D5370 Strategic Planning...

Thanks to Randy Boissannault and Rotarians who came out to discuss future possibilities for growing our Rotary district.

Bigger! Better! Bolder!

Rotary Revolution 2010 Drayton Valley

What a weekend...congratulations to District Governor Terry Drader and Mary for hosting an outstanding weekend in Drayton Valley. Conference discussions provided participants with opportunities to consider the environment from many perspectives as community and International Service projects are designed...other hightlights included:

• a warm welcome by Drayton Valley Rotarians
• Rotary Idol..there was even an appearance by Wayne (Hank) Hobal
  
• RI Representative Ken Boulton and Pam from California
• Youth Exchange students
• John Eberhart, CRCID
• great music and fellowship - House of Friendship
  
• Awards - ...so much to celebrate in District 5370
  

I was honored to receive the District Governor pin from DG Terry.


Great job Terry and Mary! See you in Athabasca in June 2011

Teacher Faciliators Prepare for Belize Summer Workshops

24 teachers from across District 5370 communities and District 5360 met for the first of two days of preparation for summer 2010 workshops in Belize.

The four priorities identified by Belize Ministry officials include:

GOAL ONE: CAPS - A FRAMEWORK FOR EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION

• Recognize the essential elements in effective instruction to inform teacher planning with effective pedagogy in the areas of CURRICULUM, ASSESSMENT, PYRAMID OF INTERVENTIONS AND SPIRITUALITY.

GOAL TWO: BALANCED LITERACY

• Identify essential knowledge and skills to implement a balanced literacy approach in teaching in all primary classrooms (pre K – grade 8)

• Expand awareness of the value of a basic understanding of literacy by all teachers.

• Explore possibilities to strengthen existing literacy approaches in Belize.

GOAL THREE: CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES

• Identify effective strategies for managing student behavior with classroom management skills at the school and classroom level that honors the new legislation on corporal punishment and the work of the Belize task force on this area.

GOAL FOUR: STRATEGIC PLANNING (PRINCIPALS) OR PLANNING FOR EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTION (LEARNING COACHES)

• Awareness and development of purposeful planning strategies, involving all stakeholders, to focus on a manageable number of initiatives for increasing student achievement utilizing appropriate strategies and measures.

Next meeting will be held June 5th. Containers of school and workshop supplies, computers and resources collected to support teaching and learning will be shipped via container early June. Donations are welcome.

Thanks to Rotarians Jennifer Lawley, Lynne Paradis (Red Deer) and Donna Barrett

New Generations

Great news for Rotary. Effective July 1st, Rotary International will add to it's 4 Avenues of Service - a 5th. New Generations Avenue of Service.

Thanks to the work of Carl Simonson and Mike Hanna from the Rotary Club of Edmonton Riverview, District 5370 has a strategy for engaging our future generations of Rotarians in 'Service above self'..

At a recent meeting with Superintendent of Schools (Edmonton Public Schools), Edgar Schmidt, Assistant Superintendent and Rotarian Donna Barrett Edmonton Sunrise), Rotarians Mike Hanna, Carl Simonson and me -- discussions centered around partnership with Edmonton Public Schools. It was agreed that a memorandum of understanding would be developed to outline how schools would work with Rotary clubs in the Edmonton area.

Glenora Club Celebrates 20 Years

Congratulations President Faye and members of the Glenora Rotary Club for 20 exceptional years of service. Your club has certainly left it's mark in our community and world. I'm looking forward to your plans for the next 20 years...dream big!

I know you will have a great year PE Kathy!
Year 21...

Visitors from Belize

D5370 was pleased to welcome members of the Belize Ministry of Education and Rotarian Andre Lopez
• Hon Patrick Faber, Minister of Education
• David Leacock, Chief Executive Officer,
• Chris Aird, Chief Education Officer
• Cecilia Ramirez Smith, Professional Development
• Kevin Harris, Technology Project Manager - Pilot
• Andre Lopez, Rotarian, San Ignacio Club

The Group attended a two-day workshop at the Shaw Conference Center on Technology Integration and Distributed Learning. Hon. Minister Dave Hancock hosted a luncheon at Government House.


Two days were spent touring schools, visiting Barrhead Distance Learning Center, Alberta Teachers’ Association and ERLC (Edmonton Learning Consortium). Jackie hosted an informal evening which included the Belize Literacy Committee members and teachers who will facilitate the summer workshops.
Rotarian Andre Lopez and Jackie traveled to Red Deer to meet with potential partners in future projects in Belize. Brenda McCullough, David Taylor joined in discussions the next day with D5360 grants committee.

On to Montreal...PETS in D5360

Catching up...…a few highlights

On to Montreal…the Athabasca Rotary Club will be well represented in Montreal. After a planning meeting at the Woodward’s home it looks like at least 20 will be attending the 2010 RI Convention… Mavis has organized tours to coincide with this convention.

Attended the District 5360 PETS training in Calgary and met some wonderful committed Rotarians. I introduced Cowboy Logic, one of incoming RI President Ray’s theme song (download from itunes) as well as highlights of the Belize Literacy Program.