Ripple by Ripple, Six Graders Put Charity in Action

Small acts of love create ripples of kindness that can transform an entire community.

By John Erick Moje

For three consecutive years, Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) accreditors have pointed to a single, transformative milestone in the Dominican International School calendar as a masterclass in student growth: the Step-Up Grade Six Annual Camp. This year was no exception. On October 16–17, 2026, 51 sixth graders from the Bl. Ceslao and St. Hyacinth classes took a monumental leap across the threshold dividing lower school from high school. Guided by the evocative theme, “Ripple by Ripple, Charity in Action,” these young learners spent an unforgettable weekend discovering that leadership and service are not born in a textbook—they are forged through everyday acts of kindness, understanding, and collective responsibility.

The camp was structured not just as a series of activities, but as a psychological, spiritual, and social journey. Moving through a jurisdiction of growth, the students evolved from isolated individuals into a unified community centered on giving back.


From "I" to "We"


The journey began internally with I AM, where students molded clay art to explore their unique identities and the distinct talents, they offer the community. They learned that self-awareness is the first step toward empathy and understanding others.

Almost immediately, that individual awareness was pushed into social reality during I CONNECT. Tangled in the literal twists of the "Human Knot" activity, students quickly realized that building a charitable community requires communication, patience, and deep trust.

"We interacted with classmates we usually don't talk to, made new friends, and worked well even with people we thought were 'enemies,'" the students reflected collectively after the camp.


Weathering the Obstacles Together


When the physical challenges arrived, the camp shifted gears. Through I CHALLENGE and I CONTRIBUTE, the sixth graders stared down an intense obstacle course, dodgeball matches, and a grueling water relay.

The lessons learned here were immediate. Success was no longer about being the fastest or the strongest; it was about collective resilience. The students realized that charity does not require grand, heroic gestures. Sometimes, putting charity into action is as simple as holding a bucket for a teammate, sharing resources, or offering a word of encouragement when studies and schedules feel overwhelming.


Unleashing Creative Leadership


As night fell, the theme of unity deepened during WE CELEBRATE and WE CREATE. Shifting from physical grit to mental resourcefulness, groups tackled the "Ideas vs. Reality" challenge. Designing their own bags inspired by the theme of the camp, they turned raw imagination into physical creations, learning the delicate art of giving and receiving creative support while transforming meaningful ideas into tangible possibilities. They turned raw imagination into physical human tableaux, strengthening the value of creativity and collaboration.

The weekend culminated in WE STEP UP, a massive, collaborative puzzle activity that forced the entire cohort to function as a singular unit. Here, the true definition of leadership became clear to the sixth graders: it is about taking initiative, helping others succeed, and being willing to do what is right, even when no one is watching.

While the module was mapped out by the Grade 6 Annual Camp Committee, the true heart of this feature was written by the students themselves. When asked about their biggest takeaways, their insights painted a picture of rapid maturity and a deep sense of belonging:

  • On Putting Charity in Action: "We chose kindness and respect. We reminded ourselves to follow the rules, respect others, and maintain peace with everyone."
  • On the Power of Belonging: "We realized we are not alone. We discovered that we always have support and don't have to face stress or obstacles by ourselves."
  • On True Independence: "We gained independence. We learned how to survive without our parents, take care of ourselves, and navigate a beginner's night away from home."
  • On Tactical Survival: "We picked up outdoor skills. We figured out how to set up tents, got survival tips, and learned to appreciate nature during the hike."

The Everyday Mission


As the camp came to a close and the sixth graders returned to their normal classrooms, they carried back more than just personally designed bags and memories of outdoor hiking. They returned with a blueprint for how to live out their Dominican values.

The ultimate success of the 2026 camp rests on what happens next. The students proved that they don't need to wait until they are adults to make a tangible difference in the world. By including a classmate who feels left out, respecting teachers, opting for environmental mindfulness, and choosing compassion over indifference, the ripples started on October 16 are bound to become waves.

The Video


Immense gratitude is extended to the DIS Administrators, headed by Sr. Jacqueline Manuel, O.P., and Sr. Rosa Dabhi, CCV; the Campus Ministry Team—Fr. Paco Carin, CMF (during the planning stage), Fr. Tomasz Zalewski, O.P. (during the procurement of camp materials), Mr. Erick Gonzales, and Dr. Patrick Bugarin; the Religious Studies Department, including Mr. Jayno Jabonillo and led by Mr. John Erick Moje; the Guidance and Counseling, represented by Dr. Anne Portillo; the Management Information Technology Staff, Mr. Ian Crisostomo and Mr. Edwin Portillo; the Dominican Youth Movement-Edward Fang, Ruthvij Potharaju, Steven Cheng, Gian Crisostomo, Wayden Chen, and Rehan Schoeman; Student Council Leaders- Kathrine Chen, Rianna Hao, and Henry Lin; and the Extracurricular Activity Team—Dr. Agosh Librea and Ms. Vivian Lee, with the special assistance of Mr. Paul Lee, Mr. Mervin Villaroya, and Dr. Ed Solis, for orchestrating this vital formative experience. Special thanks are also extended to Winnie Tsao from Grade 12 St. Pius for facilitating the Group Art Activity. Thanks to their unwavering dedication, and with the full support of their parents, these 51 students return completely prepared to embody the school's D’TORCH spirit—proving that when one student steps up to help, an entire community rises.