#iwill during volunteer week
The end of May was a spectacular success for LACE as the S3 demonstrated they were ready to graduate from The Broad General Education, The Final of our Youth philanthropy initiative was a complete third year event with the exception the three girls from last year's winning team, who came into school from exam leave that day to play the role of presenters and judge, showing what a year can do for building confidence.
Each of the groups were very committed to their chosen charity. Some had been inspired by individuals they have met at the charity speed date at the beginning of the month. Others identified with the charity of their choice through personal or family reasons and some because they had never considered the situation that their charity addresses before this month of engagement but now had empathy for their cause and the desire to convince their audience.
It is amazing how transformative a sense of responsibility and desire for social justice can be when you are educating adolescents. The insecurities and concerns that prevent many of them speaking in front of their peers seem less absorbing when they are representing a cause that they see as really important. Watching the transformation of individuals who have been previously paralysed with social anxiety in group situations become determined speakers in front of an audience (consisting of many complete strangers and a few incredulous teachers) cannot be adequately described here. It was truly inspirational and hopefully can be further developed over the next year.
The significance of YPi as a form of community engagement can only be fully realised if the ongoing relationship is nurtured either at home or in school.That is why at our final the pupils' parents are encouraged to sit with the team and their charity representatives and there is time in the proceedings for conversation around the tables. Adopting the runner up charities as our House charities for the year helps to maintain the relationship. We do not make it a competition which pits one charity against each other in terms of financial gain, as this goes against our value of inclusiveness. Instead we leave the competetive element to be about the points gained in each activity whilst the funds raised are split four ways. At the start of the Autumn term the new S4 were encouraged to speak to each House about their charity and why raising money for them was important in developing our school value of compassion. This year the passion for the runners up will be nurtured into a way of developing leadership skills within the Senior phase so the responsibility for charity work is not the sole duty of the pre UCAS statement S6 pupils. All the pupils involved in the evening had a vested interest in it being a success and they all see their ongoing role in supporting the House charities as being an inclusive one. The school values of respect and tolerance of others was very much in evidence as individuals who had previously been in rival teams all supported the 5 finalists in encouragement, reassurance and enthusiastic applause.
The positive messages received from both the charities competing in the final and those who had come to receive their cheques for last year's fundraising were all extremely complimentary. This relationship is what we hope will continue to be developed when we hold our Big Lunch and Saltire Award ceremomy on June 16th.
The number of S4 that have earned significantly over the minimum 10 hours volunteering demonstrates the way our #iwill pledge is developing. Many of them are sports leaders, some are mentors for P7 transition or extended pupil support transition. Then there are the Beavers leaders, St Andrews ambulance volunteers and those who are working towards their Duke of Edinburgh awards. Having a separate Saltire awards ceremony where people volunteer to attend along with their family and meet up with the people in the community that benefit from their volunteering, will help to focus Saltire Awards as a celebration of their wider achievement journeys rather than just another certificate in their portfolio. Our two Summit award winners have clearly shown that this year and starting the month of June celebrating their success rounded off a truly inspriring week. Next week our S6 intergenerational volunteers will be demonstrating their skills for life and work when they present at East Dunbartonshire's generations working together annual intergenerational event and then at the end of the week cohost a dementia awareness garden party with the Health and Social care partnership. There are 20,000 volunteers in East Dunbartonshire and the young people in Lenzie Academy Community Engagement are inspiring members of that group.