Community Service and Social Action

Catholic Social Justice teaching, based firmly in the Scriptures, requires that we look after those in need in our societies and all of creation and that we undertake social action where justice demands change in social structures. At San Sisto, the Christian call to service and justice is explicitly taught in the Religious Education curriculum at the high school. Opportunities to respond to that call are provided by co-curricular service and justice activities. These activities may vary from year to year as situations change and opportunities arise. The following activities are currently undertaken and form a significant component of the co-curricular program of the college.

Social Justice Group	Meeting Times
Greenies Students in Years 8-12 are invited to join the San Sisto Greenies. The Greenies aim to raise awareness in the college community of environmental issues and to ‘make a difference’ to our college and local environment. This group gets involved in projects like Clean Up Australia Day and the college herb garden, is exploring links with a local landcare group, and regularly presents environmental messages on college assembly.	Fridays at lunch time
Justice Breakfast San Sisto hosts an annual Justice Breakfast to which students and staff from other high schools are invited. A guest speaker is invited to address a particular social justice issue. Students in Years 11 and 12 organise and host this breakfast.
Social Justice Group Students in Years 8-12 can belong to the Social Justice Group. The focus of this group is on raising awareness in the college community of social justice issues e.g. the disparity in wealth between the developing and developed nations, the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia, people trafficking, child slavery. This group also supports the work of St Vincent de Paul, raising money for needy people in the local community, and the Benenson Society, working on behalf of prisoners of conscience.	Wednesdays at lunch time
Service Activities A different service activity is provided for girls at each year level. These activities may change, depending on circumstances. Currently, Year 8s run a stall selling goods from The Trading Circle, a Good Shepherd sisters fair trade project. Year 9s help a local landcare group in their nursery. Year 10s visit elderly people at Salvin Park Aged Care Home. Year 11s attend the Homework Club for children of refugee families at St Brendan’s, Moorooka. Year 12s join the Rosies team, which involves them in an evening visit to central Brisbane in order to provide companionship to people who are homeless.	The Year 8 activity takes place at lunch times close to events such as Mothers’ Day. All other service activities take place outside of school time, either on an afternoon (Years 9-11) or in the evening (Year 12).
Immersion Trip Currently, an immersion trip to Timor L’este is offered to students in Years 11 and 12 every two years. San Sisto partners with Catholic Mission to offer this opportunity.