It was great to see another big turnout for our zoom meeting and good to meet our two NYSF candidates, Sicili Mule - Frankston High School and Sherene Marshal - Toorak College. They both have great resumes to back their applications and they could teach us a thing or two in how to keep to the 3 minutes allocated to them. It has been difficult to attract students to the zoom based modified NYSF programme but thanks to the persistence of the Youth committee (mainly Ross and Jim) we achieved our aim of two students. Hopefully next year the programme will return to its Canberra based format.
Phil’s talk on the impact of co-curricula programmes on the success of students and their sense of belonging in a school really reinforced the importance of Rotary’s Youth programmes and the importance of our Club helping schools within their curricula. Once again, hopefully next year we will be able to return to the Schools and assist in career and community based activities as in the past, and explore other avenues we maybe able to assist them.
I received an excellent news that District Grant the Community Committee applied for was approved and the funds are now available. The application was to upgrade the drainage run-off in the Cobb Rd leash free dog park to enable all year access. Well done for Bernie and Linda to apply and get it.
On a light-hearted note, no wonder Brynton is the Vocational Director, he has tried virtually every job available if his excellent Joke was anything to go by. Pity he failed at most of them. Thank you Brynton for your weekly, cheerful session!
Phil gave a passionate talk about making students feel better in belonging to the school and the value of co-curriculum in the school.
He asked, ‘What are your strongest memories from your schooling years?’. His memories were having connection with the teachers, in year 8, joining the cadets, and connecting with senior students, trigonometry, camps and sport. The main thing that made Phil enjoy school was peer interaction.
When students belong to the school, it leads to strong academic outcomes and social interaction and emotional connectedness. If students do not belong to the school, they leave school early and do not have the social skills or connections. Positive student-teacher relationships, and relationship building with trusted adults is important, even when peers are so influential. Creating a culture of belonging in school is the result of organised co-curricular activities, placing value on education and learning, being pro-active in mental health and having engaging parents.
Students need to understand why they need to do things. Teachers need to create a sense of trust. Some teachers talk down to young adults, which is a turn off to the students. Drama, Sport, Music, Debating, Cadets, School Camps and other co-curricular activities must be used to develop trust. They must be activities to suit the interests and complement with academic activities, but give the student areas to achieve. It is all about young people working together. The psychological benefits and leadership skills carry forward into later life.
Covid 19 has had a detrimental effect on co-curricular activities. Cadets, for example, builds up over the years, and with nearly 2 years of no activity, it will take many years to recover. On line learning is no substitute, and the mental health aspect is so significant. Students feel disconnected with very real mental problems and the effects will show in the next few years.
Phil asserted that leadership needs to be part of student training. UNSW took this up at a very early stage. Leadership should be recognised. Service involvement leaders at school become better managers
Teachers, parents and the community must ensure that all students thrive in all aspects of their education.
Two of our NYSF Candidates, Sicili and Sherene spoke of their background and hopes for the NYSF
Sicili. Sicili thanked the RCME for the opportunity that has been presented. She wanted to be an astronaut as a young child, and is interested in Astro Physics. She is fascinated by the World and Physics. She is looking forward to the NYSF, and will speak to the Club after the forum.
Sherene. Sherene is studying English, Chemistry, Science, Physics and is looking forward to University studying Medicine or Science. She plays lots of sport, is Captain of the School Volleyball team, is a School Prefect and attended the University of Melbourne young leadership program.
Our Club is fortunate to have two excellent candidates for the NYSF and we look forward to hearing from them following the forum.
There is a lot happening with the Rotary Peninsula Cluster and our Council to progress the Peninsula (Bay) Trail as the combined Rotary Australia Centenary Project. Council has prioritised its development, and committed $.5m in this year’s Budget to the Peninsula Trail, including the appointment of a person to lead in its development. Most of the eight Peninsula clubs have identified their initial local projects, mainly rest stops with associated vegetation and landscaping. Mt.Martha Rotary Club has been successful in winning $9000 of Federal Government Funding towards their project. The Cluster has applied for a Rotary Centenary Grant on behalf of all eight clubs. With the Rotary branding being adopted as part of the Peninsula Trail branding, and as we all start to appreciate the scale of the Peninsula Trail and the potential benefit to our local community, there is plenty of reason to think there will be plenty of benefit for the next 100 years!
We have a Club Yearly Calendar in Excel. Neil and Pauline are the authors and editors. The calendar outlines every meeting with whom is the Coordinator, Speaker, Sergeant etc. If you would like to add something please email Neil or Pauline.
This is a copy and for viewing only. Changes are to go via Pauline and Neil.
An Englishman, a Frenchman, and an Italian get caught up in a revolution in Poland and are all condemned to die.
The Englishman is brought out before the firing squad first. The captain of the guards says, “Ready… aim…” and the Englishman suddenly shouts out,
“Earthquake!” The Polish soldiers scatter in terror and the Englishman escapes.
The Frenchman is now brought out to stand before the firing squad first. The captain of the guards says, “Ready… aim…” and the Frenchman shouts, “Flood!” Once again the Polish soldiers scatter and the Frenchman escapes.
The Italian watches all this and thinks, “If they can do it, I can too.” He’s brought out in front of the firing squad and the captain of the guards says, “Ready… aim…” The Italian shouts, “Fire!”
