Social Issue & Charity
Students research social issues and select a cause they are passionate about & a charity that aligns with their social issue.
Students Create a Social Enterprise.
Students then begin to create their own social enterprise and decide to build products, a service or create an awareness around their social issues & charity. All profits from the sale of products or services go to support the charity chosen.
Deep Learning (6C's + Partnerships)
The success of the SEP lies in the experiential learning by students of the global 6C's & the partnerships formed within the community of participants.
> 6Cs (Communication, Collaboration, Critical Thinking, Creativity, Character, Citizenship)
> Partnerships (Students, Educators, Mentors, Parents, Partners, Charities)
The world is changing, and changing fast. We believe that the best way to prepare our young learners for the future is to help them develop skills and competencies that they can use in careers that might not even exist today. That’s why every school in the Ottawa Catholic School Board uses a “deep learning” approach to education.
Gr 5/6 St Anne PEA Video
Educator Testimonial
"The SEP initiative has been a very positive experience for us, as well as, our students. In fact, we feel it is exactly what we needed after facing two years of restrictions and various limitations in the classroom. It has helped to rejuvenate our energy and love of teaching. Our students are thriving, having had countless opportunities to have their voices heard, to collaborate with one another, and showcase their creative talents. We have learned alongside them and are really proud at how far we have come as a team.
We also love that we have a business mentor to guide us along. It is great to know we are not alone in this venture and our students have definitely benefited from his expertise and have enjoyed having another leader/adult to run ideas by. The whole experience has brought us together and enabled us to connect and form different community partnerships which, we would say, is an invaluable experience. "
Isabelle Clermont & Leanne Kavanagh-Endicott
Educator Testimonial
"The SEP program has been a game changer in my classroom.
While I have always taught through inquiry, the process of researching a cause and building a business to support it has provided endless learning opportunities touching on all areas of the curriculum. The students have tied their business, the Bumble Squad: Kids Protecting Pollinators, into a school-wide deep learning project. Funds raised go to the creation of our own pollinator meadow at St. George, with a percentage of profits going to Wildlife Preservation Canada (WPC).
We have tied in math (through examining our sales), language (persuasive writing, oral communication/presentations and pitches for seed money), media literacy (posters, advertising using WE video, twitter messages, creating a minecraft pollinator meadow), science (researching pollinators and their habitats). We have also built connections with the community at large through our business partnerships (Blue Shoes Honey, Focal Ottawa, Images Inter Alia and the WPC, the Craig Cardiff band).
While the innumerable curriculum connections are significant, the most remarkable aspect of the program has been the sense of community created in the classroom. Having the students all working together towards a common goal has given them a strong sense of belonging. We vote on all decisions and we listen respectfully to all opinions and ideas.
They are each proud representatives of their business within the school community —so much so that they have asked if the Bumble Squad can continue through the summer!"
Jacqueline Lawlor , Grade 3/4 Teacher @ St George School, Ottawa
The Following sites are new for 2022-23 & are at various stages of construction & Readiness
All Saints Seven Seas Games
Grade 7 students of All Saints HS.
All Saints Fizzle Bath Bombs
Grade 7 students of All Saints HS.
Blessed Carlo Virtual School Paw Power Difference Makers
Grades 2B, 3A, 3B, & 4Ex at Blessed Carlo Acutis Catholic Virtual School. Wildlife & planet. Charity is Ottawa-Carleton Wildlife Centre.
St Anne Climate & Indigenous Action
Two Grade 6 classes at St Anne. Climate & Indigenous issues.
St Brother Andre Foodies
Grade 4 students of St Brother Andre. Charity is The Ottawa Food Bank.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Maple Energy
Grade 5 Students of St Elizabeth Ann Seton. Hunger
St Francis of Assisi The Bunny Factory
Grade 3 Students of St Francis of Assisi. Animal welfare. Charity is The Penny Lane Farm Sanctuary.
St George Every Last Sip
Grade 6 Students of St George. Clean water. Charity is Project Nibi.
St Gregory Grizzlies Dream
Grade 5/6 students of St Gregory. Charity is Water First.
St Jerome Riverside Kids Market
Grade 3 Students at St Jerome. Clean water focus. Charities are Ottawa Riverkeeper & Water First.
St Joseph HS Souhait pour des etoiless
Grade 8 students of St Joseph. Charity is Make a Wish.
St Philip Beluga Vibes
Grade 4-6 Students of St Philip. Helping Beluga whales by adopting and raising money thru sale of Purdy's White Chocolate lollipops.
The following sites are a collection of OPEN, UNDER CONSTRUCTION & sites from previous years.
Compassion Cards of St Francis Xavier
A group of high school students at St Francis Xavier in Ottawa, Canada. Their charity is Harmony House and their product is Thanks You cards.
Childs Hope of St Francis Xavier
The grade 8 team at St. Francis Xavier High school. Their charity is CHEO and their products are fairy lights.
Notre Dame SAGE Market
The students at Notre Dame are selling colourful buttons to show their support for the LGBTQ+ community.
The Creature Keepers of St Brother Andre School
The Grade 4/5 students of St Brother Andre School. Their charity is the Jane Goodall Institute.
The St Anthony Remarkables.
The Grade 5/6 class at St Anthony called the Remarkables Inc. Theiir product is original art bookmarks.
St Philip Tree Savers
Two classes from St Philip School have combined into one SEP. A Grade 4/5 & a Kindergarten class. Their social issue is Trees.
Wildlife Bookmarks
The grade 4 students at Chapel Hill School. Their charity is the WWF. They will be making customized wooden bookmarks.
Our Future World
We are grade 6 students at St George School in Ottawa and we want to help our climate. Thier charity is Goldenrod Community Garden.
The Divine Blue students of Divine Infant
The Grade 4 & 5 students of Divine Infant. The Social Issue is UNSDG14 Life Below Water.
St Josephine Think OUTSIDE the Box!
The grade 7 students of St Josephine Virtual HS. The Social Issue is UNSDG13 - Climate Change.
St Joseph High School
The grade 12 students of St Joseph selected mental health as their social issue and researched and specified a mental health app called "OCSB MIND" that could serve to help students.
St Anne Poverty Elimination Association
The Grade 5/6 students of St Anne School called the Poverty Elimination Association (PEA).
The Happy HIve of St Jerome
The Happy Hive is a class of grade three / four students from St. Jerome Catholic school who want to be good citizens and make a difference in the community. Our business highlights our handcrafted, 100% beeswax candles and partnership with local honey producer, Blue Shoes Honey. We are a social enterprise so all profits will be donated to charities, the Caring Society & Ukraine. We have chosen a charity that works to ensure the safety and well-being of First Nations youth and their families.
The Bumble Squad
The Bumble Squad is a group of kids at St George school in grade 3 and 4. Our mission is to help protect pollinators and their habitats. Their charity is Wildlife Preservation Canada.
Waves of Knowledge Publishing Co of Our Lady of Peace
The Grade 5/6 Immersion classes of Our Lady of Peace School. Our charity is Crisis Services Canada and our social issue is UNSDG12 (Responsible Consumption & Production) & all of the social issues surrounding water. Our product is a collection of stories on the theme of water.
St James School "Christmas Sharks"
The grade 2/3 students, "The Christmas Sharks" want to help indigenous communities that don't have safe water. Their charity, "Water First" works towards creating long term solutions to the water crisis that many indigenous communities in Canada face.
TreePlantify of St Augustine
We are the Grade 3/4 students of St Augusinte. Their soical issue is saving trees. Their charity is Tree Canada. Our mission is to remind the communities to plant and save trees through art and creativity. We will be making leaf prints from air-dry clay!
Mind Body Development
The Grade 11/12 students at St Josephine had selected Mental Health. Their charity is CHEO. Their product is a Mental Health First Aid Kit.
Artsy Animals of St Daniel School.
The Grade 3 class of St Daniel School. The social issue is homelessness. Their charity is the Shepards of Good Hope. Their product is original artwork cards for all occassions.
Allies for Truth & Equality
Three Grade 6 classes at St Anne. The charity is First Nations Child & Family Caring Society. students are trying to make a difference. The social issues are truth and equality for Indigenous peoples in Canada. Thier product is original artwork cards of the Fish & Bear Clan. Trust is earned slowly. So let’s help make a change. Together, let's make things better.
The All Stars 2021 of St Francis
The Grade 3 class of St Francis of Assisi. The social issue is under development now.
The St Gregory Pet Warriors
The grade 3 students of St Gregory want to help animals. Their charity is the Ottawa Humane Society. Their product is customized pet tags.
St Anthony School's Miracle Messages
The Grade 5 & 6 class of St Anthony. Social Issues are Education & Homelessness. Charities are Adam's Dream Foundation (Kasuku Children's Center in Uganda) & Ottawa Foodbank
Baking a Difference!
7e Année à l'Académie Virtuelle. The Social Issue is World Hunger (UNSDG2). The Charity is Meals on Wheels Ottawa.
Holy Redeemer School
The Grade 1 class of Holy Redeemer. Social Issue is saving trees. Charity is One Tree Planted
St Joseph HS "Make Equality Our Reality"
The Social Issue is Gender Equality (UNSDG5). The Charity is Egale.
The Hungry Hawks of Holy Spirit School
The Grade 5/6 class of Holy Spirit School. The Social Issue is frontline workers and healthcare. The Charity is The Frontline Fund.
Hawks of Hope of Holy Spirit
Social Issue is Children & Animals. The Charities are Ottawa Humane Society, CHEO.
Marvels Mission of Guardian Angels
The Grade 4 & 5 class of Guardian Angels. Social Issue is Climate Action (UNSDG13). Product is climate awareness. Charity is the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF).
Civitas Smile Bags
Visit the group of virtual OCSB grade 3 students from Assumption , Corpus Christi and St. Brigid Elementary Schools. The Social Issue is Homelessness. The Charities are Ottawa Mission, Furry Tales Rescue.
St Emily Caring Eagles
The Social Issue is Helping Other Kids in Ottawa (SDG1 & Rights of the Child). The Charity is the Catholic Education Foundation of Ottawa.
St Brother André Virtual
The Grade 1 virtual learning class. The Social Issue is clean water (UNSDG6). The Charity is Water First.
Lion's Create! of St Daniel School
The Grade 2 & 3 class of St Daniel. The Social Issue is Helping Animals. The Charity is the World Wildlife Foundation (WWF).
Elmdale PS, The Elmdale Cares!
The Grade 6 class of Elmdale PS. The Social Issue is Climate (SDG13).
St Brother Andre Wolf
The Grade 4/5 students of St Brother Andre. The Social Issue is helping animals. The Charity is the David Suzuki Foundation.
The Gamers of St Francis of Assisi School
The Gamers are the grade 3B class of St Francis of Assisi of Orleans.
St Francis Xavier - Masking up for CHEO
Grade 8 St. Francis Xavier- Masking up for CHEO. Their Social Issue is health. Their Charity is CHEO.
St. Bernard (St Bernard Buddies)
The Grade 4 class of St. Bernard. The Social Issue is Helping Animals. The Charity is the Ottawa Paw Pantry.
The Raven’s Happy Hearts Co. of St Benedict
The Grade 2 & 3 classes of St. Benedict. Raven’s Happy Hearts Co. The Social Issue is UNSDG3 Health and Well-Being. The Charity is Jumpstart. The Raven's will create and sell a selection of student made wellness products to promote student wellness in our school community. A photobooth was also organized to help pay for our supplies. Our profits will be used to support youth wellness in Barrhaven through the Jumpstart Charity.