If you weren’t able to join us for our first meeting of 2018 last Thursday evening, you missed a delicious dinner and a memorable speaker in Charlotte Gibbs. Charlotte’s initiative and achievements in publishing kiwi children’s art and writing were inspirational. See further detail below.
Don’t miss our speaker this Thursday morning, our very own Mark Hillman who will present on his traverse of the Ball Pass Crossing, a demanding 2-3 day alpine route, crossing the Mount Cook Range between the Hooker and Tasman Valleys.
Please also plan to participate in our Combined Committee meeting this Wed. 7th Feb. 6.00pm for 6.30 at the Golfclub. There’s lots coming up over the next 2 months requiring your enthusiasm and involvement. See list of events below.
We were very fortunate to have such an incredible speaker in Charlotte Gibbs who leads a special publishing company called TOITOI.
The passionate Charlotte Gibbs is the head of TOITOI and met Chris H. through a chance cold call promoting her business that engages and publishes young writers and artists from 5-13 years old – and particularly reluctant boy writers.
TOITOI is a quarterly journal for young writers and artists by journal New Zealand children. Toi as a noun means art, knowledge and as a verb to excite, inspire, incite and motivate and put them together and you TOITOI. Charlotte said it’s not only about the writing but also the art. TOITOI celebrates the ideas, imaginations and creative spirit of the young writers and artists. Her heartfelt belief is that their work has purpose and deserves a wide audience.
We congratulate Alvaro Nola-Dodd from Glendowie College who received the AUT Roy Geddes Science Education Award, providing travel to London to attend the prestigious London International Youth Science Forum. Alvaro is one of two Yr 13 students selected and sponsored by St Johns to participate in the 2018 National Rotary Science & Technology Forum, held in Auckland 14-27 Jan. The two Roy Geddes awardees were among 174 high-achieving science students selected by Rotary clubs from throughout NZ. Our astute selectors, Ainie Kwok and Roshyn Singh, chose Alvaro. St Johns is also involved in the Science Forum through my District coordinator role and in hosting two evening groups of students to my workplace Landcare Research. We will invite Alvaro to speak to us about his experience of the Science Forum.
Photo: Alvaro at the Science Forum Awards Dinner, 26 Jan 2018.
It has been a busy three months since my last correspondence and I have much exciting news to report!
Key Progress
Student Recruitment
Overwhelmingly, our major focus over the past few months has been student recruitment. In total, 66 students sat our aptitude exams and undertook a 30-minute personal interviews, conducted in 5 separate districts.
The students invited to attend the exam sessions were those who had received exceptionally high grades in lower or secondary high school (especially in Maths), but who can no longer continue studying. These students represent the top 2-3% of their peers.
Most students traveled quite a distance to attend the exam sessions, and so we reimbursed their travel costs. Local schools provided classrooms for the exam sessions and also as a secure place for students to stay over two days and three nights. We provided food, and everything else students required while they stayed with us.
From this process we have identified at least 12 students who we are confident will be a good fit for our programme. After years of work and dedication from our staff and supporters, this is a very exciting stage to be at, and we are looking forward to introducing the students to you soon! Click Read More to see more photos and the rest of Sam's email.
Did you join Rotary to do good things in the community?
You can help or join in all projects (whatever the committee), just contact the committee director and/or project team leader. In most cases, you can include family and friends.
Youth Science Forum. Alvaro is one of two Yr 13 students selected and sponsored by St Johns to participate in the 2018 National Rotary Science & Technology Forum, held in Auckland 14-27 Jan. The two Roy Geddes awardees were among 174 high-achieving science students selected by Rotary clubs from throughout NZ. Our astute selectors, Ainie Kwok and Roshyn Singh, chose Alvaro. St Johns is also involved in the Science Forum through my District coordinator role and in hosting two evening groups of students to my workplace Landcare Research. We will invite Alvaro to speak to us about his experience of the Science Forum. 
The students invited to attend the exam sessions were those who had received exceptionally high grades in lower or secondary high school (especially in Maths), but who can no longer continue studying. These students represent the top 2-3% of their peers.