The purpose of the Connections program is to have our students/staff make connections by Learning, Sharing, and Serving with our community partners (local and national) throughout the year.
The purpose of the Connections program is to have our students/staff make connections by Learning, Sharing, and Serving with our community partners (local and national) throughout the year.
In the LEARN component of our Connections program students/staff are introduced to the Connections program and they learn about the organizations that support the monthly themes.
In the SHARE component of our Connections program our students/staff and members of the organizations share time, stories and experiences with each other. Funds collected from a Sharing Day (see Sharing Day tab for more information) are also donated to our Connections partners.
In the SERVE component of our Connections program opportunities for students to serve/volunteer at the local organizations will be arranged if possible. This may be in the form of virtual volunteering or face to face. Serving also includes participation in donation drives.
WHY DO WE GIVE?
As a Christian community, stewardship lies at the heart of Holy Trinity School. It is the Christian mission to give back, in return for the many blessings we receive from God. From the beginning the spirit of philanthropy helped build our school and guided by that same generous spirit we encourage others to make their dreams a reality today. Our six founders gave freely and that sense of generosity continues in the school’s charitable activities.
Giving to those in need is essential in the foundation of good character. It is an act of empathy that is aligned with the core values contained in our Character Creed.
We create stewardship experiences that transform our students, allowing them to find the inner capacity to give with compassion while developing self-awareness of their impact on others.
As global citizens we gain an understanding of diverse cultural values, worldviews and an awareness of how they can positively impact the world.
With a mission to help youth overcome crisis and transition to a state of safety and stability, 360º Kids now serves over 3,500 youth, each year from every municipality in York and this number has grown significantly since our move to the Richmond Hill Hub operating the youth hub and offering even more essential services to youth. Our staff represent many cultures and experiences and have earned a reputation as leaders in offering high quality, innovative programming to the people we serve.
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Alongside Hope supports projects in Canada and around the world in collaboration with local partners who understand the cultural, social, economic and political contexts of the communities and people they serve. This knowledge is invaluable for designing and implementing programs that respond to the specific challenges community members encounter. In Canada, volunteers are key to engaging Anglicans about the humanitarian relief and development work (health, empowering women and girls, food security and climate change, and Indigenous programs) our partners are doing.
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Alzheimer's disease is irreversible and destroys brain cells, causing thinking ability and memory to deteriorate. Alzheimer's disease is not a normal part of aging. Alzheimer’s disease is a fatal disease that eventually affects all aspects of a person’s life: how they think, feel, and act. The Alzheimer Society of York Region offers support, education, navigation and DAY programs to people impacted by dementia. Learn about the organization's history, partners, leadership team, career opportunities and more.
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Egale is Canada’s leading organization for 2SLGBTQI people and issues. We improve and save lives through research, education, awareness, and by advocating for human rights and equality in Canada and around the world. Our work helps create societies and systems that reflect the universal truth that all persons are equal and none is other.
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Friends of the Rouge Watershed (FRW) coordinates hands-on environmental projects with visible and lasting ecosystem, watershed, and community benefits. FRW forms productive conservation partnerships with schools, community and faith organizations, businesses, municipalities, agencies, community leaders, and other environmental groups.
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IFTC helps support individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. Our organization collaborates with its partners in order to provide those with basic to complex needs in the York Region. Currently, IFTC provides seasonal shelter services seven days a week during the winter months and day programming. In addition, IFTC now operates a housing program for four chronically homeless men and the Getting Ahead in a Just Getting’ By World program.
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Kids Help Phone is Canada’s only 24/7 e-mental health service offering free, multilingual and confidential support to help all young people Feel Out Loud.
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L'Arche Daybreak in Richmond Hill, Ontario welcomes adults with intellectual disabilities and the assistants who live, work and learn with them. People are drawn to our community from all over the world seeking a different way of life and bringing with them a wide range of beliefs, backgrounds and qualifications. Many local friends participate in our community life as volunteers. L'Arche Daybreak is a dynamic example of how people of different intellectual capacity, social origin and culture can live together.
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The Richmond Hill Community Food Bank is a non-government, independently run non-profit agency, founded to provide temporary emergency food assistance to those in need. Our strength is the generous support of the people of Richmond Hill, Thornhill and Maple, corporate supporters, food drives by churches and schools, and our staff of amazing volunteers.
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St. John Ambulance is Canada's leading authority in First Aid since 1883. The mission of St. John Ambulance is to enable Canadians to improve their health, safety and quality of life by providing training and community service. As a charitable, humanitarian organization profits from first aid courses and product sales are reinvested into our volunteer community service programs such as medical first response, disaster response, search & rescue, car seat clinics, health and safety related youth & adult programs and therapy dog services.
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The 519 is committed to the health, happiness and full participation of the LGBTQ2S communities. A City of Toronto agency with an innovative model of Service, Space and Leadership, we strive to make a real difference in people’s lives, while working to promote inclusion, understanding and respect.
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Driven by Terry’s courage and determination, we collaborate with and inspire people around the world to support and fundraise for bold, extraordinary research to end cancer.
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Wildlife Preservation Canada’s mission is to save animal species at risk from extinction in Canada by providing direct, hands-on care. We are the only organization in Canada to provide this critical need for multiple species in multiple recovery efforts across the country. We specialize in science-based techniques such as conservation breeding and release, reintroduction and translocation. Our Action Plan is based on the urgency of the need and is updated annually.
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360 Kids- Saasha
360 Kids - Melody
Egale - Sylvia
FRW - Julia
FRW - Aiden
FRW - Antonio
FRW - Yichen
IFC & 360 Kids - Emma
IFC - Natasha
RHFB - Lily
RHFB - Tia
RHFB - Katrina
RHFB - Lauren
WPC - Ray
Throughout the school year, our students and staff partner with local community groups and organizations as part of our Connections Program. In this program, we make connections by learning, sharing and serving with these organizations. One of the organizations we are partnering with this school year is L’Arche Daybreak.
L’Arche Daybreak, founded in Richmond Hill, welcomes individuals with intellectual disabilities and their assistants who live, work and learn with them. People are drawn to this organization from all over the world seeking a different way of life and bringing with them a wide range of beliefs, backgrounds and qualifications. Our partnership with L’Arche Daybreak has allowed us to incorporate the organization into our Connections program, allowing our students and staff the opportunity to learn and share about the organizations through a series of initiatives that are held throughout the school year.
In 2019, as a part of the fall Student Life Day, 16 Grade 10 students and two staff members participated in a service day where they engaged with members of the L’Arche Daybreak family and learned more about the organization. Our community service club has also previously volunteered their time with this organization at their community home. In their volunteer experience, students assisted the staff with programming and preparing meals and snacks, but more importantly, they spent quality time with Core members and made new friendships.
While in-person connections were not able to take place this year due to COVID-19, we were happy to continue learning more about the L’Arche Daybreak organization through a series of Senior School Teacher Advisor Group (TAG) sessions. Next week, we look forward to seeing support from the HTS community on our upcoming sharing day which will help support this connection partner.
The HTS community has been very involved with this connection partner over the past few years and we are looking forward to continuing this partnership in the future.
3/18/2021
Julian B, Service Prefect
This week HTS is supporting two of our local connections partners, the Alzheimer Society (ASYR) as well as St. John Ambulance. Our school community has been very involved with these two organizations over the past few years and we are looking forward to continuing this partnership.
The Alzheimer Society of York Region helps ASYR offer support, education, navigation and programs to people impacted by dementia. On the other hand, St. John Ambulance offers the most comprehensive, state-of-the-art first aid and CPR training programs for the workplace, the home and local communities. Our partnership with ASYR and St. John Ambulance has allowed us to incorporate both organizations into our Connections program in a way that gives students and staff the opportunity to learn and share about the organizations through a series of initiatives that are held throughout the year.
In previous years, as a part of the fall student life day the grade 10 students have participated in a service day where they learned more about what the organization as well as gave service along with staff volunteers. While the service day was not able to take place this year, we were honoured to have an ASYR Program Manager guest speaker to launch this year's Connections Week and most recently the Minds in Motion program.
HTS has also made a great deal of connections with St. John Ambulance. In fall of 2018, during our first ever Student LIfe Day the middle school was involved in a Design Thinking Challenge in how they could improve the United Way Week experience for future years. The winning middle school group presentation for the Design Thinking Challenge won with the St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog program. The therapy dog program created sessions in the last two years that have helped with the wellness and mental health of HTS students during high stressful times of the year. A representative from the St. John Ambulance has also spoken to the middle school to launch their Connections Week program.
2/9/2021
Julian B, Service Prefect
Throughout the school year, our students and staff partner with local community groups and organizations as part of our Connections Program. In this program, we make connections by learning, sharing and serving with these organizations. The third organization we are partnering with this school year is Inn From The Cold (IFTC).
IFTC supports individuals who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless. The organization collaborates with its partners in order to provide those with basic to complex needs in the York Region. Our partnership with IFTC has allowed us to incorporate the organization into our Connections Program in a way that gives students and staff the opportunity to learn about and share with the charity through a series of initiatives that are held throughout the year.
During the holiday season, student leaders held a sock drive. The drive was a great success as numerous donations were brought in to support the homeless in the local York Region area. Lower School students were involved in this initiative by participating in a donation tree activity. For each donation item brought in, students received a paper sock to decorate and hang on a series of trees displayed throughout the school. When the fundraising efforts came to a close, each tree was filled with socks, representing a great deal of kindness held by so many students.
While COVID-19 has limited our community’s ability to give service in a face-to-face setting, in previous years there have been numerous service opportunities for our staff and students to serve IFTC. Members of the Senior School Service Club, along with other student and staff volunteers, have given time to work with IFTC’s community meal program. This program strives to provide a weekly meal for people in need in the York Region community. HTS has been a frequent contributor to this cause which helps serve between 60 and 90 guests.
Lastly, to support IFTC, members of the HTS community have also been involved with an event that directly supports homeless individuals in need. The Coldest Night of the Year is a walk that raises money for charities serving people experiencing homelessness, hurt and hunger. Last year, HTS had its very own Coldest Night of the Year fundraising team who participated in a 5km walk in downtown Newmarket. This group of students and staff raised both awareness and funds for this amazing cause. This year, we are hoping to expand the number of participants in this walk taking place on Saturday, February 20.
1/22/2021
Julian B, Service Prefect
HTS has partnered with eight local organizations as part of our Connections Program. The program is centred around making connections by learning, sharing and serving with these organizations. The second organization we are supporting this school year is the Richmond Hill Food Bank (RHFB).
HTS has been in partnership with the RHFB for many years to help support those in need in our local community. The RHFB has been incorporated into the Connections Program through HTS’s annual donation drives. Our Thanksgiving Food Drive collects non-perishable food items for the RHFB to help those in need during the holiday season. The 1-2-3 Drive is another tradition at HTS that works in partnership with the RHFB. Each student is asked to bring in three non-perishable food items that are then donated to the RHFB, and one gift card this year that supports the RHFB Christmas Families program. Traditionally, 36 local families' wish lists are supported by our homerooms each year where students purchase and wrap Christmas gifts and as a homeroom to fulfil all of the items on the wish list.
In previous years, there have been numerous service opportunities for our staff and students to serve at the RHFB. During the Grade 10 service days in 2018 and 2019, as a part of Student Life Day, 12 Grade 10 students participated in a service trip to the RHFB located in Richmond Hill. During this experience, the group was able to gain hands-on experience of what work takes place at the food bank, while also giving service. Members of the Senior School Service Club have also volunteered time at the RHFB on a more frequent basis. Students have regularly given service working at the RHFB warehouse sorting and organizing food donations.
12/4/2020
Julian B, Service Prefect
Throughout the school year, our students and staff partner with local community groups and organizations as part of our Connections Program. In this program, we make connections by learning, sharing and serving with these organizations. The first organization we are partnering with this school year is 360ºkids.
360ºkids is not a new partnership with HTS, but one we have had for seven years now. Our partnership with 360ºkids has allowed us to incorporate the organization into our Connections program in a way that gives both students and staff the opportunity to learn and share about the through a series of initiatives that are held during the year.
Currently, Grade 5 students are engaged in a citizenship project where they investigate a local topic of interest that has a problem that needs to be solved. Students learn about the problem, why a solution is important to the community, explore how geography and history are connected, and then seek outside support for more information or a different perspective. To assist our students who were focused on youth homelessness, 360ºkids met with our students virtually to discuss their perspectives on the issue at hand and help students to learn more about their organization.
In previous school years, there have been numerous service opportunities for our students and staff to serve 360ºkids. During the Grade 10 service day, as a part of Student Life Day, 12 Grade 10 students participated in a service trip to the 360ºkids Hub located in Richmond Hill. During this experience, the group was able to gain hands-on experience of what it is like to volunteer with 360ºkids, while also learning about the organization. Members of the Senior School Service Club have also volunteered time at the 360ºkids Hub on a more frequent basis.
To share with the organization, Summer, Grade 12 student and 360ºkids Ambassador, brought one of their fundraisers, a “Sock Drive,” to our school. This initiative brought awareness to the organization and generated over 200 donations to the 360ºkids Hub.
We look forward to continuing to connect with 360ºkids throughout the school year as we learn, share and serve with them.
11/20/2020
Julian B, Service Prefect