Service at St. Michaels University School is not an add-on. It is a lived value. It connects students directly with the needs of the wider community and gives them space to act on what matters to them. Through the Senior School’s Service Council, led by Grade 12's Bianca Batoni and Lucy Turnbull, students are learning what it means to lead with empathy, collaboration, and purpose, while making a tangible impact both locally and beyond.
The Jan. 16 Service Day, one of several held throughout the year, is a clear example of how that work takes shape. This week’s focus was the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Centre Society (VIRCS), an organization that supports newcomers as they settle and build new lives in the Victoria community. The day was sparked by a collaboration between Service Council and Spanish Club, whose club heads brought the idea forward after identifying a cause they felt personally connected to.
That partnership carried through the week, including a chapel co-hosted by Spanish Club and Service Council, where students shared the story and mission of VIRCS with the wider school community. By working together, the two groups demonstrated how student-led clubs can extend their impact when they align shared values with action.
More than Fundraising
At SMUS, Service Council plays a dual role: supporting community organizations through both fundraising and awareness. Service days and other initiatives often raise thousands of dollars for partner organizations, funds that can make a meaningful difference, while also helping students understand who they are supporting and why it matters.
“I think that Service Council does a really great job of focusing not just on the student experience, but on the real needs of community organizations,” said Elisha Gardiner, Service-Learning and Community Engagement Lead. “Sometimes a $2,000 or $3,000 donation from a service day can make a huge difference.”
Leading by Example
Just as importantly, many student clubs are thinking beyond fundraising alone.
“We’ve seen a real shift toward awareness and advocacy,” Gardiner added, pointing to Red Cross Club as an example. While the club does fundraise, its primary focus is helping students understand the issues the Red Cross addresses and why that work matters. This is an approach that is becoming increasingly common across student leadership groups.
Leadership development is woven into every aspect of Service Council’s work. Students plan events, organize service days, collaborate across councils and clubs, and volunteer their time before and after school. This week’s chapel included student speakers, musicians, and volunteers — each contributing in their own way and gaining confidence by stepping forward.
For Grade 12 student and Service Council co-head Bianca Batoni, that sense of shared purpose is what makes the experience meaningful.
“I think the most important part is making a difference and leading by example for younger students,” she said. “It’s really exciting to support the students who will take on these roles next year.”
Over time, this culture of service has continued to grow at SMUS. More clubs are forming around awareness and community engagement, and students are increasingly motivated by understanding the causes they support and not just the incentives attached to fundraising.
Service at SMUS is ultimately about recognizing that the school is part of a broader community, not separate from it. Through student initiative, collaboration, and care, these moments, whether a chapel, a coffee drive, or a service day, become opportunities for students to learn what it means to contribute thoughtfully to the world around them.
