More Than a Club—Why Round Square Is a Way of Life at GNS

Many of the essential ingredients of Round Square have been present in GNS since our founding over 100 years ago. Joining Round Square in 1998 was a natural progression for GNS, as it allowed us to formalize principles and practices that were already deeply embedded in our school’s culture. 

The international organization is a worldwide network of likeminded schools in over 50 countries and six continents. Membership gives us an opportunity to learn by doing, through local and global initiatives designed to help our students grow to be responsible global citizens.

Being a Round Square school allows us to take good ideas and make them even better, shares Mr. Duncan Brice, the Middle School Round Square Coordinator. Students use the IDEALS (International understanding, Democracy, Environmental stewardship, outdoor Adventure, Leadership and Service) to organise and plan initiatives each year.

Ms. Sarah McKerlich, Senior School Round Square Coordinator, highlights the number of leadership opportunities that GNS students are able to explore in a safe environment. Each outreach campaign has a student campaign chair, and students also have the opportunity to mentor younger students. 

“Students that are ready to take on a leadership role have a real-life opportunity to do so. That’s really learning leadership by doing, ” shares Ms. McKerlich. “You can be involved on a community level and effect positive change. Round Square gives us a framework to do it.”

At the Junior School, the Grade 5s have the ability to join the Round Square Committee, and again focus on opportunities that can be planned and executed by the students. Last year they collected gently used picture books for the local group 1000×5, which works to improve early literacy development. All three schools are continuing their food drives this year, including for the upcoming Halloween for Hunger food drive in support of the Mustard Seed food bank. 

Each year, the Grade 5s vote on their top ideas that are achievable, incorporates fun and allows for participation from Junior Kindergarten 3 all the way to Grade 5. Ms. Leanne Giommi, Junior School Round Square Coordinator shares that “We only ever try to do things where the students can give back in a way that makes sense to them. When we do food drives, we feel that the children can go home and talk to their parents and pull things right out of their pantry.”

As students get older, global opportunities with Round Square continue to increase. Leadership conferences are held by Round Square schools annually—GNS hosted over 300 students and educators back in 2008. This year, a GNS delegation will be heading to New Zealand in December to focus on leadership training, service and adventure. “It gives us a vehicle to travel all around the world and be hosted by a local school, which is a pretty amazing way of travel,” shares Ms. McKerlich.

Similarly, Round Square hosts international service projects that are thoughtfully designed, for which GNS is able to nominate two to five students each year. “Those are long-term service and cultural experiences that have been vetted by Round Square. They meet the British Standard 8848, which is a globally recognised standard of safety and care. There are lots of companies that offer service expeditions, but we know that these are authentic, there’s local knowledge and hospitality, and we know that they are highly engaging and highly authentic,” shares Ms. McKerlich.

One of the unique ways that our school has experienced Round Square is through our staff. Yes, staff members regularly accompany students on Round Square Conference Trips around the world, but Mr. Brice has a unique relationship with the program. In 2008, Mr. Brice went on a unique staff exchange to Australia. “My family and I went to Scotch Oakburn College in the city of Launceston in Tasmania. I exchanged with one of their Grade 6 homeroom and phys ed teachers.” 

Mr. Brice describes the appeal of being able to work internationally as one of the things that first drew him to becoming a teacher. “When I first graduated, I was looking at different international schools, while I was TOC’ing here. Then I was offered a job here and off I went. After a number of years working at GNS, I didn’t want to lose that dream as I could see my kids getting older.” He ran the idea to reach out to Round Square schools by Mr. David Graham (then Middle School Principal) and Mr. Simon Bruce-Lockhart (then Head of School), who both were incredibly supportive.

“Miss Reid and her partner came here and lived in my house, drove my car and taught in my homeform and took my classes for our Winter Term. In Australia, I had her car and her job, and my kids attended the same school,” shares Mr. Brice. “Their school year started in January, so I was exposed to their start-up of school, which was hugely beneficial. I was able to get some fantastic ideas.” 

Exchanges are also valuable cultural opportunities for students, with Grade 10 student Janou currently on exchange at Cobham Hall in the UK and students heading to Australia and Germany later this school year. Middle School students will also have the opportunity to go on an exchange to other parts of Canada and explore what school is like elsewhere.

At GNS, Round Square isn’t just a club; it’s a mindset. Join us as we lead, serve, explore and grow together. For more information, students (and families) can contact each school’s Round Square Coordinator: Senior School (Ms. McKerlich), Middle School (Mr. Brice) and Junior School (Ms. Giommi).