Gillingham sixth formers putting back into the community

Share Education News on Facebook Sixth graders from Gillingham giving back to the community Paul Jones December 18, 20230 0 Comments
Through a variety of nice deeds, Gillingham’s sixth graders have been fostering relationships with the community and learning about social responsibility.

Under the direction of El Little, assistant head of sixth form, the young people from Gillingham School Sixth Form have been working on a project to strengthen ties with the neighborhood.

Every student participates in a half-term of community service during the academic year in order to positively impact the community and help develop skills related to communication, confidence, and awareness of the community.

“It is part of Gillingham Sixth Form’s wider personal development program, which also includes a focus on building leadership skills and providing enrichment opportunities,” a school representative stated.

Students have visited residents at Fern Brook Lodge and The Malthouse care homes this year as part of activities; two of the students are members of the TLW Dance Company in Shaftesbury, and they have used their talents to put on musical and dance performances.

The sixth former Poppy Marshall expressed how fulfilling the encounters had been.

“Learning about the residents’ lives before they entered the care facility was incredibly fascinating,” the resident remarked.

“It was really uplifting and it made me feel happy every day.”

The school orchestra, under the direction of head of music Liam Carey, then paid a visit to Fern Brook Lodge on the last day of the academic year to give a Christmas concert.

Concurrently, an additional committee managed the school’s Rotary Club Shoebox Appeal, wherein tutor groups and individuals assembled shoe boxes intended for delivery to children in the Eastern European region for the Christmas season.

Additionally, students have been routinely participating in Wednesday afternoon rubbish picks in Gillingham town centre, which provides them with a chance to engage with the community and is funded by Dextra Group.

Group CCO Natasha Ward coordinated the purchase of hi-vis jackets and lanyards bearing the school’s emblem and tagline, “Gillingham School Serving the Community,” for the school.