The Grade 5 students were asked to pose for a photograph with their teacher, Mrs. Kendra Laidlaw. Everyone met in the library at Ecole Poirier School while Rotarian Jean Lister, presented a cheque to the teacher, Kendra Laidlaw. The students was all smiles while their principal took the picture. The children may have been smiling because this was a good excuse to get out of class. But the adults were smiling because these funds from Sooke’s Rotary Club would help buy the books that will foster these children’s learning capabilities through reading.
Literacy is a primary goal of our education system -- and a goal shared by Rotary. Literacy has been an emphasis of Rotary International since 1986, with basic education front and centre. Since then, many hundreds of Rotary clubs have initiated literacy projects. The Sooke Rotary Club’s ability to support literacy and other local programs comes from the hard work of club members and from fundraising efforts in the community. Ultimately, this is a demonstration of Sooke’s great community spirit.
This year, seven local schools and 2,075 students have benefited from Sooke Rotary’s library book funding program, with a total of $1,400 in donations. The smaller schools were especially delighted with this monetary gift. With their budgets based on a small number of students, these additional funds give them the buying power they need to build their libraries.
To further promote literacy awareness, the Rotary Club of Sooke is recognizing March as Literacy Month. This year is the Club’s 25th year of serving Sooke, a time over which so many positive things have been accomplished. The Sooke Rotary Auction and Spring Fair will be held May 5 in SEAPARC – all are invited to attend and to help support literacy and other programs. The smiles on those faces in the photos? Those smiles are from your ongoing generosity!