The 2019-2020 school year has begun and with it, Nyack Rotary's successful Education Program, "Cover to Cover" is gearing up for another eventful school year. August featured "Back to School with Dignity" a fundraising program to provide school supplies to kids in need so that we ensure that every child enters school on an equal playing field. In October, we will resume our read-aloud, book give-away program and so far have read to first-graders in Valley Cottage Elementary and to preschoolers at Nyack Head Start. Each child gets a free book to take home. These read-aloud programs continue throughout the year.
The Nyack Rotary has also partnered with Junior Achievement of the Hudson Valley. In that partnership, Nyack Rotarians find themselves in 7th Grade classrooms, in the Middle School's "Family and Consumer Science Class" to teach the students about workforce readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy. Nine Nyack Rotarians annually run the classes. Based on Junior Achievement's 7th Grade Economic Curriculum, Junior Achievement's unique approach allows us to follow their curriculum while also adding real life work and financial experience. The entire cost of the program is annually covered by a Grant from the Nyack School District. This year's program is about to begin.
As students in the Nyack School District enter High School their interaction with the Nyack Rotary continues. Nyack Rotary support the Interact Club whose activities include baking cookies for Baking 4 Memories and Adopting a family for the Holidays. The Nyack Rotary also sends Nyack High School Sophomores to the RYLA, the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, sponsored by the Welles Remy Crowther Foundation.
The program culminated with Six College College Scholarships for Nyack High School students. The criteria for the scholarships include academics as well as students who focus on community service. Congratulations to our winners!