Total community outreach hours for Grades 9 - 12, from September 2006 to June 2007: 3335.75 hours

Our objective is to inspire our students to develop social consciousness and inclusiveness, to become engaged and responsible world citizens.

Community Outreach is a theme that is very evident among the students. It is difficult to begin to catalogue all of the community service activities undertaken by the students, both in school sponsored events and individual work, as many of the girls work quietly yet steadily at their own chosen projects outside the school. They do this willingly and in combination with a full academic load and enthusiastic participation in sports and club activities at the school. It is very rewarding to see this generation of students committing to fulfilling one very important aspect of our school’s mission to expand learning and involvement beyond the school community.

Although community service is now a prerequisite for graduation in the province of Ontario, Trafalgar students have been giving freely and willingly of their time and energy for many years.

One of the major events of Trafalgar’s community outreach is the Annual Charity Bazaar. All students and staff in the Trafalgar community participate. Trafalgar's rich diversity is highlighted through our international buffet, with food prepared by the international students. The proceeds from the day go to support a variety of local and national charitable causes.

During the year students are involved in a wide variety of groups and individual community service activities. Our choir performs at seniors’ facilities around the Christmas season and other students are involved in helping to host social functions at these facilities. This year, as in the past, student volunteers will help organize Run for the Cure and participate in The CN Tower climb for the United Way. In addition, our students host a chapter of Amnesty International, with fund-raising Coffee House. One of the aspects of Trafalgar Castle School’s mission is to develop in our students the skills required for leadership in a contemporary global society. We believe that a strong sense of commitment to one’s community, both local and global, is an important dimension of a young person’s education and we are delighted at the enthusiasm that our students demonstrate in fulfilling their service to their communities.

Any questions? Please contact, Mrs. Olwen Sigsworth, Director of Community Service Programmes.

Just a quick note to say that all is well in Honduras!!

We finally arrived at our destination to find unexpected balmy 31 degree weather! No complaints here though.

We are all settled into the hotel and had our first Honduran meal - scrambled eggs, refried beans, chicken breast, homemade tortillas, crème and cheese, oh and native copan soda. Delish!

The girls are happy and we’re all ready for our first day of work tomorrow.

We’ll check in again later in the week when we have more to report - although what we’ve seen so far is more then most people ever get to see... it s pretty amazing here!

Ms. Johnston & Ms. Mitchell

Things are going really well here in Honduras. The girls are working very hard and we are having a great time together.

Day 3 on site. It was 33 degrees today and the sun was extremely hot. We are starting to get the hang of the jobs we are doing, mixing cement using shovels, digging trenches, making bricks from sand, limestone and dirt. Not only are we learning these new skills, but the sense of admiration and appreciation for the local workers grows each passing moment. Things are so different here. At home we have bulldozers to move dirt, mixers and pourers for cement, machines to dig trenches, and all of the brick are just brought in by trucks. Here everything has to be done and made by hand before any building can take place. The local masons and tradesmen are the hardest working people I ever seen.

The project we are working on is a new type of project in Honduras. Rather than 1 house for 1 family, they are working on 8 houses, all in different stages of development. It is similar to a subdivision at home.

On the edge of the site is an escuela (school), and when the children get out they come and play with us in the afternoons. Despite the language barrier, it’s amazing how easy it is to communicate. We spend our breaks playing clapping games and doing funny handshakes. Stella ella ola was a hit with them today!

We are looking forward to sharing all of pictures and stories with you when we return. Wish you all could be here to share in this wonderful experience. It truly is the trip of a lifetime!

Adios from Honduras,
Trafalgar Girls.