Year 10 students busk to reduce homelessness
On Thursday 27 October, 2016, Year 10 students Sophie and Jess kicked off a new busking initiative, performing to a filled amphitheatre of Senior School students.
Having just completed World Vision’s 40 Hour Famine, Ralston House Captains Sophie, Charlotte and Uma sought an exciting way to fundraise at school. Seeing that there was no live performance at School during recess and lunchtime, they landed on the idea of busking.
Year 10 coordinator Ms Swain saw this as the perfect opportunity for Year 10 students to take on a sense of leadership and have a voice in the School. “The girls wanted to bring peers together and wanted to host open mic sessions for students to perform,” she said. “Live music provides a warm, welcoming and positive environment” – the ideal way to engage more students in entertainment and fundraising.
Led by Sophie of Year 10, the busking will take place every Friday at lunchtime in the lead up to a Service Learning Day that is part of the Year 10 Balance Matters Program. Sophie has drafted up a calendar for girls with musical talent to perform, and is thrilled that the initiative will raise money for the charity her father works at, Mission Australia.
On Thursday 1 December, 2016, as part of the Balance Matters program, Year 10 will be involved in a special day of service learning titled On The First Day of Christmas. On that day, the girls will perform at two aged care facilities, pack food hampers, host morning teas, write cards to those who are lonely, and gift wrap presents for those in need.