Have you ever taken time to consider the powerful message that we send when we interrupt our busy and preoccupied lives to stop and serve?
That giving of time and energy can seem like an impediment in our busy lives but it speaks powerfully to those around us and, particularly, our children when they begin to see service as part of the way we live our lives. I would suggest that serving even has the power to transform the way we view ourselves and others – a necessary recalibration in our individualistic and consumer culture.
A recent survey on the impact of Independent Schools taken by parents, students (past and present) and school leaders reported that 92% of students were encouraged to volunteer their time and energy to programs and initiatives. 85% of staff reported the same encouragement and, importantly, 76% of parents. School principals indicated that 74% of independent schools supported community service charities and 66% supported faith-based programs and activities (McCrindle, 2023).
“I was encouraged recently to be thankful for the faithful service of so many of our parents, staff and students this term. ”
Whilst we might expect schools to encourage students to volunteer and to give of their own time, it is vital that our children also see parents and staff as role models of that self-sacrificial giving. We all remember the impact of role models in our own lives. People who have lived in a way that improved life for those around them and took time for us. I gratefully remember the leaders of my Boys’ Brigade group, Sunday School and Youth leaders, mentors and family giving time to encourage me.
Creating a desire or even an expectation of service will ultimately help our young people to stay engaged with their communities and to reflect their faith well through word and action. These are attitudes that can last a life time. A 2020 report indicated that Millennial Christian School graduates were more likely to volunteer their time than any other cohort – 48% of these graduates reported volunteering in the last 12 months, in excess of Government, Catholic and Independent School graduates generally (Cardus, 2020).
I was encouraged recently to be thankful for the faithful service of so many of our parents, staff and students this term. Our sports teams have benefitted incredibly this year from parent time and energy. A record number of soccer teams represented our School in 2023 with growing success on the sports field, an impossible effort without our willing coaches, managers and soccer coordinator. Our Oliebollen Festival was an incredible success because of the collaborative effort of teams of volunteers who have served for years and in some cases, decades. And our students have served in an incredible range of ways this term from Prep at Lunch Link to the Year 11/12 Salvo’s Sleep Out (raising over $17,000), and our Year 9s are now out for three days of service as part of their Discover program.
The reminder to give of ourselves and to serve others is repeated through Scripture. Jesus’ famous reference to himself speaks clearly of his purpose “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve” (Mark 10:45). The Apostle Peter writes: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:8-10).
As we begin to look for new volunteers in 2024, people who are willing to contribute to the life of our School and role model an approach to life to their children that says ‘we grow through serving others’, I want to thank our incredible team of parents, staff and students who give so faithfully of their time in the service of others.
Scott Ambrose - Principal