The 5 Rotary Clubs of Saskatoon are involved in dozen’s of projects annually, supporting our community through service, support and funding.
The Restorative Action Program (RAP)
After being turned down by several funding agencies, three community agencies created a consortium to bring the idea to fruition. The three-year Restorative Justice Pilot Program was funded by the 5 Rotary Clubs of Saskatoon, Saskatoon Public Schools and the Saskatchewan Community Initiatives Fund. Its goal was to reduce violence and bullying while developing a positive school culture and strategies to address issues that stood in the way of students being successful in school. During the next three years, the program expanded to include strategies not only to prevent conflict but it also disengaged students to reconnect with the school and their social network. In 2006, this became known as RAP (Restorative Action Program), and a dedicated facilitator hired. RAP is effective in reducing violence, resolving conflicts, teaching leadership, life skills and helping all youth become good citizens of the community. For more information on RAP and how you can get involved click here.
The Restorative Action Program (RAP)
The Rotary Club of Nutana is pleased to have supported programming at Read Saskatoon for many years such as Romp ‘n’ READ. This is a family learning program for parents/caregivers and their preschoolers ages 3-5. The 8-week program allows families to learn and grow early literacy skills through songs, rhymes, stories, literacy games, and activities.
Community Garden Project
The Rotary Community Garden is a project implemented and completed in 2019-20. The Rotary Garden is located at 19th W and Ave. L South. Many families in the surrounded area suffer from food insecurity so the Community Garden was a positive and sustainable way to address the issue. A box can be rented for $10 for the season, tools are available at an onsite shed. The Brownfield property belongs to the City of Saskatoon and is leased to CHEP. The Rotary Garden Collective signed a sublease agreement with CHEP to establish the Community Garden. The Rotary Club of Saskatoon North provided $5,000 to acquire the materials to build, line and fill the 4 x 4 boxes. Some Rotarians volunteered to help build and fill the boxes at a work party in early May. Trees, shrubs and more boxes are planned for spring 2020.
Howard Coad School
Howard Coad School is a public school on Avenue T North. This school has all the needs of a Community School but does not get Community School funding. The school population consists of children of refugees, new immigrants and First Nations. The Rotary Club of Saskatoon North has been a valuable partner over the last 10 years providing funding to assist teachers in meeting the varied needs of the students. Over the last couple of years the funding has provided for the purchase of Chrome tablets and a Charging cart. The tablets have been very effective in increasing literacy and numeracy.
St. Mary’s Community School
St. Mary’s is an inner-city elementary school with historically high student turn-over rates. The Riverside Club of Saskatoon provides funding for school officials to offer small tokens to deserving students as an incentive for positive behavior including continuing high attendance rates and other actions that are positive.
King George Community School Partnership
The Rotary Club of Saskatoon has a partnership with King George Community School located in the inner-city of Saskatoon through the development of their community room, Christmas market and reading program. The school has about 150 students, with approximately 65% of aboriginal ancestry, and includes many other multi-cultural backgrounds. The Rotary Club of Saskatoon provided funding and hands-on support to build a community room in the school and purchase a drum and teepee for cultural activities at the school. For more information on the King George Community School partnership click here.
St. Michael Community School Reading Program
Once a week for 1 hour throughout the school year 2 Rotarians and or their partners attend St. Michael Community School to listen to students read to them and assist the students to develop their reading skills by offering words of encouragement as well as suggestions on how to improve their reading habits. In addition guest speakers are thanked by having them sign a book which is then provided to St. Michael Community School for the school’s or students’s use.