At St. John School, students are learning that faith isn’t just something you talk about—it’s something you live. Through a powerful new initiative focused on service learning, students from Kindergarten to Grade 8 are putting Catholic virtues into action in meaningful ways that foster inclusion, empathy, and a deep sense of community.
Led by Learning Resource Teacher Kara Bennett and supported by Principal Shawna Lamme, the school has embraced a renewed commitment to connecting Catholic teaching with everyday experiences. Each class has taken on a unique, student-led service project designed to reflect values such as compassion, justice, and hope.
Kara shared how the entire school community united around the goal of making Catholic virtues such as compassion, justice, courage, and hope tangible through action. Every class engaged in a student-led service project, including:
Kindergarten – Intergenerational programming and activities at Northwoods Lodge
Grade 1 – Growing and delivering flowers to local seniors
Grade 2/3 – Building community libraries for neighbourhood book sharing
Grade 3/4 – Hosting a tea party and bingo for residents of a long-term care home
Grade 5/6 – Organizing a food drive in support of the local food bank
Grade 7/8 – Writing and illustrating books for kindergarten reading buddies
The projects are part of a broader vision to strengthen Catholic identity through service learning, an approach that combines meaningful community service with instruction and reflection. It encourages empathy, develops leadership, fosters civic responsibility, and creates deeper connections to faith and Catholic teachings.
“Our goal was to help students understand that everyone has gifts to offer, and that service is one of the most powerful ways to live out our faith,” said Kara Bennett. “Through these projects, we saw students grow in confidence, leadership, and connection—not just to the community, but to each other.”
Inclusion was a central pillar of the initiative. Students with diverse needs were supported through flexible roles, peer collaboration, and alternative communication tools such as visuals and assistive technology. These supports ensured that every child could fully participate and contribute.
One of the many heartwarming moments came from the Grade 3–4 class, who hosted a tea and bingo social for local seniors. Students took the lead on every detail—decorating the gym, baking treats, preparing beverages, creating invitations, and selecting music. On the day of the event, they warmly welcomed 30 seniors into the school and took on roles as greeters, servers, kitchen helpers, and bingo callers. The room was filled with laughter, conversation, and shared joy—reminding everyone present that small acts of kindness help build a stronger, more connected community.
“We want every student to feel seen and valued,” said Principal Shawna Lamme. “This initiative brought our school community together in a beautiful way—students, staff, and families united in living our Catholic values through action.”
The approach also helps students build empathy and understanding, teaches the dignity of every person, and promotes belonging and confidence, especially among those with special needs who were given leadership roles and the opportunity to shine.
The initiative was inspired by a professional development session led by Anne O’Brien, Director of Catholic Education for the Ontario Catholic School Trustees’ Association, who shared the message: “Service is as important as academics, and action is social justice.” That message resonated deeply with staff and became the foundation for this school-wide movement.
As the year closes, the St. John School community reflects with gratitude on the many ways students have lived out their faith through action. Their service has not only supported others but has helped shape compassionate, capable young leaders.
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” — 1 Peter 4:10