Welcome everyone
Vice President Jane Belton opened our meeting with a great background of information on some of Rotary's involvement worldwide in Education and Literacy.
Things like opening schools in poverty stricken countries like Afghanistan, teaching adults to read worldwide, new teaching methods like the SOUNS program in South Africa, Puerto Rico and the USA, making schools healthy by proving clean fresh water to a school in Lebanon and enhancing educational systems in Kenya by working with local and national governments. Rotary doing great work worldwide!
Jane then went on to remind us of some of the great opportunities that Rotary offer our youth with some background on RYLA, RYPEN, The Rotary National Science and Technology Forum, Outward Bound and the JR McKenzie Trust.
Robert Stuart and Michelle Tanner then made a small presentation to Neocris Moncada, the Immediate Past President of Matamata Interact. Neocris expressed her gratitude to the club and said that she was impressed with how much Rotary does and that her aim is to pass on that information to other youth and to encourage them to join Interact. Doing good in the world.
Our speaker for the evening was Julie Bain - Principal of Matamata College
Julie gave us a great background of how hard things have been since the start of Covid 19 and how many of the children were and are still being affected. Things like having to learn from home where many of them lacked any structure to their day. For some students, lack of social interaction during this time has lead to an increase in anti-social behavior. Covid hasn't just impacted on learning, but also on respect and structure.
There is a lot of work to do and Julie and her dedicated staff are very passionate and driven. They work hard, try hard and they care. 2 years ago the ERO review for Matamata College was not good, but they are now showing a great improvement.
Julie thanked the club members and the JR McKenzie Trust for helping financially which has enabled the school to help those students who were unable to buy uniforms or shoes etc.
Julie is a dedicated Principal who loves the school and with her staff, are driven to make it better.
Her motto is -
Nurture the seed and it will blossom
Group photo left to Right-
Neocris Moncada (Interact Past President), Lynette Stanley, Kevin Kent, Priya Saini-Potts (Interact President), Saskia van Waaijenburg (Deputy Principal), Julie Bain (Principal), Nick Bryant (Deputy Principal).
