Omokoroa Point School students have learned the valuable lesson that serving your community can be as easy as A.B.C.

On Thursday morning the school's 206 students, aged 5-13, spent an hour collecting rubbish from around their community as part of the Chirstchurch-based Student Volunteer Army's Serve for New Zealand: Anzac Day initiative.

Omokoroa Point School's 206 students including, from left: Connor, 12, Luca, 12, Freya, 9, and Lucy, 9, spent an hour collecting rubbish from around the Omokoroa community today. Photo: Kristyn Cresswell.

They're the first school in the country to take part in the SVA initiative which looks to encourage members of the public to undertake some form of volunteering or neighbourly service.

Joined by 12 teachers and a handful of helpful parents, the students collected rubbish from an area spanning from the Yacht Club down to the Country Estate Lifestyle and Retirement Village.

Teacher Kristyn Cresswell says they were grouped into the school's four houses and the students collected enough rubbish to fill a decent-sized wheelie bin.

'The kids were really excited to be looking for rubbish, it was kind of like an Easter egg hunt for them but with litter,” Kristyn says laughing.

'The bulk of rubbish was found near the dairies and in gutters and drains. But we are lucky because there's a lot of conscientious people living here who do keep the beaches and the park very clean.”

The school had been planning on doing a clean-up around their community for some time now and when they were contacted by the SVA they were 'inspired into action”.

Omokoroa Point encourages its students to be responsible citizens and today's event went hand in hand with their efforts, says Kristyn.

'I think the idea really sunk in for them, especially when they were stopped by members of the community and commended for their efforts, like the lady who stopped my group to tell us what we were doing was wonderful before taking our photo.

'Our children are very proactive when it comes to community issues, so this will be hopefully a good way for them to see, especially the younger ones, that it doesn't matter what age you are you can help your community,” says Kristyn.

Tom, 5, collecting rubbish. Photo: Kristyn Cresswell.

The Serve for New Zealand initiative was launched on February 22 of this year – the fifth anniversary of Canterbury's biggest earthquake.

So far some 3400 people, including the Omokoroa Point School students, have volunteered for Serve for New Zealand, which coincides with the Royal New Zealand Returned and Services' Association centenary.

The vision of the initiative is for thousands of Kiwis to take some time out on Anzac Day – even if it's just an hour – to do a simple act of service; something simple, but meaningful.

SVA founder and chair Sam Johnson says the initiative is about coming together to do good, not just as a community, but as a nation.

'It's not just about doing some volunteering on a day, but it is about what is an important day in New Zealand's history, how can we shine a light on that and bring more meaning to it,” he says.

To learn more visit the Serve for New Zealand: Anzac Day website at: www.servefor.nz

Mal, 7, Bella, 10, and Remi, 9. Photo: Kristyn Cresswell.

Mason, 7, and Amron 8. Photo: Kristyn Cresswell