The Round Square
What is The Round Square?
The Round Square is an international organization of schools that share the IDEALS: Internationalism, Democracy, Environment, Adventure, Leadership and Service. There are over seventy Round Square schools around the world, and we all are continually developing our individual Round Square programs to provide our students with meaningful leadership and service opportunities, both local and global.
The Round Square organization of schools takes its name from the Round Square building at Gordonstoun School in Scotland. It was in honour of Dr. Kurt Hahn (founder of Gordonstoun) and his influence on 20th Century education, that his colleagues and former students, came together in 1966 to form an international group of schools. Round Square schools share common goals that reach beyond academic excellence to the education of the whole person through adventure, international understanding, personal responsibility and service. Dr. Hahn was also pivotal to the foundation of the United World Colleges, the Duke of Edinburgh Award Program as well as Outward Bound.
GNS and The Round Square
GNS became a member school of the Round Square in 1996, although all the essential ingredients of a Round Square School have been embodied in GNS since it was founded. Our membership gives us focus for our extra-curricular activities and enhances what we have always done, by sharing with other schools and by renewing ourselves through our worldwide friendships. Our students will be prepared for the international world that awaits them.
Our membership provides many opportunities for our students. International exchanges are available to and from so many schools; students can take part in international service projects in countries such as Mexico, Kenya, India, and Thailand; and student and teacher delegates attend the Round Square International, Regional or Young Round Square conferences each year. Many of the Round Square schools have middle schools like GNS and there are now Regional, Young Round Square Conferences and short Middle School exchanges.
The Round Square is, in the words of its motto, "Discovering the world and making a World of Difference" and GNS is proud to be a part of this work.
What the Round Square Looks Like in Our School
The ethos of the Round Square are reflected by the leadership and service opportunities we create with our students at each of our three schools. Here is an overview by school:
The Junior School: Student Voice
When Student Voice began in September, students were asked to focus on three guiding questions:
- How Can I Help Myself?
- How Can I Help My School?
- How Can I Help My Community/World?
Action takes on many forms and happens for a multitude of reasons. What matters the most is that we take the call to DO something when the desire arises. The willingness of our students to engage in action is always inspiring. Their intentions are so earnest -- they truly do care, and they really do want to change the world. The role of those of us who support them is to guide them through the process of finding their voices so that they are not overwhelmed, so that they take the time to plan carefully, and to ensure that they reflect on the results of their action so that they can begin to repeat the cycle again with new knowledge and understanding.
This year our Student Voice program continues to be as successful as ever! We are fortunate to have a very committed group of students who give of their time and energy to show how much they care. This term, volunteer members come from Grade 1 all the way through Grade 5. Our Grade 5 members are expected to take on a leadership role, carefully guiding our younger volunteers. It is wonderful to see how thoughtful our students are, even from the youngest of age.
Round Square at the Middle School
The Junior Round Square is an active group of Middle School students, two student leaders and one staff member. We meet every Wednesday at lunch to talk about local and global issues. All Middle School students are welcome at all Round Square meetings.
We began the year with sending six students to the “Me to We” conference held in Vancouver. The delegates came back excited, energized, and ready to make a difference. We invited a representative from the Free The Children organization to help us develop our mission statement. After establishing our mission, the focus shifted to putting our passion into an action plan. Together we decided on: our issue, our goal, our timeline, our obstacles and our allies and resources.
The main focus this year has been on the “Brick by Brick” campaign, which is part of the ‘Free the Children’s Adopt a Village Model.' Our goal this year is to raise enough money to build a well in an impoverished village.
Junior Round Square is also involved in exchanges where some students can go on an exchange with a member of another Round Square school in North America. Students participating in this can expect to travel to their exchange school for two weeks and then host their exchange partner for two weeks in Victoria. While this opportunity is open to all students involvement in the Round Square will only enhance the experience. Watch for an exchange information evening on March 3 at 7:00 p.m. in the Gudewill Library.
There are opportunities for some Junior Round Square members to represent us at yearly regional conferences. This year we are sending four students to Rothsday Neatherwood School in New Brunswick for a weeklong conference on Industry and Environmental Responsibility. The delegates will be working to offset individual carbon footprints through tree planting and will help frame a house for Habitat for Humanity. Letters of application from interested Grade 8 students should be submitted to Mrs. Crossley by Friday Feb 19.
Round Square at the Senior School
There are six ways to be involved with the Round Square Program at our Senior School:
- Join the Round Square Committee: We are a group of approximately 20 students and 3 staff who work together to raise awareness and take action on local and global issues. We meet on days 1 and 5 at lunch in G102, and all activities are led by the student members of the committee, chaired by the Round Square/Service Prefect, based on local and global issues that they feel passionate about. Here are some examples of initiatives that committee members organized this year:
- A Fall Sock Drive for the local people in need
- A student-run assembly on issues relating to international poverty
- An awareness campaign, red ribbon-making and lunch time video game fundraiser for World AIDS Day
- Random Acts of Kindness Week
- Organizing and running the annual Round Square Talent Show for the Prince Alexander Fund
- Support the Round Square Committee by attending/participating in any of their initiatives: play Guitar Hero for a charity fundraiser, give out cupcakes on Kindness Day, or better yet, come to the committee to share your ideas!
- Go on a Round Square Exchange: travel around the world to go to attend another Round Square school with an exchange partner, and host this exchange partner here (1.5 to 3 months). Watch for an Exchange Information Evening in February, or visit Round Square/Exchange Program for an overview slideshow.
- Represent the school at Round Square Conference:
- Every Fall Term, we send a delegation to the International Round Square Conference. For 2009, we have ten Gryphons participating in the conference at Mayo College, India. For 2010, it will be at The Regent School, Thailand. Applications will open in January 2009.
- Every Spring Term, we send a delegation to the Round Square Conference of the Americas. For 2010, we will send 6 Gryphons to the Athenian School, California. Applications will open in October 2009. For information, please see Ms. McKerlich.
- Participate in an International Service Project:
- As a member of the Round Square organization of schools, we can send up to 2 Gryphons to each of the seven Round Square International Service Projects (RSIS). For more information, please see www.roundsquare.org and speak with Madame Girard or Ms. McKerlich.
- We have our own school service project to the village of Chacala, Mexico during March break. Working with Habitat for Humanity, 15 Gryphons per year build houses with a local family in need. If you are interested, watch for information sessions, see the Photo Gallery on this page, or speak with Mr. Reeves or Ms. McKerlich.
- Be a Global Citizen: we are a Round Square school because our school embodies the IDEALS. Participate fully in school life, join a club, play a sport, and welcome new people to our school community.
