It has been great to see Senior School students increasingly taking on opportunities to serve in various ways across the school community in recent weeks.

In the Senior School, a new cocurricular activity, the Service Learning Club, has started, which has seen a strong uptake from girls who are demonstrating an interest in giving back to our local community. Under the leadership of Mrs Michelle Harmont and Mrs Vanessa Kirollos, the girls have been assisting residents of Marian Court with technology skills.

We have also seen Year 9 students begin their Service Learning initiatives for the year, and this week the Prefects are also hosting Australia’s Biggest Morning Tea to raise funds for Australians struggling with cancer.

Last week, Year 10 students ran the first of their ‘Big Sister’ mentoring sessions with Year 7, and the girls had some great conversations with their younger peers about the challenges of settling into high school. This week we also have the Interact Dance, and the Interact Committee are working hard to put on an event for Years 7 and 8 students which raises awareness and funds for local and global communities in need.

Whether organised by staff or students, it is such an encouragement to see the girls taking regular opportunities to use their God-given gifts and abilities to care for others.

At Meriden, we encourage the girls to look outside themselves and follow the example of Jesus in looking for opportunities to serve others. In Chapel this term, the girls are learning about love and how love is other-person-centred, and we learn to love others by looking to the example set by Jesus.

It is our hope that by taking on opportunities to serve others in the school or local community, the girls would have a growing sense of our shared humanity with others and see how they can contribute meaningfully to society.