“Getting By With Little Help - International School Suva CAS students refurbish a library at AOG Primary School in Kinoya”
If the old adage “You only know your true friends during hard times” is true, then the Assemblies of God (AOG) Primary School in Kinoya has certainly discovered that and despite the tough times, good friends are just around the corner.
Assemblies of God Primary, home to over 720 students, was chosen last year by International School Suva (ISS) to be the next recipient of their Creativity Action and Service (CAS) Project.
The CAS Project, an initiative by ISS students, and a core element of the IB diploma programme, is a multi-layered community project designed to help develop the spirit of community service within each of the ISS students.
It is a holistic method of teaching them much needed life skills and also allows them to give something back to the community.
Ms. Nina Ferry, The CAS Programme Coordintor said, “The most vital area of the ISS curriculum is inspiring our students to have a positive impact within their community. These 22 CAS students have shown an unprecedented amount of commitment and compassion in the completion of this project. Every week I have been incredibly proud of their willingness to learn new skills, explore their talents, and form a connection with their community. ”
As part of this commitment, teachers and student volunteers dedicate personal time to help work on worthwhile community projects.
In this instance the objective was to turn an empty storage room at AOG primary into a fully functional library through the recycling of unused resources, complete with structural repairs, a carpeted floor, new shelves, donated books, cushions, and an all encompassing mural.
The ISS students succeeded in creating a safe, fun, and friendly learning area for AOG students who previously didn’t have access to these resources.
“This project is a very vital one for AOG Primary as the school has not had a decent library since its inception in 1962” said Assistant Headmaster Emmanuel Kumar. “The staff, students, and management of our school are very appreciative of this project by the ISS students and staff” He said. “The availability of reading books, which are at a variety of levels, will assist AOG in its target to improve the children’s literacy rate and will be a helpful resource for the teachers and the students of AOG.”
The CAS AOG Library project, an extra-curricular activity offered by ISS, has taken over two terms to complete and has consisted of 17 weekly visits to AOG.
These student volunteers, under the supervision of their teachers, planned, raised funds, cleaned, painted, and built the resources needed to complete their CAS project within limited budget and time constraints.
Thus, continuing the proud ISS tradition that has been part of the school curriculum since the 1980s.
On Tuesday April 19th, the AOG Primary Library will be officially opened and dedicated to the students of AOG. Currently, there are over 500 books that have been catalogued and donated by the ISS community.
The library will be looked after by Peni Vasuca, the Class 6 teacher at AOG and will initially be used as a reading room for Classes 1-4, and a borrowing facility for Classes 5 and 6.
The ISS CAS students who have made this project possible will be graduating in December of this year, and when they do, they will not only be taking graduate certificates with them, but the memories of over 720 smiling Primary students—knowing that they have had a chance to open the world of communication and imagination through access to resources and reading.
It’s good to know that even in today’s tough economic times, you can still get by with a little help from your friends.
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