Quarter 1 Reflection - Service

The first quarter of the year, in terms of service, started out well. Service sign up was on August 21, and I was trying to branch out from my previous service groups and try something new. I eventually signed up for the Alzheimer Service group with 3 other students. The beginning of the semester was a bit confusing as we had a small group and no supervisor, but these issues were soon sorted out when Ms. Lenk became our supervisor and we worked in conjunction with her sixth grade service group. This expanded our group while at the same time raising awareness on Alzheimer's disease through the younger students.

Our first service session with the 6th graders went well. We were trying to see how well we worked as a service group and we were having a test run to see how to interact and treat the patients at the Alzheimer's Center. The rest of the sessions with the 6th graders went this way, with the addition of memory games and Alzheimer related activities and informational session. I learnt a lot about the disease and how to interact with both the patients and the 6th graders.

Students working (Photo credit: Anjleen Hannak)

Memory posters (Photo credit: Anjleen Hannak)

Alzheimer Service group (Photo credit: Anjleen Hannak)

Our first trip to the Alzheimer's Center was preceded by a planning session, where we brainstormed activities with the 6th graders and told them what to do (protocol & how to make a proper introduction) and what to bring. We hoped that the kids could apply these instructions, not only to Alzheimer's but also to the entire service program and the MYP and DP as a whole. This would give them a more global perspective as well, as this can be used in life outside of school. Unfortunately, for the first visit of the year, the younger students were unable to come with us to the center because they were denied permission to do so.

The visit was on October 15. Since I was the only new member I was introduced to the patients and we interacted and made puzzles with them to break the ice and to get used to each other. Afterwards we played Pass the Parcel and had a dance party (where the parcels and the music selection was organized by Anjleen, our service leader, before the visit). Granted, some of the patients could not move around a lot or very well, so the dancing was pretty limited, but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves all the same.

(Photo credit: Sonali Fernando)

(Photo credit: Sonali Fernando)

(Photo credit: Bella Grieve-Darcy)

(Photo credit: Bella Grieve-Darcy)

(Photo credit: Bella Grieve-Darcy)

Something I need to improve on is definetly updating my blog more often after sessions and not as a one huge post at the end of each quarter. Because of SAISA Volleyball I was unable to attend a session and a visit, but I think that this was a good start to the service aspect of CAS.