Rotary Club and Frylite lauded for recent fundraising efforts

THE vice-principal of Knockavoe School in Strabane has hailed the efforts of Strabane Rotary Club and local employers, Frylite for assisting the school in purchasing vital IT equipment for pupils.

Grainne Dunne spoke of the school’s gratitude as the two organisations undertook recent fundraising events including a sponsored walk from St Mary’s in Lifford to Knockavoe in Melmount Gardens last month and a coffee morning organised by Frylite. Both events yielded a return of around £600 each which puts the IT cause two-thirds of the way towards its £1,800 goal. The Rotary Club also managed to secure a matching grant from the Rotary Council for that amount.

Ms Dunne said, “We initially applied for funding for an IT suite through the Rotary Club in May of last year. However, due to our dramatically expanding pupil numbers and lack of available space, our IT suite, cookery room and art room all had to be converted into classroom areas to accommodate the influx of pupils. Thanks to this very generous donation, our aim is to now provide state-of-the-art IT provision in every classroom.”

Asked what a new IT suite would mean to the school, she added, “Within Knockavoe, we find that ICT complements face-to-face learning as an enhancement took to support the diverse needs of all our learners. Children nowadays are much more technologically aware and, especially for some of our pupils with learning difficulties, technology provides a platform where they are able to compete with their peers.

“Through the very generous funding provided to us by Frylite and the Rotary Club, we have been able to purchase a Clevertouch board for use within our Nurture Room at the school where pupils can interact with staff members Ciara and Ann-Marie as well as our lovable therapy dog named Poga. The Clevertouch screens provide support for a variety of learning styles; from matching and sorting, to ‘circle time’ activates, literacy and numeracy programs and reward systems.”

She added, “We cannot thank the Rotary Club, Frylite and those who supported their endeavours enough for the money raised to make this a possibility.”

The Rotary Club have plans for other events in the coming months to attain that magical £1,800 goal including a barbecue to be held in Maggie’s Tavern in St Johnston and a series of fun days which will take place at Knockavoe.