Secondary

The Marist Brothers inherited from their founder, Saint Marcellin Champagnat, a commitment to holistic education – education that provides for the development of the whole person.  Newman Service Learning is a compulsory part of the College curriculum, contributing to holistic education by providing an opportunity for students to respond to the Gospel message through service.

Newman Service Learning (introduced in 2002) is based on the Principle of Participation as set out in the Catholic Education Office policy on social justice:

The principle of participation, as explained in the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, requires that people contribute ‘to the common good, each according to his or her own abilities and the needs of others’.  It requires them to promote and assist ‘public and private institutions dedicated to bettering the conditions of human life’.  In practice, such participation is achieved ‘first of all by taking charge of the areas for which one assumes personal responsibility (such as family needs and work) – and then by taking an active part in wider society and its institutions as far as this is possible.

“Gaudium et spes” 1965, 7 December
Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World

Newman Service Learning aims to integrate experiential and conceptual learning, leading to outcomes such as:  better integration into society, personal satisfaction and growth in self awareness, exploration of adult roles.  The development of competencies include:  efficient time-management, responsible decision-making, ability to cope.

Completion of a log book/journal is intended to facilitate learning based on an action-reflection model.

Pictured are Service Learning students after a Keep Australia Beautiful clean up.