SERVICE LEARNING

Service at OSC ‘Together we’re making a difference

OSC is committed to the values of inter-cultural understanding and empathy and these are developed through our experience in service learning. Service Learning is part of the IB curriculum and part of the culture at OSC. Service is a requirement at all grade levels where students recognize specific needs within the community, work with members of this community to plan appropriate responses to those needs, and act ethically to meet them. At OSC the curriculum provides ideas, opportunities and the context for students to initiate service as action independently. The school provides a protected time for students to focus solely on service.

All students in the MYP and DP are expected to participate in projects organized by the school, or to participate in service outside school. In the MYP years 1-5, students are required to serve for one semester, while in the DP the commitment is year-long. We believe that student leadership is vital to initiate and plan each service project, regardless of student age, so opportunities for leadership are offered throughout.

In the PYP students are involved with a choice on which of the15 OSC Service groups they support. This is done through the PSGA ambassador program where they act as representatives for their classes. It's also achieved through the 'action' piece where students decide how they are going to implement their learning which usually involves supporting one of the OSC service groups.

Service to the Community and Environment

Care for Paws

We work with two local community groups; Adopt-A-Dog Sri Lanka and the Association of Veterinarians for Humane Management of Animal Population to provide local free sterilization camps at least once an academic year. We raise funds through T-shirt sales as well as our Annual Christmas Cookie fundraiser to cover the fees of these camps. We cover the costs of the sterilizations as well as immunizations for families who bring their pets to the camp, as well as local street dogs.

Gecko Inc.

Gecko Network

Justice and Equality

Hope for Kids

Housing and Habitat

OSC’s Room to Read

We help develop libraries in the local communities, making reading for pleasure and learning available to all,and spreading our passion for books. We have developed a strong partnership with two schools in the community; Bapajaya Vidyaloka Maha Vidyalaya and Vidhyawardene. Our recently opened second hand book store near the reception is one way we continue to raise funds for supporting these two libraries for building and furnishing their library buildings. This academic year we plan to organize literary afternoons, community book sales and other events to continue our support to these two schools.

ECO-Schools

Young Reporters for the Environment (YPR)

Recycling and Sustainability

SOS Village

Memory Project: 'Creating a kinder world through art’

We will be creating artworks for children in different parts of the world who are facing many kinds of challenges, such as children in Cameroon whose lives have been severely impacted by an ongoing civil war, children in northern Nigeria who risk kidnapping by extremists simply to attend school, children in Sierra Leone who are striving to overcome the challenges of extreme poverty, and many more. Through making these connections with other children, we aim to build cultural understanding and international kindness whilst also having fun and being creative.

Cultural Exchange

Involves OSC students working with students in rural villages in Sri Lanka in a cultural-exchange program. With guidance from the U.S. Peace Corps and partner English teachers, you will meet online and in person with students from rural villages in Sri Lanka and converse in English language conversation. Your role will be to engage in discussions and explore aspects of each other's cultures through these conversations. We plan to visit the students in their villages and organise fun activities to help build relationships.

Gecko Gear

Gecko Gear is redefining the OSC world of attire and supporting 'kids on campus' in the service program. Many kids from the local community visit OSC on Thursday afternoons as part of our service program. "Kids on campus' share the OSC swimming pool learning valuable swimming skills, other students come each week to improve their English language skills. Gecko Gear provides resources to help these young people thrive in the service program and beyond. Gecko gears designs and merchandise items and through the sales of these items to support ‘kids on campus’