York Rotary School Projects
Bulb planting project 2024
Projects for schools:
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York Rotary undertakes a variety of projects for schools and colleges, examples are detailed below:
Crocus Planting:
In 2024 York Rotary Youth Services Team purchased 200 Foundation Purple Crocus bulbs and the team were determined to plant them with pupils at Haxby Road Primary Academy.
On Monday 2nd December, armed with compost and tools, Mary Lumley, Jane Albon and Eileen Davis visited the school, hoping to improve the grounds whilst teaching the pupils about the bulbs and what they symbolise. Even the rain could not dampen spirits as we were allocated locations in the Early Years and Junior playgrounds. Willing Year 5 helpers and Mrs Caroline Unwin, the Early Years Phase Leader, assisted us to clear vegetation from inside pots, old tyres and raised beds and to plant the bulbs, learning about how to place them properly.
After planting, we went inside the school to talk with the pupils about Rotary's work to eradicate Polio and to give those who wished a purple pinkie to mark the occasion. Soon, they will deliver an assembly about the whole exercise and its background.
We look forward to seeing purple crocus bulbs blooming in Haxby Road Primary Academy next Spring.
ART PROJECT:
Ebor Academy York, started an “Art in School” project throughout their schools, where budget would allow, and appointed a local artist to bring the projects to life.
The Artist, Jessica Beniston, worked on projects in many of the schools and was filmed and shown on Local BBC shows.
When it came to her own children’s school, Haxby Road Primary, the budget had been spent on Special Educational Needs children and five Ukranian children desperate to find a school in York. Sad she couldn’t involve this school in the Art project, she suggested the school approached York Rotary.
The Youth Team visited Haxby Road Primary Academy, and agreed to fund the project, after finding out so many of the students had never visited York. The project, created by the children, shows City views they created and then visited on school outings.
Extra artwork was also created for the Special Educational Needs room and a mural in the school library, where the children learned about inclusion in life today.
The Artist had to prepare images to show the students where they were and all the famous landmarks just half a mile away.
Each student then had to draw their interpretation of the landmark story, and create their own image to exhibited in the school and visit the site. The Walls, Cliffords Tower and the Ouse all made the final artwork.
With time still available Jessica Beniston added extra work for SEN pupils and an additional project “What colour is your skin? And how does your body create this colour “ The pupils all created their own colour” examples all recorded and painted.
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Sir Martyn Oliver, Chief Inspector of Schools, visited Haxby Road Primary as he wanted to see what a “School of the Year” looked like. Filmed by the BBC, showing all the Artwork funded by the Youth Team, said he was blown away by the Artwork commission, and its involvement with the whole school. His wish was for all schools to be like Haxby Road.
SOUND SYSTEM:
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After the success of the Art Project, the Youth Team were invited to an end of term school production by year 6 students. A fabulous, word perfect production, that could hardly be heard as the one microphone kept failing. A modern sound system was desperately needed.
York Rotary funded a £2000 system that transformed school productions. The first production was Years 1 and 2 Nativity “Strictly in Bethlehem” involving over 100 students, had 6 dance routines and a fabulous row of judges. With 6 headset microphones, 2 hand held microphones, amazing sound and lighting, the production was transformed with the story being heard by the whole audience.
MOCK INTERVIEWS:
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For over five years York Rotary have assisted schools by carrying out mock interviews by Zoom.
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November 2025 saw 66 mock interviews via Zoom for students applying for Oxbridge, Medicine and Veterinary Medicine; they were in Year 13 at Huntington, Archbishop Holgate’s, All Saints’ Schools, Tadcaster Grammar School and York College.
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One thing that often comes out of interviews is the age-old mantra - read the question! – needed to be applied by some of the applicants!
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In carrying out interviews we meet many superb young people with great potential and really enjoyed interviewing them. We remain convinced that this is an excellent avenue of local service.
YORK HIGH SCHOOL CHROME BOOKS PROJECT:
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In December 2024, invited by the school’s link teacher, Mary Lumley and Eileen Davis went along to meet the then new Headteacher, Gavin Kumar and accepted the challenge to provide a trolley and up to 36 Chromebooks for the Reflection Room.
During 2025, we have worked with the Rotary Club of York Vikings to add weight to the ambitious project. Both Clubs accepted donations from members and received a joint District 1040 Foundation Grant; with Gift Aid on the donations and a contribution from the Rotary Club of York Ainsty, the final sum of £10,015 was transferred to York High School on 26th November.
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This is considered to have been another very beneficial project and it follows on from a project to provide laptops needed during the Covid times of 2022/22 when over forty Chrome books were provided by the three York Rotary clubs. For more information click here
