Community Service at ISP

Community Service at ISP is a group of people, mainly students - but also teachers, parents and friends, who are interested in volunteering and helping people in need in Prague, the Czech Republic and beyond.

Unique service opportunity where anyone could be involved - Arts and Crafts - November 12

It does not matter if you are a club member / leader, if you are a teacher or student, it does not matter from which section you are.

You only need time and desire to work and prepare a project!

Please see the list of activities HERE. If you are interested, please sign up as soon as possible. 

You can choose from 3 main activities:

1 - Fundraising activities (pre-paid vouchers system)

2 - Crafts sale teams (expecting 3 - 5 teams) 

3 - Individual / Group project with bake sale in the end (project for cca 4 - 5 weeks - could be CAS, DofE, CSC)

All proceeds from all activities will support local charities (each active participant / team can choose the local charity)

Please share this opportunity with your colleagues, teachers, fellow-students, siblings and friends.

Thank you and in case of any questions please do not hesitate to contact me (pkoukalova@isp.cz)

Lesy hl. m. Prahy are organizing the TREE PLANTING in Lesopark Letňany - October 22, 2022 (10:00 - 16:00)

If you want to celebrate the Day of Trees (which we celebrate in Czech Republic on October 20) and also the 30 years anniversary of the Prague organization Lesy hl. m. Prahy, come to help with tree planting in Lesopark Letňany (LOCATION - https://mapy.cz/s/huduhutozo). The event is open to everyone, all equipment will be there. 

Please see details here (unfortunately only in Czech):

https://lhmp.cz/2022/10/10/pozvanka-stromy-pro-prahu-sazime-uz-30-let-zasad-strom-pro-jeji-budoucnost-i-ty/

If you decide to join this event we will be happy if you share with us some pictures and experiences :)

DAY FOR FOREST RECOVERY with Lesy ČR, s.p. - 15.10.2022 (10:00 - 16:00)

The Forests of the Czech Republic invite you for the Day for Forest Recovery. The goal of this day is to unite us in our efforts to face the extraordinary calamity in our forests by planting a new forest that will grow for generations. In addition to planting seedlings, you will also be able to try forestry skills and test your knowledge of the forest.

There are 13 places around Czech Republic where you can join a group of volunteers who will plant trees under professional supervision of Lesy ČR employees.

The nearest place is in Konopiště, 1 km from Benešova u Prahy GPS of  the location: 49.7830300N, 14.6583200E

Parking -  GPS: 49.7824058N, 14.6587903E

Please see details here (unfortunately only in Czech):

https://www.sazimelesynovegenerace.cz/den-za-obnovu-lesa/#stredocesky-kraj

If you decide to join this event we will be happy if you share with us some pictures and experiences :)

COLD WEATHER IS COMING AND HEDGEHOGS NEED OUR HELP

ON BEHALF OF US STUDENTS GABI AND SHAUNA

Dear ISP Community,

My name is Gabi and I am raising awareness for hedgehogs that live all around, along with Shauna Leahy. I myself have seen many hedgehogs on our campus that now more than ever might need our help!

Hedgehogs are very susceptible to extremes in temperature; their ideal temperature is around 21º - 29ºC. Prague experiences temperatures lower than these for most of the year but especially during Christmas reaching below zero. During this time hedgehogs hibernate waiting for spring. Hedgehogs also use sleep similar to hibernation to protect themselves from extreme climates in addition to just getting rest. Not only do Hedgehogs hibernate in cold climates, but also sleep through times of heat and drought in deserts. This process of sleeping during heat and drought is called aestivation. In areas where there aren't extreme climates, hedgehogs are active and have normal sleep cycles.

Hedgehogs have it especially rough during this time of year as the temperatures begin to drop. As hedgehogs do seem to have made a home on our campus it is our duty to make sure that we create a safe environment for them. This includes no grabbing or throwing of the hedgehogs. No feeding hedgehogs: starchy vegetables (corn, potatoes, and carrots), dried vegetables, dairy products, and bread. Although you can feed them fruits and some vegetables such as apples, bananas, melon, berries, fresh tomatoes, fresh green beans, cooked squash, etc.

Because hedgehogs will soon go into hibernation they will need to eat enough food to keep them alive during this time as they draw fat from their body. Although all hedgehogs need to reach a certain weight, each hedgehog is different. An adult hedgehog should weigh around 800-1000g while a younger hedgehog should weigh around 500-600g. If the hedgehog is under 500g it is most likely sick or starving; and if the hedgehog is above or around 800-1000g it is most likely healthy. If the hedgehog were to be between 500 to 800g there is no definitive answer to whether the hedgehog is healthy or not. If it looks sick or hurt you can contact the see phone numbers for each region of Czech Republic.

Hedgehogs are very sensitive animals that need our help!

We plan on emailing more information out in a few weeks time.

Sincerely,

Gabriela Perdomo-Mark and Shauna Leahy

PREVIOUS EVENTS

COLLECTION FOR Dignity Restoring Hope z.s. - NOVEMBER 1 - NOVEMBER 12, 2021

MS Roots and shoots club is supporting refugee families in Prague. Dignity's representative Petra Damms run an info session for MS students during the MS Gathering.

TREE PLANTING IN CHÝNĚ, NOVEMBER 7, 2021 FROM 10 am.

We would like to invite you for the TREE PLANTING in Chýně. We will plant approx. 50 trees in Chýně on Sunday, November 7, 2021 from 10 am. (we are expecting approx. 2-3 hours).

The number of participants is limited - max. 20 adults and max. 30 kids.

TRANSPORTATION:

We have arranged the school bus for those who are interested. School bus will leave at 9:30 am SHARP from the ISP parking lot. Those using ISP bus have to bring 2 pairs of shoes - one for planting and the second one for transport.

If you prefer individual transportation the meeting point will be on the address KE ŠKOLCE 57, CHÝNĚ at 10:00 am. There is no parking lot, but you can park there along the street.

WHAT I HAVE TO DO, WHAT I NEED TO ARRANGE?

- You have to sign up  HERE till Wednesday, November 3!

- You should have clothes and shoes for working - yes, you can be dirty :)

- Bring the drinking water and a small snack :) - it will be well deserved after hard work...

- Good mood is a must!

Come to enjoy a nice Sunday in the forest and make a difference!

Looking forward to seeing you!

Please note that in case of really bad weather we will postpone it. We will make the final decision on Wednesday, November 3 based on the weather forecast and number of participants.

Pavlína Koukalová & Tereza Čápová

on behalf of ISP Community Service

ISP'S GOT TALENT !!!COMING SOON!!! DON'T FORGET TO BUY YOUR TICKETS!!!! :)

COLLECTION FOR ST. VINCENT - OCTOBER 11 - OCTOBER 15, 2021

St Vincent de Paul is a shelter for mothers, who come from neglected or even abusive family environments and who often have physical disabilities or mental health issues. The children living at St Vincent live a normal life, where they go to school, help out at home and love to play and explore. They range in age from 4 month baby to 17 years of age.

CANCELLED - TREE PLANTING IN CHÝNĚ, OCTOBER 9, 2021 FROM 9 am.

We would like to invite you for the TREE PLANTING in Chýně. We will plant approx. 50 trees in Chýně this Saturday, October 9, 2021 from 9 am. (we are expecting approx. 3 hours).

The number of participants is limited - max. 20 adults and max. 30 kids.

TRANSPORTATION:

We have arranged the school bus for those who are interested. School bus will leave at 8:30 am SHARP from the ISP parking lot. Those using ISP bus have to bring 2 pairs of shoes - one for planting and the second one for transport.

If you prefer individual transportation the meeting point will be on the address KE ŠKOLCE 57, CHÝNĚ at 9:00 am. There is no parking lot, but you can park there along the street.

WHAT I HAVE TO DO, WHAT I NEED TO ARRANGE?

- You have to sign up HERE  till Wednesday, October 6!

- You should have clothes and shoes for working - yes, you can be dirty 

- Bring the drinking water and a small snack  - it will be well deserved after hard work...

- Good mood is a must!

Come to enjoy a nice sunny Saturday in the forest and make a difference!

Looking forward to seeing you this Saturday!

Pavlína Koukalová & Tereza Čápová

on behalf of ISP Community Service

ISP's GOT TALENT - SIGN UP FOR JUDGES, HOSTS, PERFORMERS IS OPEN!

ON BEHALF OF KURANDZA TEAM

We are the Kurandza club and soon we are going to be hosting a talent show at ISP to raise money and awareness for the organization. Kurandza aims to help young girls in Mozambique receive an education and invest into their futures.

Our talent show will require, not only participants, but a dynamic panel of judges and a charismatic set of hosts. All these positions are open for auditions.

The talent show event will be taking place in the afternoon of November 7th and in the evening of November 8th. The tickets will be on sale starting October 1st for 300 czk per person. All the profits which we will make from the ticket sale will go towards the Kurandza organization.

We strongly encourage everyone in the community to participate. People of all ages are welcomed to take part in our talent show! If you are interested in participating, you can sign up via QR codes which are featured on the “Kurandza ISP Talent Show” posters. The posters can be found all around the school and are attached to this email as well. 

If you have any questions, feel free to email us at kurandza@isp.cz

We look forward to seeing all of you at the talent show!

Environmental project - "Wildlife-friendly ISP"

I am coming with an option for a long term (till the end of the school year) regular project.

I am looking for motivated, independent team members, nature lovers who want to actively work on the environmental project - "Wildlife-friendly ISP". The main goal is to have insects, birds, frogs, hedgehogs, etc. at ISP campus, build a safe place for them and also inspire / motivate ISP community members to do the same in their gardens. It could be used also for educational purposes - birds watching, life cycle of animals, etc.

What will be the main tasks?

- Research - internally x externally x worldwide

- Prepare projects and ideas

- Present and discuss projects and ideas with relevant departments

- Present the final projects to ISP Community

- Participate in project realisation - cooperation with Facility team, ES Crafts Club, ES Outside Learning, etc.

- Regular monitoring of projects and presentation of results

Part of this project will also be the creation of "CALENDAR" with information about which month is happening what in our nature, how people should behave, what to do / not to do, etc.

All team members are required to attend the weekly meeting  (zoom calls in case of distance learning) and we are expecting weekly time commitment / work on the project.

If you are interested please let me know as soon as possible and also mention why you would like to be part of this team? What is your motivation? Why will you be a valuable member?

Please note that you can have it also as CAS / CSC / DofE project. 

!!!Let's make a difference together!!!

ISP Clean Up Day - September 11, 2021

We would like to invite the whole ISP Community - teachers, staff, parents and students from an elementary, middle and high school interested in doing an act of service for the Prague 6 - Nebušice community. 

We will be collecting trash along a planned route - around the ISP campus and the direction to Jenerálka - and hope to make a difference!  

We also want all participants to adhere to the safety rules, meaning that you are required to have a mask during distribution of materials and explanation of safety rules. Following that, it’s  not necessary to wear a face mask if you social distance,  during the clean up. If you are not feeling well please stay at home to protect our community.

The main rules:

#stay at home if you don't feel well

#face mask is obligatory on the ISP campus

#2 meters social distance during the whole event

#use disinfection

The meeting point for the ISP Clean up will be at the ISP parking lot at 9am and the whole event will be from 9am until 12.  

We require that children in elementary and middle school are accompanied by an adult and we highly recommend you bring your own gloves and trash bags. Please fill in the  FORM which allows us to have an idea about the number of people coming and material needed.

Thank you very much, 

In case of any questions please let me know.

We hope to see you there!

ISP Community Service Team

HOW TO HELP HOMELESS PEOPLE DURING WINTER

BUY NOCLEŽENKA: https://noclezenka.cz/en/homepage/

DONATE CLOTHES: https://praha.charita.cz/en/social-services/charity-wardrobe/

THE ISP COMMUNITY COOKBOOK

One of the best things about attending an international school is the diversity of nationalities! We have over 60 nationalities represented in ISP and it's fun to learn about the food that is showcased at ISP’s International Food Fair, which normally takes place in Spring.

Thus, to celebrate our diversity, we will create our very own ISP Community Cookbook that describes international recipes and how they bring our community together. The Cookbook will go on sale in March via pre-orders and all profits from sales will go to a local charity.

The ISP Community Cookbook will not only inspire you to try delicious new recipes but will also be a souvenir you can keep for many years to remind you of your time at ISP.

We want you to get involved by sharing your favourite recipes whether they be your great grandmother’s cookies recipe, a soup you learnt during cooking school in Morocco or your favourite comfort food. We invite our entire ISP community (students, parents, teachers, support staff, alumni) to get involved so we can make this Cookbook amazing and put the community spirit of ISP’s International Food Fair on paper!

To submit your recipe fill out this form (česká verze zde). You can share recipes from your culture, family favourites or recipes you discovered when travelling somewhere special to you. We’d love to know why you chose it and why it connects with you plus include a photo of you making the recipe and what the finished dish looks like.

We look forward to receiving your delicious recipes from around the world!

NEW COMMUNITY SERVICES CLUB IS COMING SOON

Stay tuned for a new activity in Season 3. The club will be coordinated by Ms. Pacelli and Ms. Hargreaves-Cox and sign ups will begin in March. If you have an initial interest or questions  then please reach out to them by email.

THE ISP GIVING TREE 2020

The ISP Giving Tree Project is back this December! Please get involved to brighten the lives of those less fortunate from St. Vincents Shelter for Women & Children, Seniors House Šumperk and people with special needs who work for Café AdAstra.

How can you get involved? You can buy a gift of approx. value 600czk for the people featured on this list.  It's a great way to spread joy to the local community during the holiday season.  Your gift will go directly to:

1. The families of St Vincent’s Women’s and Children's shelter from St Vincent de Paul home (located two hours north of Prague)

2. The employees of Café AdAstra, which employees people with special needs such as epilepsy, intellectual disabilities, autism, mental stress or illness, and cognitive deficits. The café currently employs 36 people with special needs as waiter staff, kitchen help and bar staff.

3. The seniors suffering from disabilities, Alzheimer's and dementia from House Šumperk, located in the foothills of the Jeseníky Mountains.

The project runs from now until Wednesday, December 9th. Please read full details here. 

THE DOG SHELTER AND THE RESCUE STATION COLLECTION

There are over 300 private and state animal shelters in the Czech Republic with thousands of animals in them. Partner with us in these strange times to make a difference by supporting two dog shelters (Bouchalka, Voriskov) and one rescue centre for wild animals chosen for this year. Both shelters are privately owned, receive no government subsidies and rely completely on volunteers. Together they take care of more than 120 dogs. Bouchalka has a lot of “bull” dog types, the most exploited and misunderstood dogs. Over 1200 dogs pass through the shelter annually. Voriskov shelter was founded by two dog enthusiasts who aim to run an ecologically sustainable minishelter and accept any dogs. The mission of the Rescue Station for Wild Animals is to help injured and otherwise handicapped wild animals with the goal of returning them to the Prague countryside after their recovery. The station receives more than 4,000 animals a year and is thus the busiest of all rescue stations in the Czech Republic.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Collection box will be placed outside by the main ISP reception daily from November 16 to 30.

1. You can donate anything from the wishlist - more information about things they need the most is below

2. Declutter your closets and donate anything you or your dog does not need or use anymore 

3. Support the shelters financially (we will make a one time purchase thanks to the collected money) - if case of money donation, please leave an envelope with your name on it and send an email to pkoukalova@isp.cz or smalinova@isp.cz 

Wishlist (you can buy majority of things on mall.cz)

• Dry Food - they have relatively a lot of dry food, but not enough veterinary diets dry food (please note that there are dog supplies companies helping out the shelters by donating the same amount of dry food you buy): Hills veterinary Diets - I/D, U/D, Sam's Field 1+1 promotion, Pucalka 1+1 promotion, Brit free extra food promotion

• Dry food in cans with a lot of meat - preferably Topstein, Max, Gran Carno, Rocco…

• Wood Wool (dřevitá vlna) - insolation for the dog kennels for winter 

• Vitamins for joints (for old dogs) - Aptus, Geloren

• Soft dog treats, dry meat or oils (salmon, linseed, hemp or milk thistle)

• Collars, leashes, muzzles, dog cages

• Cleaning materials - rakes, shovels, broomes, buckets, garbage bags

• Blankets, Bed Linen, Towels, Absorbent Materials

• Hazelnuts, Walnuts (unshelled or shelled)

Thank you very much for your support!

On behalf of ISP staff and ISP Community Service:

Pavlina Koukalova & Sandra Malinova

COLLECTION FOR THE ORGANIZATION "JAKO DOMA!

Our US student is doing a hygiene product drive from Nov. 9th to Nov. 14th for the organization Jako Doma.  The products needed are as follows: 

• Wet wipes

• Shampoos

• Body lotion 

• Face lotion

• Foot lotion

• Toothbrushes

• Toothpaste

• Razors

• Deodorants

• Shower gels 

• Soaps

This is a great opportunity to clean out your cupboard of any unused products that have been sitting around, or a chance to run to your close drug store for a few products. Any brands will be accepted, but it’s highly favored for items being donated in even numbers to cause any issues later on. The collection point will be in her house. The collection will be between 11:30 - 12:50, 14:00 - 16:30 each day. Contact pkoukalova@isp.cz for more details. Please continue to help others during these hard times. I hope to hear from you all soon and stay safe. 

COLD WEATHER IS COMING AND HEDGEHOGS NEED OUR HELP

Time is flying very fast and there is cold weather coming again. Autumn and the beginning of winter is always hedgehogs time.

If you see in your area hedgehog in need (please see more information below) you can contact the Rescue station for wild animals (Záchranná stanice hl. m. Prahy pro volně žijící živočichy)

Záchranná stanice hlavního města Prahy

Mezi Rolemi 158 00 Praha 5

tel.: 773 772 771 (non-stop)

e-mail: zachranazvirat@lesy-praha.cz

When do hedgehog need your help?

• Beginning of October: Weight less than 200 g, size less than 10 cm

• End of October: Weight less than 350 g, size less than 15 cm

• Beginning of November: Weight less than 500 g, size less than 15 cm

• End of November: Weight less than 600 g, size less than 15 cm

!!!CANCELLED DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS - DAY FOR FOREST RECOVERY with Lesy ČR, s.p. - 17.10.2020

The Forests of the Czech Republic invite you for the Day for Forest Recovery. The goal of this day is to unite us in our efforts to face the extraordinary calamity in our forests by planting a new forest that will grow for generations. In addition to planting seedlings, you will also be able to try forestry skills and test your knowledge of the forest.

There are 13 places around Czech Republic where you can join a group of volunteers who will plant trees under professional supervision of Lesy ČR employees.

The nearest place is in Konopiště, exit Konopiště from E55 (Praha – Tábor), parking around castle (49.782222N, 14.658846E)

Please details here (unfortunately only in Czech):

https://www.sazimelesynovegenerace.cz/den-za-obnovu-lesa/#stredocesky-kraj

ISP Community Service presents Clean Up Day - September 5, 2020

We would like to invite the whole ISP Community - teachers, staff, parents and students from an elementary, middle and high school interested in doing an act of service for the Prague 6 - Nebušice community. 

We will be collecting trash along a planned route - around the ISP campus and direction to Jenerálka - and hope to make a difference!  

We also want all participants to adhere to the safety rules, meaning that you are required to have a mask during distribution of materials and explanation of safety rules. Following that, it’s  not necessary to wear a face mask if you social distance,  during the clean up. If you are not feeling well please stay at home to protect our community.

The main rules:

#stay at home if you don't feel well

#face mask is obligatory on the ISP campus

#2 meters social distance during the whole event

#use disinfection

The meeting point for the ISP Clean up will be at the ISP parking lot at 9am and the whole event will be from 9am until 12.  

We require that children in elementary and middle school are accompanied by an adult and we highly recommend you bring your own gloves and trash bags. Please fill in the FORM which allows us to have an idea about the number of people coming and material needed.

Thank you very much, 

We hope to see you there!