Leadership and Service

Leadership and Service

Learning to collaborate and innovate, to solve problems and to provide experiences that engage and inspire is a priority at Barker.

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in service of others.” Gandhi

Service learning is an important part of school life at Barker College with every student afforded the opportunity to engage in age-appropriate service activities that look to see positive gains in students’ attitudes toward self, attitudes toward school and learning, civic engagement, social skills, and academic performance. It is the aim of Barker’s Service Learning Program to develop well rounded young people who are active citizens, serving the wider community with respect, integrity and courage and compassion. Connected to the school’s teaching and learning framework, students engage in Service Learning experiences that is based on three concepts: Respect, Relationship and Return.

Teaching and learning at Barker College is characterised by our “Thrive Framework of 4 pillars”: Inquiry, Rhetoric, Gratitude and Service.

These pillars are underpinned by our values: Commitment, Compassion, Courage, Integrity & Respect. The program of service initiatives for each year group follows these values and pillars, allowing students to develop a culture of service learning throughout their time at Barker. Each year group service program is attached to a theme, to ensure that the activities undertaken are age appropriate and contribute to the students learning. Where possible the programs are geared towards student contribution and the gift of giving oneself, to enhance experiential learning.

Year 7: Environment

Hornsby Campus Paper Recycling

Environment care in the local area

Year 8: Care

Aged Care Centre visits

'Heart For Service' Service Learning Day

Year 9: Shelter

Hornsby Connect

Dignity Dishes

Year 10: Education

Clarke Road School Mentoring

Darkinjung Barker mentoring

Ngarralingayil Barker campus visits

Service Learning Day (Activities Week)

Year 11 & Year 12: Community Leadership

Timeout Basketball game for young people with disability

Hornsby-Kuringai Women's shelter Athletics Carnival BBQ

Bobbin Head Cycle Classic

Whole School Activities

Anglicare Toys 'n' Tucker Christmas Appeal

House Fair

House Charity activities

Salvation Army Red Shield Appeal

Create for a Cause Club

Lifeline Bookfair

 

At Barker College we aim to ‘inspire every learner, every experience and every day’. The Service Learning model, through year groups and house groups, aims to inspire students through service. Service learning is a critical component in achieving academic success and developing well rounded young people who are active citizens, serving the wider community with respect, integrity and courage and compassion.

Read more about the philosophy of Service Learning at Barker in the Barker Journal.