Service learning is woven into life at Selkirk. Our students learn that they're part of something bigger than themselves. Whether it's contributing to a school-wide project, helping younger students, or giving back to the broader Victoria community, students develop a sense of responsibility and purpose that stays with them.
This isn't something we add on top of the curriculum. It grows naturally from the Montessori philosophy itself. Maria Montessori believed that adolescents need meaningful work and real responsibility to thrive. Service learning bridges classroom learning with real-world community needs, fostering empathy, critical thinking, and leadership skills while helping students develop a sense of civic and global responsibility.
What Service Learning Looks Like at Selkirk
In the Classroom
Students take ownership of their learning environment, help younger peers, and contribute to the daily life of the school. These everyday acts of care and responsibility lay the groundwork for a lifetime of community-mindedness.
In the Community
As students grow, so does their reach. Elementary and Middle Years students connect with the broader Victoria community through projects, partnerships, and hands-on experiences that put their learning into action. Our location on the Selkirk Waterfront provides a natural starting point for environmental stewardship and local engagement.
In the Middle Years
Service learning is an essential component of our Montessori Adolescent Program. Each week, students in the Kingfisher classroom engage in activities that connect them with our school and the wider community. They help out in younger classrooms within Selkirk, visit and participate in activities with seniors at Selkirk Place, volunteer at the Compassionate Resource Warehouse, and drop off donations at the Free Community Pantry. Through these experiences, students build character, develop practical problem-solving skills, and discover the deep satisfaction of making a genuine contribution.
Rooted in Our Values
Service learning reflects everything we stand for at Selkirk. It's Respect in action. It's Kindness put to work. It's the "Success" in ROCKS that goes beyond personal achievement to include making a difference for others. When students see the impact they can have, it changes how they see themselves and their place in the world.