Greenwood’s 2026 Niche Expo Demonstrates Passion for Service Learning

On Wednesday, May 20, the Lodge became home to Greenwood’s very first Niche Expo! This event was the culmination of the Grade 8s “Finding Your Niche”, a new addition to their service learning program. Throughout the year, 11 community organizations visited the school to teach the Grade 8s about their work and help them discover their own passion for volunteering. Whether it was making blankets with Ve’ahavta or craft kits for Sick Kids Hospital, there were many opportunities for students to find their niche and become actively involved with community outreach.

After several workshops hosted by community partners and the Equity and Social Justice class, the Grade 8s quickly began work on their final projects for the Niche Expo. These projects focused on one of the 11 community partners, summarizing the kind of work they do and why the students’ believe they are important. On the morning of the Niche Expo, the Grade 8s students were busy setting up their displays in the Lodge and rehearsing their presentations. They welcomed a full audience of Grade 7 students and Grade 8 parents and guardians alike to support the event, as well as representatives of the community organizations.

For the Grade 7s, a “Niche passport” was provided to them, asking students to reflect on the organization that interested them the most and preparing them for their own Finding Your Niche program in the following school year.

Congratulations to the Grade 8s for putting on a terrific event and thank you to all of our guests that were in attendance! And a special thank you to the community partners for all their work throughout the year and for attending Greenwood’s very first Niche Expo!