At St James’, Service Learning is a shared journey between staff and students, where community engagement and active citizenship are core values. Recently, Mrs Burbridge, Mrs Syme and Mrs Carpenter organised a Service Learning evening where staff dedicated three hours on a Monday night to immerse themselves in service, mirroring the efforts of our students. With options to crochet blankets, cook sweet and savory meals, pack toiletry bags, deliver food to local Op Shops, volunteer at an Op Shop, create toys and gift packs for children at Ronald McDonald House, sew hearts for the Lionheart charity, or assemble teacher packs for Perth’s Children’s Hospital, every staff member had the opportunity to make a difference.

The gift packs and toiletry bags crafted during this session were made possible by the generous donations from our students and their families during our recent Twilight House Charity Day. We extend our heartfelt thanks to our school community for their support.

The evening’s efforts resulted in 70 cooked meals, 6 bags of tinned food, 35 boxes of cereal, 35 cartons of milk, 4 crates of apples, and 60 toiletry bags being delivered by our Service Learning Coordinators, Mrs. Syme and Mrs. Burbridge, to The Salvation Army in Merriwa and Food4All in Yanchep.

St James’ will contribute 60 bags of tinned food to the “Tinnies for Vinnies” campaign, and Kelly Keall from Anglicare WA will collect 60 toiletry bags as part of their Indigenous Health Unity Initiative. This initiative, in partnership with Mooditj Koort and Gilmore College, will provide essential hygiene packs to students in need. A visit to Ronald McDonald House will happen soon to deliver teacher packs, Jenga blocks and over 25 gift packs for children who are unwell and their families.

Through these efforts, St James’ continues to nurture a culture of service, demonstrating that together, we can make a meaningful impact.