Medbury School recently organised a Whole School Community Service Day, an event that brought together boys, parents, and staff, and was a significant milestone in Medbury’s developing Leadership and Service Programme, which aims to assist in the character development of the boys by promoting leadership as service to others.
Throughout the day, every student, from the youngest to the oldest, played a role in supporting various charitable causes and environmental projects. The youngest students, from Years 1 to 4, remained on campus and engaged in a series of classroom-based activities designed to support four local charities: the Cancer Society, Nurture Trust, A Change For Better, and Bellyful.
Representatives from some of these charities spoke to the boys at a presentation, with Heather Mechaelis gratefully accepting the oncology bags that the boys had decorated for the Cancer Society; Rhonda Haultain explained how the hand-crafted clothing donation bin labels make such a difference for those visiting the Koha Room at Flourish Op Shop; and Judith Tatom highlighted the work of Bellyful, and how the cards the boys crafted would be used. Their presentations provided the boys with a meaningful understanding of charitable work and the importance of community support, even at a young age.
Year 5 students also stayed on the School grounds, but their efforts were mainly focused outdoors. They participated in re-potting 500 native seedlings as part of the Eco-Action project and undertook a cleanup of the Waimairi Stream that flows through the School. These activities not only contributed to environmental conservation but reinforced the significance of caring for their immediate surroundings.
Year 6 students took their efforts off-site, heading to the Urban Farm, a community garden located in the heart of Christchurch, and the nearby Otakaro Orchard. There, they assisted with winter maintenance tasks, ensuring these urban green spaces remained vibrant and productive for the community.
The oldest students, from Years 7 and 8, worked together as a team off-site at the Richmond Community Gardens. They spent the day engaged in various tasks to support the gardens, reinforcing teamwork and the collective impact of community service.
Director of Leadership and Service, Richard Wilson, said “The Whole School Community Service Day was made even more impactful by the presence of numerous parent helpers, who worked alongside the students and staff to maximise the day’s contributions.”
Headmaster Dave Scott commented, “This collective effort underscored the overall ethos of leadership within Medbury, which sees leadership as service to others—putting others first and doing the right thing.”
By involving students in hands-on service projects, Medbury not only supported local charities and environmental initiatives but also instilled a lifelong commitment to giving back, showing that even the smallest hands can contribute to a larger cause, and reflecting the School’s dedication to nurturing compassionate, community-minded individuals and growing boys to learn, lead and succeed.
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