Educational Programs Receive Funding from Rotary

A $1,000 total donation from the Rotary Club of Peachtree City will be used to enhance learning opportunities for hundreds of students across the county.

The Fayette County Public School System’s Friends Mentoring and After School programs each received a $500 check as part of the Rotary Club’s initiative to support education and learning.

“We ask educators who know the needs and emerging trends, and if we can help in bringing resources for future learning, we are honored to do so,” says Karen Stephens, community service director for the club.
The donation will help fund the development of a math guidebook for mentors to get ideas for study materials and activities, and the purchase of training curriculum to assist After School Program sites in retaining or working toward receiving national accreditation.

This marks the third consecutive year that both programs have received donations from the Rotary Club of Peachtree City.

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100 Pre-K Students to Get Free Monthly Books

The Rotary Club of Peachtree City and the Fayette County Public School System are working to help improve literacy skills among the county’s pre-k students.

The club has signed an agreement to establish the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy program in Fayette County. It has committed to funding 100 eligible pre-k students enrolled in the county’s school system.

Students participating in the program will receive a book delivered to their homes each month via U.S. mail until their fifth birthday. The children’s classic, “The Little Engine that Could,” is the first book each child receives and “Look Out Kindergarten, Here I Come!” is the final graduation book that is received when the child turns 5-years old. An expert committee composed of individuals from education, child development, academia, and early childhood literacy has carefully selected the books.

The purpose of the program is to increase early literacy skills by encouraging parents to read to their children at home. Research shows that the more words a child hears, the larger the child’s vocabulary, and the more likely the child will be a proficient reader. Parents cite one of the main reasons why they do not read with their child is the lack of quality books in the home.

In addition to receiving a monthly book, each child also gets a library card along with tips for the parents on how to read aloud with their child.

The program is free to participating families in Georgia and is made possible through private donations, corporate sponsorships, and grants. It costs about $36 per child, per year.

For more information about the Ferst Foundation for Childhood Literacy program, contact Clarice Howard, coordinator of the Fayette County Public School System’s pre-k program via email at howard.clarice@fcboe.org or call 770-486-0149; or contact Karen Stephens of the Rotary Club of Peachtree City via email at karenannstephens@yahoo.com.

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Rotary Club Donates Dictionaries to Third Graders

Third graders at North Fayette Elementary cannot wait to start looking at the pages of their brand new dictionaries. Pictured (L-R) are Arnold Campbell, Jordun Green, C.J. Okpala, and Kennedy Neely.

Receiving their own personal Webster Dictionary was as exciting as getting a million dollars for third grade students across the county.

Thanks to the Rotary Club of Peachtree City, all 1,426 third graders in the Fayette County Public School System received their own personal dictionary as part of the club’s Dictionary Project aimed at helping students become better readers, writers and learners. The organization has handed out dictionaries to the county’s third graders for a number of years.

“I have had high school students tell me that they still use the dictionaries they received in third grade. I’ve even heard about a college student who is still using his,” says Rotary member Karen Stephens, community services director-new generations.

Students are receiving their new Webster dictionaries just in time for Dictionary Day, October 16, in honor of Noah Webster, the father of the American Dictionary. He was born on October 16, 1758.

The Fayette County Public School System thanks the Rotary Club of Peachtree City for all they do to support the county’s schools, and encourages students and their parents to celebrate Dictionary Day by cracking open their new dictionaries and learning some new words together.

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A Flush Worth $500

Rotary representatives recently visited Starr’s Mill High to present the $500 check. Rotary Club members Karen Stephens and Pam Young (center) presented the check to teacher Jenny Kelly and Principal Audrey Toney as teacher Todd Little (far right) and students Casey Slaggert and Kevin Thomas looked on. Both Jenny Kelly and Todd Little sponsored the students’ entry. Not pictured is Carol Thomas. 

The old saying, “flushing money down the toilet,” might change to “flushing money from the toilet” after three students won $500 for their school with their medical toilet prototype, “Dr. John.”

Starr’s Mill students Casey Slaggert, Kevin Thomas and Carol Thomas came up with the idea as a project for the Future Fayette 2030 Contest sponsored by the Rotary Club of Peachtree City.

The toilet is an improvement on a version that Toto, a Japanese toilet manufacturer, developed that analyzes urine, blood pressure, temperature, and weight. The improved student model also sends data directly to a physician who can authorize in-home treatment using nano-bots, all while the patient sits on the toilet.

The students won first place and each received a net book. A cash prize of $500 was also awarded to the school.

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Peachtree City Dragon Boat Races and International Festival slated for September 25

The Rotary Club of Peachtree City and Peachtree City Tourism are joining forces this fall to present a bigger and better festival for all to enjoy on September 25 at Drake Field. This will be the 4th annual Dragon Boat Races and International Fest and its’ unique flavor and appeal has resulted in dramatic growth in popularity each year.

This year Peachtree City Tourism promises to present an expanded food court, kids corner and more international displays and exhibits, as well as artisans specializing in international crafts. According to Executive Director Nancy Price, “We are looking for food and craft vendors with an international flair”. Applications for the International Fest can be obtained at the Visitors Center on McIntosh Trail, or by calling 678-216-0282.

The main stage for the festival will feature entertainment from around the world, and Peachtree City Tourism is currently searching for acts that will fit the bill. Contact the Visitors’ Center if you are interested or email nprice@visitpeachtreecity.com .

The Rotary Club of Peachtree City is bringing back the popular Dragon Boat Races again this year and expects to sell out the limited number of team spots. Applications for the races are available online at ptcdragonboats.org, at the Peachtree City Visitors Center located at 201 McIntosh Trail or you may also obtain an application by contacting Phil Jones at pjonesandco@msn.com or by calling 678-642-3239.

Sponsorship opportunities for the races are also available and information is available by contacting Donna Turner at 770-363-2537. Proceeds from the Dragon Boat Races go to benefit local charities with the community.

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Rotary Makes Literacy Donation

Peachtree City Elementary After School students (L-R) Kennedi Miller, Alexandra Duran, Christine Peterson and Jack Shafman eagerly look through the books donated by the Peachtree City Rotary Club.

Students in the Peachtree City Elementary After School Program have hundreds of additional books to read, thanks to the generosity of the Peachtree City Rotary Club.

The club donated the books as part of its initiatives for promoting early childhood reading and after-school care. Students will use the books for leisure reading as well as when working with reading tutors and mentors assigned to them during their stay in the after school program.

In addition to the books, the club also made a monetary donation to the Friends Mentoring Program.
“The Rotary Club has been so kind to After School and Friends Mentoring over the years. They understand the impact that a caring community can have on the overall education of our students,” says Jane Gough, program manager for the Friends Mentoring Program.

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Coweta Fayette Rotary Club’s 3rd Annual Car Show to be June 12

Coweta Fayette Rotary Club announces their 3rd Annual Car Show to be held at Drake Field in Peachtree City on June 12, 2010 from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. In addition to the wonderful display of Cars, we will be showcasing motorcycles for the first time and expect at least 200 motorcycles to join the fun. There will be a variety of vendors this year – something for everyone, so please come outl and join the fun.

For more information regarding this event and to get an application to enter your vehicle, please visit our website at www.cowetafayetterotaryclub.org, or email Kai Wolter at cowetafayetterotaryclub@gmail.com.

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Coweta's Top Teacher Speaks to Coweta-Fayette Rotary Club

Pictured (l-r) Rotary President, Cynthia Monsour and Angela Brown

Angela Brown, Teacher of the Year Coweta County 2009, was the guest speaker for the Coweta-Fayette Rotary Club. Angela was selected as “Top Teacher” from among the Teachers of the Year from each of Coweta County’s 30 public schools. Brown is a 5th grade teacher at Ruth Hill Elementary School in Coweta County.

Rotary is a volunteer service organization of over 1.2 million members in over 33,000 clubs worldwide. Coweta-Fayette is the newest chartered Club in District 6900 of Rotary International, which includes 72 clubs with approximately 5,000 members in Georgia.

For more information on Coweta-Fayette Rotary, go to www.cowetafayetterotary.org. President Cynthia Mounsour issues an invitation to meetings held every Monday night at 6:30 pm in Peachtree City.

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