The learning experience we provide the students at Vienna International School (VIS) goes across and beyond the curriculum. We believe that the learning takes place in the classroom but also outside it. The community service programme is part of the MYP (Middle Years Programme) and DP (Diploma Programme) curriculum and requires students to take an active part in the communities in which they live, for developing community awareness and acquiring the skills to make an effective contribution to society.
As part of their community service selection, VIS students were happy to be part of the Vienna City Marathon this year and feel the collective adrenaline rush at the starting and especially finishing line. The 38th Vienna City Marathon is the world's first major city marathon since the pandemic started, which has drawn thousands of runners from around the world to Vienna in September.
The students from VIS actively helped the organisers, by delivering the medals to the marathon runners coming over the finish line and creating a real celebratory atmosphere for everyone participating.
Here are some reflections from students:
The annual Vienna City Marathon is an excellent opportunity for students to integrate with their community, build or further develop their communication and management skills both with VIS staff and other students, as well as VCM staff and the marathon runners. This year, despite COVID, we were able to volunteer at the 38th marathon completing tasks such as unpacking the medals for each race, hanging them up on racks and then passing them out one by one to the runners walking towards you. Personally, I think that this is a great service opportunity both for S&A and CAS as you get to experience being behind the scenes of such a large sporting event and can enjoy all the smiling faces of all involved.
Gabe Polster, G10
While giving out the medals, it was very fascinating to see how many different people there were, particularly their ethnicity and heritage. A lot of people were wearing shirts representing their nationality(e.g Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Great Britain, Somalia, Kenya). For me, it was really exciting to see people from all around the world come to Vienna, where I live and combine together striving for one thing together. And then when they reached it, I noticed that while all of these people looked different, one thing that they all had in common was their smile. For me, it was very rewarding to be able to hand out these medals and congratulate these people on their huge success. I feel that this is an event of global significance, because similar to the olympics, it is a method in which countries or in this case people, can express their competitiveness and nationalism through a peaceful way which helps to bring people together instead of driving them apart. I feel that being a part of this experience has allowed me to better appreciate not only our similarities but also our differences, and how that can make us special and important.
Nicholas Pellechi, G12
We congratulate our young students for taking part in this outstanding national event and for bringing their active contribution to making Vienna City Marathon the great succes that it was!