FIND OUT MORE: Launching Our New Service Learning Program
I’ve been to Avalon Gardens twice now and both times have truly been such a fantastic experience! It was really nice being able to serve others in our community and connect with the residents at Avalon
Olivia Hov
The LCS High School service learning program led by Mr. Seppelt is having an impact in its first year.
In the few months that the service program has been running, many LCS students have embraced the opportunity to see how their faith is enlivened by engaging in service and fellowship. We are excited to see how these initiatives will encourage our students to flourish by exploring how service, learning and faith play a part in their lives at LCS.
- We have established some strong partnerships with several service agencies in Langley, Surrey, and Vancouver.
- 40 grade 11 and 12 students are participating in a service learning experience in the South Bronx, New York (March 2024); these students have been engaged in their Bible 11/12 Biblical Perspectives of Social Justice course and building relationships with St. Anne’s partner school in the Bronx. We will be visiting the Bronx in March to meet the children in person and to provide academic support and engage in various fellowship opportunities.
- Starting in September, a number of LCS students assisted with the Terry Fox walk at Avalon Gardens, a seniors facility in Murrayville. Since then, the students have been able to engage in a number of other activities with Avalon, including a Halloween social, arts and crafts activities, and their annual Christmas craft fair.
“I’ve been to Surrey Urban Mission a few times, and the experiences have been amazing. It opened my mind and perspective and made me realize that the small things we do to help out can make a person’s day by simply having a conversation with people and asking how their day is. I think everyone needs to participate in service at least once this year to share in this experience.”
Olivia Krayem
- LCS students have also served at Surrey Urban Mission on seven different occasions. Mrs. Davis brought the Senior Girls Volleyball team, where the girls helped to serve the lunch and engaged in fellowship with the guests. Mrs. Shelvey’s Math students also came to serve a meal and volunteer in a number of the SUMS agencies. The elementary staff and students gathered necessity items and made 100 care packages for the guests just before Christmas. The packages were given out by LCS High School students.
- We continue to serve at the Door Is Open soup kitchen on the Downtown Eastside once a month on Sunday afternoons where the students have helped to prepare and serve a meal to over 200 residents in the neighbourhood. The students were encouraged to engage in meaningful dialogue in order to understand the numerous challenges related to marginalized communities. Mr. Wergeland brought his First Peoples 12 class to the Door is Open to prepare and serve a meal and explore learning about Indigenous reconciliation in the community. The Middle School helped to collect hundreds of pairs of socks which were given out in December by volunteers from the Middle and High School at the Door is Open.
- LCS has recently re-established an Adopt a Street commitment to maintain 228th street (adjacent to our Middle School campus) in our surrounding neighborhood and to engage in a program of environmental stewardship.
Reach out to Mr. Chris Seppelt (cseppelt@langleychristian.com) if you and your family would like to explore opportunities for service and volunteerism in one of these initiatives. We are also actively seeking inspirational ideas for impactful service learning in the future in other communities locally and globally.
Listen to LCS Talks Season 4 Episode 5, “Service Learning Supports Social Emotional Development” featuring High School Principal Joel Ditson and Chris Seppelt to hear more about the impact.
We deliver an exceptional, faith-forming education in a thriving community of outstanding Christian staff who help families raise students to be equipped to confidently live out their unique purpose in the world.
