Shining a Spotlight on the Significance of Service Learning at GNS—Part 4

At Glenlyon Norfolk School, our students are expected to participate in service learning. But why is this such an integral part of the student experience at GNS? 

As an International Baccalaureate school, our educational programme values service by centring it in age and stage-appropriate ways at all grade levels. In addition, service experiences contribute to the substantive experiential learning requirement for the Dogwood Diploma, the graduation certificate for students in BC. 

In a six-part series, we are exploring service learning, and its many facets at GNS, through interviews with teachers, leaders, and students of our Senior School. This part looks at the role of Round Square in service learning at GNS. 

How does Round Square provide local, national and global service through the IDEALS?

Round Square empowers students to engage in service through the framework of its six IDEALS—Internationalism, Democracy, Environment, Adventure, Leadership and Service. At GNS, students at each school level lead local, national and global initiatives through their Round Square Committees.

In the Senior School, students chair meetings, lead campaigns and balance local efforts like invasive species removal or fundraising for the Aboriginal Coalition to End Homelessness (ACEH) with global initiatives such as supporting UNICEF and Doctors Without Borders (MSF). These activities help students develop leadership, teamwork and advocacy skills. A student recently wrote the following in their application to a business school: “Through the Round Square program, I learned about how following through on things I said I would do makes a difference. I wasn’t great at this in grade 9, but now in grade 12, I get it. I am proud that we raised money and awareness for the Aboriginal Coalition to Raise Homelessness through the Winter Market.”  

Internationally, students participate in service projects like the Round Square International Service Project (RSIS). Last year, students volunteered at an elephant sanctuary in Thailand, where one participant shared their highlights: “I loved conducting elephant surveys on our safaris into the park. I also loved hiking to the cave and taking the river boat in Bangkok.” This year, two travelled to Vietnam to install solar lights in remote villages. Here, the student feedback reflected on how we can learn that there is more in us than we think—one of the main tenets of Round Square founder, Kurt Hahn’s ideology: 

“I learned that I often tend to underestimate myself with a lot of things. I thought that I wouldn’t be very good at some of the more strenuous work we were going to be doing but I actually kept up with everyone really well and did a lot of hard work. I also thought it would be a lot more awkward trying to make friends with brand new people but I came away from the trip with new friends from all over the world.”

The school also runs its own service trips, including one to Isla Chira, Costa Rica, where students help with community development and sustainability projects. Through these initiatives, students gain hands-on experience in global service while fostering cross-cultural understanding. The following insights are quotes from student debrief forms: 

“I think the service activity that resonated the most with me was building the foundation of the kitchen because I learned how another culture that has less equipment resources in construction sites than in Canada builds things. It allowed me to build appreciation for many of the facilities and equipment that we have in Canada, such as excavators and cement mixers. However, I also really enjoyed the activity because it was very rewarding and I felt accomplished. I also think that almost everyone worked well together regardless of the language barrier with some of the locals.”

“Service was focused on reducing our ecological footprint through replanting mangrove trees, beach clean-ups and supporting local communities. On this trip, I learned how different ‘normal’ can be. Through other travel, I have seen many different lifestyles but particularly on Isla Chira, the remoteness was really unlike anything I’ve experienced. I never realized how important seemingly minor things such as mangroves could be to a community.”

“The service was mostly about climate change and trying to help conserve some of the very unique ecosystems they had there on the beaches and the mangroves and it really resonated with me how climate change really does affect everyone around the world some more than others. But it really made me realize how we are all in this together and we have to all work together to reduce climate change.”