Community Service
A variety of community service initiatives are undertaken across the year levels at Toorak College with our activities occurring at a global, national and local level.
Junior School
The International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program supports service learning under the big idea, 'From the classroom to the community'. Community service can be an effective and powerful component of a Unit of Inquiry, making learning more authentic and meaningful. Within the 'Action' phase of the inquiry cycle, students follow a five-stage process for service learning; investigating the issue, preparing for action, taking action, reflecting on what has been done and demonstrating what has been learned.
Our weekly Share Assemblies provide students with an opportunity to not only showcase their learning, but to also send a message to the wider school community on issues of importance. Students proactively use this forum to share their research and the implications of issues such as sustainability, global warming, safety, environmental protection, poverty, littering and education. In doing so, they also identify their responsibility as global citizens to take action to improve the planet.
Members of the Student Representative Council (SRC) are actively involved in organising activities to raise awareness and support for organisations they decide require the support of the student body.
All students throughout Wardle House are encouraged and supported to take personal action in an area in which they are passionate. Students develop an action plan and discuss this with members of the School leadership.
Students in Wardle House are assigned ‘buddies’ from younger year levels, and take an active role in supporting and looking out for their assigned ‘buddy’.
Senior School
Through our Beyond Boundaries program at Year 9, students have the opportunity to be involved in community service projects in developing countries such as teaching English in local schools and basic construction as determined by the needs of the local villages.
Members of the Student Representative Council (SRC) are actively involved in organising activities to raise awareness and support for organisations they decide require the support of the student body.
Students have the option to become involved in the Climate Clever program, which sees them capture data using online tools, to measure and monitor our school's carbon footprint, learn more about sustainability and climate action and educate their fellow students on how to initiate change.
Community service also occurs within the boundaries of our School. Year 10 mentors work closely with our Year 7 students to assist them in making a smooth transition into the Senior School. New students to the School are assigned a mentor from within their tutorial group to assist them with settling into Toorak College.
Our students are provided with opportunities to work with external organisations, to not only raise funds to support their incredible work, but also deepen the students' understanding of the needs of others.
Toorak College has maintained a close relationship with the Alice Sloan Trust and through this, our students are involved in a Breakfast Club and assists at camps for students throughout the Mornington Peninsula.