Students pause during an envirathon/servathon workday

Envirathon/Servathon

On Friday, October 30, 2009 our students and teachers will participate in our 22nd Annual ENVIRATHON/SERVATHON. In the past, this has been a very successful student volunteer and fund-raising activity. This will again be another productive day of student voluntary service in our community.

Objectives

• To help students develop a better understanding of local environmental and social concerns and to learn how these concerns can best be addressed.
• To involve students in working actively on environmental and social problems in their local community and to help raise awareness through solicitation of sponsorships from individuals and businesses.
• To lead students into an understanding of and appreciation for the value of volunteering and community service as part of being good stewards of God's creation.
• To involve students in a joint fundraising activity in order to purchase necessary equipment and furnishings which directly impacting and enhance student activity and learning.

Procedure

• Once again student environmental and community service will include tree planting, trail and river clean-up, working at Food Banks, Thrift Stores, with Mennonite Central Committee...and much more. 350 volunteer jobs were available!
• Sponsor sheets are issued to students, and they are encouraged to solicit sponsorship support for their service and involvement for a full days work (approx. 6 hours: 8:15 am - 3:00 pm including lunch and travel time).
• The school will arrange for and assign specific jobs to students and takes responsibility for all transportation needs. Students will work in groups of varying sizes, depending on the type of work being done.
• Students are informed of the nature of their work in advance and are also advised on lunch and dress requirements.
• The Business Office takes the responsiblity for billing individual sponsors for their support and issues tax receipts for contributions of $10.00 and over. Students do not need to collect this money. Rather they solicit commitments of support and write down all appropriate information.

Parents Please Note: Community hours volunteered for ENVIRATHON/SERVATHON can be counted as part of the Community Involvement Activities requirement for students in grades 9-12.