In July 2018, Abby Hillier (U6) travelled to Ecuador to take part in a Round Square International Service Project in Ecuador. Abby said ‘originally, I came on this project just to help the local community. However, while here I think my focus changed to trying to grow as an individual and to make lifelong friendships and experiences. On the first working day it was a shock when my group was set the task of making concrete, when they said mix concrete I had expected a mechanical mixer but no, it was just a heap of all the materials and the group using shovels to mix it all together. It was back breaking work and I don’t know how I’ll ever recover. The work was tough, but the cultural days and activities made it all worthwhile, from seeing how coffee is made to learning salsa. This experience allowed me to branch out and feel more like my true self than ever before. I would recommend this to anyone whether you are extroverted or introverted this is a once in a lifetime opportunity you will never forget’.
In 2017 the Round Square International Conference 2017 took place in South Africa
The Conference was hosted by three Global Member Schools: St George’s Grammar School, St Cyprian’s School and Bridge House School, who put on an outstanding and inspirational event over five days, bringing together 1,127 delegates from 47 different countries. Westfield was designated Bridge House School in the stunning Stellenbosch region close to Cape Town. Delegates enjoyed five days of service, adventure, internationalism and guest speakers of the highest calibre on the theme ‘Unite to Ignite the Fire Within’.
In 2018 Responding to the challenge to ‘Bring your difference’ (the conference theme) over 16 days from 20th September to 6th October 1,150 student and adult delegates from 170 schools across the globe assembled in Canada for the Round Square International Conference 2018.
The Conference was hosted by three schools (Lower Canada College, Asbury College and Appleby College), each of which put on an outstanding and inspirational event over the course of a week. Created by the students of the three host schools, the theme ‘Bring your difference’ was a true multicultural celebration of uniqueness and diversity. The official conference logo, designed by Marin Papulkas, a student from Appleby College, shows two children hand clasped in unity, looking up at two ‘balloons’ styled out of finger prints. The conference offered an exciting programme of speakers, workshops, activities and adventure.
Service
Girls are involved in service in both the local and wider, international community. Upper Four girls have the opportunity to participate in a variety of service projects in the Archbishop of York Youth Trust Award. This is a useful stepping stone to the Bronze Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.
A large amount of money is regularly raised for charities, including North of England Children's Cancer Run, St.Oswald's Hospice, National Blind Children's Society, Action Medical Research and The Children's Foundation, to name but a few.
Many girls take part in overseas service projects. Girls have recently taken part in projects in South Africa, Cambodia and Peru.
Westfield students regularly go on conferences, projects and exchanges to other Round Square schools in the European region and worldwide.
Adventure
Through Round Square, Westfield prepares pupils for physical and mental challenges as well as academic success. The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme is very popular and the school has an impressive record of Gold and Bronze Award Winners.
Exchanges with other Round Square schools
Girls from most year groups have the opportunity to visit other Round Square schools. There are also opportunities for younger students to participate in Junior and Young Round Square conferences aimed specifically at their own age groups and usually held in the UK or Europe.
Round Square schools are built on six pillars that are encapsulated in the word IDEALS.
International Understanding
Democracy in Education
Environmental Awareness,
Adventure,
Leadership and
Service.
Westfield students regularly go on exchange and visit other Round Square schools as far afield as Botswana, British Columbia, Toronto, South Africa and Australia as well as regular European exchanges.
Sponsorship
Westfield sponsors 2 girls at Starehe School, Kenya. The school educates around 1000 girls from severely disadvantaged backgrounds, including extreme poverty. Each Autumn term the school devotes an afternoon to fundraising activities to raise as much money as possible to fund the tuition fees of two of these girls.
Environmental Awareness
The Environmental Club encourages girls to participate in recycling programmes and many of the excellent ideas thought up by the girls have been implemented as school policy. The whole school participates in projects in the school grounds at Westfield and at Hadrian School, Percy Hedley School and Gibside School.
Round Square Opportunities coming up:
In January, delegates were selected to attend a European Regional Conference at Felsted School in Essex
Forthcoming Round Square events coming up:
Fundraising Day - November 23rd 2018
Round Square Adventure Race - May 11th 2018
Slice of Africa Visit - July 1st 2019
International Service Project in Morocco - July 2019
Round Square International Conference in India - September 2019
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