315 - 475 Howe Street, Vancouver, BC V6C 2B3 - 604-685-0481
ROTARY CLUB OF VANCOUVER
Community Service
The Community Service Committee is always seeking to support projects where it can make a difference in the community.
THE COMPUTER ASSISTED LITERACY SOLUTION(CALS)
One of the cornerstones of Rotary is literacy. Rotary International has endorsed the Literacy Program developed by Autoskill Canada with the help of neuro psychologists. This program lends itself to using volunteers working with the teachers. The community service committee has completed its evaluation and the results have been very encouraging. In the year 2009/2010 scholarships were funded for 117 students in 6 schools, who are learning disabled or behind in their reading skills. We are proposing to expand the program to 150 students for 2010/2011.
This literacy program is computer based and the progress of each student can be monitored daily and early intervention is possible for students having difficulty. Parents can also monitor their child's progress. All exercises have 50 questions and to move to the next set, students have to key in the answers automatically with a 98% accuracy level, three times in a row. Students learn phonetically by developing word and sound recognition which improves their comprehension, confidence and reading fluency.
Results: This school, which is representative of the other schools, commenced using the Literacy program in November 2009. Eighteen students were selected, most with learning disabilities and a few were simply behind in their reading. In November 2009 the students were tested by Autoskill on their literacy levels.
Seven months later the students completed the Autoskill Literacy test again.
Autoskill uses the Fry’s Readability Scale which is accepted world wide by educators. The school has re-tested the students using other tests and has confirmed that the above results are valid in terms of improvement. The success of this program depends on volunteers working with the students and teachers.
STAY IN SCHOOL PROGRAM
The Rotary Club of Vancouver Stay in School Program has made 2 x $7,000 awards each year for the last 3 years to qualifying grade 10 students at Gladstone Secondary School. Working with school counselors the program identifies students with potential for post secondary education who might not pursue it because of financial constraints. Students, who are selected, receive $1,000 during the high school years to fund activities that will enhance their applications for post secondary education. They will receive $1,500 per year for a maximum of 4 years to help defer expenses during their post secondary education.
Award recipients are paired with a Rotary member to enable ongoing consultation with the student to monitor their progress and ongoing qualifications for the award. It provides the student with a “sounding board” for educational and career opportunities.
We are receiving applications for our 4th year of the awards. Funding for the awards comes from the Rotary Club of Vancouver Foundation.
NORQUAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL HOT BREAKFAST PROGRAM
This program is a part of the Vancouver Rotary Club's "Adopt a School Program".
Norquay Elementary School is located in Vancouver. The program provides a hot/cold breakfast to 100-125 children daily. Those that can, pay a nominal amount. Rotary donates $6,000 a year.
This program has been offered at Norquay Elementary School since 1996. It is supported by the School, Rotary and the School PAC.
NORQUAY ELEMENTARY READER SCHOOL PROGRAM
Again, this program operates at Norquay Elementary School in Vancouver. Every new child in grades K-3 receives a book to take home and keep. In addition, volunteers from the Rotary Club of Vancouver and others recruited by Rotary attend the school each week to do One-on-One reading with a child who needs special help.
This program has reached over 200-300 children every year since it commenced operation in 1998. Rotary donates $1000 a year. This program is totally operated by the Rotary Club of Vancouver. To read more about the program at Norquay School click here.
THRIVE – NOOTKA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
THRIVE at Nootka elementary school in east Vancouver is a Grade 4-7 classroom specifically suited to help one particular kind of student: those with dyslexia who seem to show lots of potential yet still end up falling behind their peers in key areas. The Rotary Club of Vancouver has supported THRIVE in the form of a $5000 donation that purchased a new iMac computer, learning resources, books and is helping to pay for their SMARTboard.
EMERY BARNES PARK
In 2003, the Committee worked closely with the Parks Board to see to fruition the Club’s major capital contribution to the construction of Emery Barnes Park. The Park provides a focal point to the surrounding community and much needed green space in the urban setting.