Page 38 - Quintile_37 web

38 • • • Issue 37 • QSI Quintile

VeneZUelA

QSI International School of El Tigre

International day out to others. People need to volunteer more for biathlon
community service because it helps the society,
At QSI International School of El Tigre, each it improves the volunteers’ overall mental and QSI International School of El Tigre’s
homeroom is assigned a different country for physical health, and it prepares volunteers for elementary students trained for more than a month
International Day. Students research the country their future. to prepare themselves for a test of their physical
and have approximately two weeks to prepare, and fitness—The Annual School Biathlon. This has
decorate their classrooms with displays, costumes, Community service, as the term suggests, benefits been an annual event at the school for 20 years, and
foods, a small gift, and a map. 2017–18 found our the local and global community. Concern for Others one that students anticipate with excitement from
students studying France, Australia/New Zealand, shown in many types of service learning benefits the beginning of each year.
Greece, United Arab Emirates, and Mongolia. the students, the school, the families, sometimes
agencies, and can reach to the greater community.
At our school, all ages team up with their Community Service is an attempt to teach people how
literacy, cultural studies, host language, and to actively participate, and change the community
science teachers to create an International Day Fair. for the better. With technology today, like cell phones
Students produce projects related to the country’s and tablets, students often feel isolated, as if a wall
culture, geography, history, people groups, or is being formed around each member of the school
languages. They write reports and create visual community. This isolation is magnified by social and Nothing is as heartwarming as the
representations of their country. On International safety challenges in our country. In the past, students sound of cheerful student voices.
Day, parents and family members view students’ have been timid to extend their borders into the
projects and watch their presentations. This fair is community to reach out to others. Our staff needed
a longstanding tradition at the school and usually to create some opportunities to knock down the walls
attracts more than 100 people. of isolation and fear.

On the day of the fair, each student carries a In our experience, when students help the The sun was out and shining on the morning
“passport.” As they tour the countries, students community, they help the world. For example, of Friday, 28 April. Our students were also out
write down facts they learn, get a country stamp, and when providing meals and educational supplies and shining as they warmed up for the event. The
receive a small reminder gift of their experience. At to underprivileged youth, or medical supplies to challenge was limited by age level, as students
the close of their “travels,” they visit the gymnasium seniors with limited incomes, or baby supplies to competed with their classmates in teams of two
where students share dances, songs, instrumental new mothers, or even picking up trash, planting or three for best time and sportsmanship. The
music, poems, and other discourses of their trees, or cleaning up the environment, this helps field was full of students, their bicycles and safety
country. Finally, the students and their parents visit not only the people immediately around, it helps helmets, obstacle-course equipment, staff, and
tables decorated by parents—and sample foods and the whole world. When students travel around parents as the first age level lined up for their
beverages of each country. town, they often see people on the street corners, event. Each student ran, bicycled, or completed the
or on benches, with signs like hungry, please help. obstacle course at appropriate levels of distance and
The entire school community, including We have decided to make a difference in our world, difficulty. The supervision for safety was done by
teachers, students, administration, and parents by example to others, and by provision. In the the middle school and high school students. At this
plan the fair. prior year, students provided essential healthcare event, everyone participated.
products to seniors that could not afford such items.
It’s a great day—a time for our children, parents, Additionally, they provided baskets full of items for The elementary students completed one lap
and community to shine! new mothers in the state-run hospital. The final around the basketball court, then bicycled a
event of the year was an invitation for a local public distance of 300 meters, followed by another run
school to bring their children to “Saturday School” of 300 meters, and completion of the strength and
for a morning of learning. During the month of agility obstacle course.
Community Service: “Concern for Others,” students provided breakfast,
Concern for Others a variety of learning activities, organized physical The other students, teachers, staff, and families
activities, some small gifts of educational supplies, cheered the students as they pushed themselves
Nothing is as heartwarming as the sound of and a lunch. As students met the needs of others, to achieve their personal best. It was an excellent
cheerful student voices. Witness a group of young we were changed. “The compassion I felt and the effort from all the students to help make our school
volunteers working with and showing Concern for help I gave to others changed my heart,” said one of a “Champion School.” The students received medals
Others—it somehow warms your heart and soul. the middle school students. at the end of the event for their excellent efforts.
It is unfortunate today in the world that we do not
see more of this type of service as in years past. We As a result of the public-school outreach, our The fitness event is a P.E. requirement, and
are working together at QSI International School community is more closely connected. Our staff students receive a grade for their efforts. More
of El Tigre to encourage a mindset of volunteerism contact the public-school teachers and we have important, students raise their fitness level
and concern for others in our students. In other been a benefit to them by providing recycled paper throughout the year, and are educated in the
words, we are working together to change a products. choices that they can make to maintain that level of
culture that is fixed on “self” to one that reaches fitness into the future.