In a hallway of the old Wellington Street School there are photos of children from 1935, 1953, 1967 and 1973. One shows them sitting quietly at their desks, with passive expressions, ready to receive instructions. Today these premises are occupied by the STEAM Centre, STEAM being an acronym standing for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Math. Students attending STEAM programs in 2017 are very little like their counterparts in previous generations. They are more likely to be standing at work stations, chattering with their mates as they eagerly work together to find things out for themselves.

 

As the Centre’s Executive Director, Jessica Moyes, explains, STEAM learning is a philosophy. It’s learning by doing. It’s being curious and not being afraid to make mistakes. It’s teachers being not so much teachers as coaches. And it’s fun. The Centre (closed Sundays and Mondaydays) is host to school field trips from elementary and high school students during the day and offers workshops and “maker spaces” for all ages from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday to Friday, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday. STEAM is a nonprofit agency and has received funding from the Province of Ontario, City of St. Thomas and the Estate of Dorothy Fay Palmer. Funding is in place for two years; the Centre is currently about six months into its first year.

 

There were many “oohs” and “aahs” from Rotarians as they were shown the various pieces of equipment and what they could do. Still, most interest in the Centre has come from students, which is a good thing given that 55% of them will eventually be filling positions that as yet do not exist. Eighty students from three high schools will be spending the fall semester at STEAM doing activities integrated with the school board’s curriculum. Full STEAM ahead!

 

THE SUNNY SIDE YOU ALSO MAY VIEW…. Club President Nancy welcomed STEAM Executive Director Jessica Moyes as a guest and Edie Delanghe as a new member at our meeting today. April showers came in the form of news that Malcolm Rust had suffered two broken ribs in a fall and that Trudy Kanellis had lost her voice. All members of the Club wish them as quick a recovery as it may please the powers that be to grant them….Next week (April 17), there is no meeting due to the Easter Monday holiday. April 24 is a Club Assembly and May 1 is a Rotary Birthday Celebration; both meetings will be at the Wayside at 12:15 p.m. Stew Shouldice will be in charge of programs next year and would like to have your suggestions for speakers.

 

President Nancy extended thanks to Ron Somerville and the Rotary Music Festival Committee for Friday’s wonderful Keynotes Concert, one of the best ever….There are a few weeks left to sell Pony Poopin’ Bingo tickets. Funds raised are in aid of the Children’s Hospital of London. The big event takes place May 6 at From Away Farms, 43 Sunset Drive in St. Thomas….The H20 4 Every! Water event is set for Saturday, April 22 at the Timken Centre from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. President Nancy has pledge sheets (which she can email) for the walk which takes place on the Centre’s indoor track. Proceeds will be directed to Pikangikum, a First Nations community in Northwestern Ontario where 90% of the community’s 450 homes have no water. The Anglican Church of Canada and the Rotary Club of Toronto are also involved in raising funds for this project….The Railway City Rotary Club advises that their Fish Fry is set for May 6. Contact Trudy or President Nancy if you would like to buy tickets.

 

The Rotary Leadership Institute seminar Parts 1, II and III takes place Saturday, May 6, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at King’s College in London. To pre-register, contact PDG Al Hardy at al@allanhardy.ca by April 28. The District will subsidize the registration of two new members from each club. It had previously been announced that our club would pay the $75 registration fee for any member wishing to attend. Contact President Nancy if you would like to attend so that payment arrangements can be made.

 

Jennifer Babcock was winner of the 50/50 draw. Fine Master Mike Moore stated that he watched the ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Vimy Ridge with his teenaged daughter on television yesterday. Rotarians in Britain and North America were very much involved in the First World War, either as soldiers or as providers of aid to soldiers. The Win the War Rotary Convention was held in 1918. You may be interested in learning more at the Rotary Global History Fellowship: www.rghfhome.org. President Nancy remarked on the soldiers’ letters at the Canadian War Museum, Pat Baker on the munitions still live on the Vimy battlefield.

 

HAPPY FINS- Donations of $5 to The Rotary Foundation – Annual Programs Fund – credited to the donor in celebration of something good in our lives. This practice was started in this club in 1985 to raise funds for polio eradication at the suggestion of Darwen Lowe, a member of the club.

 

Ron Somerville (1) – Thanks to everyone for their help at the Rotary Keynotes Concert last Friday.
Stew Shouldice (2) – For a family gathering; sorry to have missed the Music Festival’s Keynotes Concert.
Ken Ferguson (1) – For a birthday this month (April 29).
Dave Payler (2) – Discovered after viewing the Vimy memorial ceremony yesterday that one of his wife’s uncles had been killed on April 9, 1917 and another later in the same month; for Jessica, our speaker today.
Jennifer Babcock (2) – For Jessica. Jennifer hopes that her son will be able to take part in STEAM activities when he goes to school; for her sister as it’s National Siblings Day today.
Paul Blower (1) – Happy that the Leafs have made the playoffs.
Nancy Lovelock (2) – For Jessica; to welcome Edie as a new member.
Edie Delange (1) – Thanks to the Club for its warm welcome of her.
Mike Moore (1) – To congratulate the Leafs, a triumph made bearable to fans of the Montreal Canadiens like himself by being able to watch the Habs win in overtime in their game.