North Canterbury News: July 06, 2023

NEWS
8 The North Canterbury News, July 6, 2023
MattDoocey
MP for Waimakariri
Kaiapoi Office
03 3270514•kaiapoi@parliament.govt.nz
137 Williams Street
RangioraOffice
03 3107468•waimakariri@parliament.govt.nz
Level 1Conway Lane,188 High Street
Ienjoy holding constituent
clinics in Oxfordand in
Belfasttobeaccessible;
pleasering my officeifyou
would liketomeetwith me.
Rangiora
Authorised by Matt
Doocey, Parliament
Buildings, Wgtn.
June 7, 14, 21
August 9, 16, 23, 30
2584361
Bulbs helping to grow support
By SHELLEY TOPP
AReady To Learn programme,
organised by the RangioraRotary Club,
is helpingtopreventNorth Canterbury
school childrenfrom slippingthrough
the cracksofthe education system.
The programmeisrun in conjunction
with the North Canterbury Principals
Group and the club provided $20,000 in
the last 12 months for start­of­year
stationery, schooluniforms, attendance
at school camps, swimming togs, petrol
vouchers, shoesand essentialhome
packs for families.
Loburn School principal Stuart
Priddy,says the programme began
when Rotary approached the
principals' group with an offer to
directly support studentsand families
to ensure all students had the best start
to school.
‘‘Thereare 42 schools in the North
Canterbury catchment area and in 2022
the fund supported 29 schools,’’ he says.
The fundsare deposited directly into
the schoolaccount and the school
either buysthe appropriate equipment/
resources for the familyordeposits the
money directly into the family's school
account.
‘‘The response from the schools has
been overwhelmingly positive,’’ Mr
Priddy says.
‘‘For many families it ensuresthat
their children do not miss out on
anything schoolrelated through
financial hardship.
‘‘Most schools have the capability to
supportfamilies to ensure their
children do not missout, so the addition
of the Rotary support, means more
families and children can be supported.
‘‘The schools are extremely grateful
for the ongoing support of Rangiora
Rotary.’’
The ReadyToLearn programme is
Fundraising to support learning ... Rangiora rotarians Malcolm Garvan and Dorothy
Stewart selling spring bulbs to raise funds for the Rangiora Rotary Club’s Ready To Learn
Programme which supports North Canterbury primary school children.
PHOTO: SUPPLIED
the brainchild of Rangiora Rotarians
Dorothy Stewart and Malcolm Garvan
who run an annual spring bulb sale to
fundthe initiative and alsoapproached
North Canterbury businesses for their
support.
Dorothysays she wanted to do
something to give every child achance
to learn at school.
‘‘Cost should not be abarriertoa
childhavinganeducation,’’ she says.
‘‘Weare perceived as being awealthy
partofthe country, but when you talk to
those actually in the classrooms there
are children who struggle to be in a
position to learn.
‘‘I was also counsel (lawyer) for
children for probably nearly 30 years in
North Canterbury and saw children
unabletobenefit from school.
‘‘ The consequences for everybody
are significant if we have disengaged
children at schoolwho later become
disengagedadults in the community.’’
This year Ms Stewart and Mr Garvan
have held anothersuccessfulbulb sale
in March through to April which
together withfirewood saleshas
enabled themtoprovide the scheme
with another $5000.
Peoplewanting to help Rangiora
Rotarysupportthe Ready To Learn
initiative can contact Dorothy Stewart
at: secretary@rotaryrangiora.co.nz
CORCORAN FRENCH
KAIAPOI ART EXPO
SATURDAY 8&SUNDAY 9JULY
10AM TO 5PM
RIVERVIEW LOUNGE, KAIAPOI CLUB
GOLD COIN ENTRY
GUEST ARTIST SAM YOUNG
Check out 800 artworks from 140 local artists all under
one roof including painting, photography, ceramics,
woodwork and more.
PLUS on Saturday get involved in an interactive art
display and Have A Go yourself.
Also on display will be the Pak’n Save Rangiora School
Expo featuring artworks from 18 Waimakariri Schools.
www.kaiapoiartexpo.co.nz