How Serving Others Contributes to Balance and Wellness

Krista Koekkoek, Director of Student Life
One of our eight Guiding Principles is to raise social and global awareness. As well, one of the goals of our new long range plan is to build and engage our community. This year, CDS is developing a partnership with Habitat for Humanity both to do projects locally in the GTA, as well as nationally next June in the Yukon.

This year, the proceeds from our Senior School Fashion Show On the Catwalk will benefit the Habitat for Humanity’s excellent work they do with communities. A hallmark of this organization is ensuring that they work with local individuals and organizations to ensure that the homes built are a partnership and a “hand up, not a hand out.”

On Saturday, November 5th, students had the opportunity to participate in a build in Scarborough. Currently, Habitat GTA is in the midst of building a group of 50 homes in this area for families in need. A group of 20 CDS students and four faculty members participated alongside other community volunteers from across the GTA. The project had them nailing siding, sawing, and building scaffolds and railings.

Our group learned a great deal from the site foremen (also volunteers), not just about Construction 101 but also about the organization and the families who will ultimately benefit. They were told the story about a young girl who had moved into a Habitat home 10 years ago at the age of 6. Now 16, this student comes regularly on weekends to build homes for others, truly epitomizing the concept of “giving back.”
 
Though not a traditional way for many of our students (and teachers!) to spend their weekends, this experience was really about much more than the house itself. Balance and wellness, key aspects of the School’s vision for students, have much to do with giving back and finding a purpose higher than oneself.
 
Though academics, team practices, playing music, and being a part of a dramatic production are all beneficial in a child’s development, research shows that serving others is the ultimate way to stay grounded and keep everyday stresses and worries in check.
 
The School is committed to continuing to provide these kinds of service learning and volunteer opportunities, and we encourage families to find ones that resonate with them, their values and beliefs about philanthropy. The CDS Student Services Department has many resources to help students and their families find such programs, so please reach out to your child’s counsellor for more information.
 
Krista Koekkoek
Director of Student Life
Balance and Innovate
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Land Acknowledgment

CDS wishes to recognize and acknowledge the land on which the school operates. For thousands of years, these have been the traditional lands of the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation. We also recognize the traditional territory of the Huron-Wendat, Anishinaabe and the Haudenosaunee peoples who also shared this land.  CDS respects the relationship with these lands and recognizes that our connection can be strengthened by our continued relationship with all First Nations, by acknowledging our shared responsibility to respect and care for these lands and waters for future generations.

School Information

13415 Dufferin Street King, Ontario L7B 1K5 
(905) 833-1220 

communications@cds.on.ca
admissions@cds.on.ca

Founded in 1972, The Country Day School is a co-educational private school offering programs in JK-12 and located on 100 acres north of Toronto in King.