EDUCATION FOR CITIZENSHIP
Citizenship is one of the pillars of our SBS Vision. As an IB school that means we are educating for global citizenship, as well as local and digital citizenship. At Sunnybrook, action and community service are seen to be pathways to learning about the meaning of citizenship in all its contexts. Student action is integrated into the Program of Inquiry and studio work wherever possible. At Sunnybrook School we view action as service that arises from the studentsʼ learning.
Student initiated action and community service both in the learning studio and throughout the school develops:
INDIVIDUAL STUDENT ACTION
Children are moved by the need of others, and have the desire to make a difference. We encourage students to take action independently; we are very proud of individual students who have taken on a wide range of initiatives, including a food drive, making cards as a fund-raiser, and sponsoring a book drive.
GROUP ACTION
For elementary students, action acquires more personal meaning when they are engaged in a group in which they can learn about needs in the community and the world, and participate in discussions and planning for action. Various classroom-related projects, initiated by the student learning, are proposed throughout the year. Where possible we promote ideas that involve action that doesn’t include raising money.
WHOLE SCHOOL ACTION
We also have several events each year that involve the entire school. Examples of School Action at Sunnybrook include:
Kids Can Too
Our Kids Can Too group provides service opportunities for our older students. Meeting regularly, all students in grades 4 – 6 are welcome to participate, suggest, and carry out projects. An important part of student action is building awareness; a focus for Kids Can Too. This club is an established part of Sunnybrook School culture and fosters the IB Learner Profile and the philosophy of our school in an active, ongoing way.
Terry Fox Run
SBS holds an annual Terry Fox Run, in which all students participate. Parent involvement is key to the success of this event.
Care & Share
SBS has had a relationship with the Red Cross for over 15 years, including this annual school wide event, which provides food for their Mobile Food Bank during the holiday season.
Eco Club
Our Eco Club promotes various environmental initiatives and hosts our annual Earth Day assembly.
Poem in your Pocket Day
During Poetry month we hold an annual celebration of poetry throughout the school.
Disaster Relief
SBS has a tradition of responding to the great need following natural disasters around the world by raising money to send to the Red Cross.
