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Sep 01, 2026
Newsletter: September 2026
“One of the first families” Summer found as a new international student was Student Open Circles—a community where she could grow, talk about the things that really matter, and learn ...
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Sep 01, 2026
Zombies and SOC’s Youngest Donors
The children at Welcome Inn’s Learning And Fun (LAF) after school program recently made a donation to Student Open Circles! Our SOC volunteers tutor these children each week. They mentor ...
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Sep 01, 2026
27% Reduction in Screen Time!!
We’re noticing that students are less able to stay organized and follow through with their commitments; they are struggling more than ever in our 25 years of SOC! As some ...
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Sep 01, 2026
Finding my Place
by Summer Wang, Open Circle student To me, Open Circle is a safe and supportive space accompanying my spiritual growth journey. It is so valuable and rare to find a ...
Sep 01, 2026
Featured Board Member: Maddie Gritzan (SOC Alumni)
As a student, Maddie was part of our reflection activities, including our “Tech Free Zone.” She has a strong commitment to her own reflective and creative practices, something that she ...
Apr 06, 2026
Newsletter: April 2026
“I always feel that people in Student Open Circles care about our life,” says Kanglu. The discussions about my real-life concerns “make me feel comforted and supported. It also inspires ...
Apr 06, 2026
Large Impact through Small Efforts
By Ashley Bae, Open Circle student As an out-of-province student, I was eager to become involved with the Hamilton community and interact with my peers and underserved communities. I began ...
Apr 06, 2026
Being Met with Love
By Meredith Hutton, Open Circle student I thought I understood what the word community meant but Open Circle came into my life and completely flipped my understanding upside down. In ...
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Apr 06, 2026
Volunteering makes me feel alive again
By Kanglu Liu, Open Circle student I've been a volunteer in Hamilton through Student Open Circles for two years, and I'm sure I'll keep doing this in the future because ...
Feb 12, 2026
How Can I Make a Difference?
Students at our "How Can I Make a Difference" panel discussion share about how Student Open Circles has made a difference in their lives and in Hamilton, and how they ...