An Overview of Community & Social Service Program at Singapore International School
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
Winston Churchill
Introduction
In Academin Year 2009, Singapore International School (Indonesia) formally launched a Community & Social Service Program, which comprises compulsory hours of service for students from Primary to Secondary Divsion, inside and outside the curriculum hours. Community & Service provides opportunities for young people to develop the values, skills and understanding that contribute to civic wellbeing. Through this program students will develop an empathy and understanding of the community needs and an appreciation of the fact that cummulative and group efforts can help bring prosperity and can ensure the well being of larger communities.
One aim of the SIS curriculum is to develop internationally minded people. These are individuals who recognize their “common humanity and shared guardianship of the planet”. Working towards creating “a better and more peaceful world” should be seen as involving many steps, which may be taken locally, nationally or internationally. CSS activities should be seen in a broader context, bearing in mind the maxim “Think globally, Act locally”. Working with people from different social or cultural backgrounds in the vicinity of the school can do as much to increase mutual understanding as large international projects.
Learning Outcomes
The following list is the general and specific learning outcomes of the Community & Social Service program:
- To make this world a better place for everyone to live in
- Develop a sense of care and empathy and to help eradicate the disparities between rich and poor, racism, nationality complexes and religious differences
- Enhance students’ willingness to take risks
- Develops students’ ability to communicate and make relationships
- Develop a sense of responsibility towards onself and community
- Provide opportunities to students to learn through helping others and to recongnise the contribution of students who have already participated in service actvities in their own time
- To develop leadership skills by solving real life problems
- To develop analytical skills and critical thinking among youth.
Student’s Portfolio
All students doing community and service must maintain a PORTFOLIO in which they will record their service hours and this book will be signed by the parents, CSS supervisor and the CSS Coordinator. Each portfolio has the following features:
- SIS vision and an explanation of the holistic development of students
- Rationale of Community & Social Service
- Pledge for Comminuty & Social Service
- Specific Learning objectives for each service project – to be filled in by students
- Timeline for each service project – to be filled in by students
- Proposal Form to be filled in by students – approval by parent, CSS supervisor, CSS coordinator and finally by the Principal
- Service Hours Record Sheet
- Date the service was undertaken
- Service actvity and organisation involved
- Full name, signature and contact details of the person validating the service
- CSS supervisor. CSS coordinator and Prinicapl full name and signatures
- Reflection sheets
- Assessment Rubric
Project Proposal Form & Criteria for an activity to qualify as CSS & Supervisor’s acknowledgement
Before starting any service activity, a formal Project Proposal Form is to be filled in by each student in order to get approval of the Community & Social Service supervisor and the Principal.
Community Service Verification Slips – Principal’s Approval Form
Reflection Sheets – the most important part of CSS
Supervisor’s Evaluation Form (Learning attitude & Development of skills)
