raised went to the charity they had chosen. It was a great success and the students are pleased to be able to help support the following charities:
Beat the Streets Toronto Diabetes Research Institute Foundation
Toronto Humane Society Canadian Cancer Society
Children’s Aid Society of Toronto American Civil Liberties Union
The Nephrotic Syndrome Foundation The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
Doctors Without Borders Team Trees
Outright Action International Alport Syndrome Foundation
International Rescue Committee