The spirit of giving back was in the air as Senior School students learned this week which site they will serve at for Trinity College School’s 12th Week Without Walls. Students and staff alike are eager to get to work, helping local organizations in a host of areas of need, with the first site group planning meetings taking place on Friday, November 25th. Our two international service trips are gearing up for their week-long excursions – the Island School trip departs on November 25th and Panama on November 26th. On campus, another planning meeting will take place the following Monday, November 28th, and then each day from November 29th to December 1st, the groups will head out into communities – from Toronto to Quinte and Port Hope to Peterborough – to give of their time, talents and energy.
The Week Without Walls experience began early, as one service site – students who will be volunteering at the Ten Thousand Villages shop – hosted a sale of fair trade products on Monday, November 21st. The sale allowed students, staff and parents to find some great holiday gift options, and also reinforced the importance of shopping in a way that supports artisans and growers, and promotes fair labour practices. (Note: Parents unable to attend the sale in person still have an opportunity to shop online for pick-up at TCS; click here for instructions on online orders.)
Ten Thousand Villages is a long-time community partner with TCS, as are many of the more than 60 sites involved in this year’s Week Without Walls. In fact, several sites – such as Brock Mission, Habitat for Humanity, Greenwood Coalition and PrimRose Donkey Sanctuary – have been partners in the program since its inception in 2009. We are also thrilled to welcome many new partner sites this year, including the Canadian Abilities Foundation, Millbrook Mountain Biking Club, Old Mill Alpacas and Parkdale East Church.
After their three service days, on Friday, December 2nd, Senior School students will have the chance to hear from a special guest speaker. Then, in the afternoon, each site group will have a debriefing session followed by a full-school assembly featuring the much-anticipated Week Without Walls compilation video created by students.
We hope you will join us on our Week Without Walls journey. Follow “TCS Bears” on social media to share in this special experience:
