Rotary club of ojai Reminder newsletter
April 25th, 2025
carl Gross, Editor
april is environmental Month
On this Arbor Day, students at Mira Monte School, teachers, Rotarians, and Guests gathered under brumous skies to celebrate Arbor Day and to plant trees on campus and share the importance of trees to our livelihood.
President Wendy called the meeting to order while sack lunches were consumed. She thanked the school administration, setup crew, students, teachers and guests. A special thank you to Al West for organizing this event and Colin Jones for managing the tree planting.
President Wendy welcomed all, including Dr. Sherell Knox (Superintendent of Schools) and Kevin Olson (Assistant superintendent of Schools.
Announcements
Please keep Frank Finck in our thoughts and prayers.
May 1st and 2nd at Nordhoff HS Portfolio Review:
It promises to be a rewarding event for both students and volunteers. It is somewhat a "rite of passage" for students. The students are preparing to be interviewed in their 9th grade classes at NHS. Both the teachers and students are looking forward to this event that is a mandatory part of their curriculum. This is not a teaching event but rather an event for students to convey their information as if it was a job interview.
Volunteers are asked to report to the Nordhoff HS gymnasium between 7:30 and 8:30AM. The Nordhoff Parents Association is providing pastries and coffee for the volunteers and cookies for the students. This will be an opportunity to share thoughts and for last minute instructions.
The schedule is as follows.
Schedule: May 1st & May 2nd
- Students arrive at classroom 8:30
- Class arrives at the Gym by 8:40
- First Interview at 8:45-8:57
- Second class leaves classroom at 9:02
- Second Interview 9:00-9:12
- Third interview 9:15- 9:27
- Fourth Interview 9:30- 9:42
- Snack 10:05
We are leaving transition time for each interviewer so that they can complete an assessment rubric (to be provided). It is critical to stay on schedule.
If you haven’t volunteered yet, please do. Non-Rotarians are welcome.
Blood Drive: Catherine Lee reminded us of the Blood Drive this May 2nd from 11 AM to 2 PM at St. Thomas Aquinas Church. Give the gift of life!
Shred Day: Clint Haugen announced our Annual Shred Day May 10th from 8-12 PM at the Methodist Church parking lot on 120 Church Road.
Please pencil in June 26th. President Wendy’s Demotion Party at Boccali’s promises to be a great party to see our fearless leader off.
The Program
Principal Katherine White welcomed all and introduced the kindergarten students. It was also career day and the students were wearing costumes of their dream professions.
Our own Al West gave a history of Arbor Day, the importance of trees in our daily lives and led us to 3 sites where trees were planted. The students were given posters and performed an Arbor Day song.
First American Arbor Day (From Wikipedia)
In 1883, the American Forestry Association made Birdsey Northrop of Connecticut the chairman of the committee to campaign for Arbor Day nationwide; Northrop further globalized the idea when he visited Japan in 1895 and delivered his Arbor Day and Village Improvement message. He also brought his enthusiasm for Arbor Day to Australia, Canada, and other countries in
Final Thoughts
“What we are doing to the forests of the world is but a mirror reflection of what we are doing to ourselves and to one another.” – Mahatma Gandhi
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