Lunch time meeting - 12.55pm- Pamela Kirkum from John Fergus School

On Thursday 19th January 2023 in the absence of President Brian Johnson, SVP Scott Galloway took the meeting as he welcomed 18 club Rotarians, 3 Rotarians, Brian Timms. Anne Taylor, Bob Mitchell from our daughter club Kinross and Pam Kirkum to this our lunch time meeting held at the Gilvenbank Hotel, Glenrothes.

Wilna Roger mentioned the evening Burns supper to be held on the evening of Thursday 26th January commencing at 6.30pm

Anne Sampson mentioned the “Vintage” afternoon tea to be held at the Studio8 in Glenrothes on Sunday 19th February 2023 commencing at 2pm costing £20, includes singing from the Rock Choir.

Scott Galloway mentioned a Race Night to be held in the Gilvenbank Hotel on the 7th April 2023 more details to follow.

Our speaker this week was Pam Kirkum 22 years in special, is headteacher at John Fergus school, whom we supported with £600 from the proceeds of our Scots night back at the end of November. John Fergus is a small school which has 22 pupils now with complex additional support needs. The school catchment is in Glenrothes and also supports the surrounding villages and placement is determined by application through the AMG process. Pam’s talk was supported by learning aids which are used to help those children with no verbal communication. Their learners are from age 3 to age 18. Each class team is made up of a teacher and several Level 3 Pupil Support Assistants.  John Fergus School delivers the Curriculum with Personalisation and Choice at the fore and a strong family centred approach to learning. With Communication and Literacy at the centre, pupils are given real life experiences through Numeracy and Maths, Health and Wellbeing and Skills for Learning, Life and Work, encouraging Pupil Voice through a total communication approach, which recognises preferred method of communication. Close partnerships with parents mean individual targets are set to help meet needs within the home and community and as a result, our children and young people’s lives are enhanced.  

They also have close working partnerships with the local nursery, primary and secondary schools, encouraging inclusion for our learners, appropriate to their individual needs. Partnership with the local college also allows senior learners  to access courses and for John Fergus to accommodate students from their courses that train Pupil Support Assistants.  They have strong working partnerships with a range of professionals, including health, which includes a Pupil Support Nurse, based in JFS for much of the week.

They are very proud to be an active member of our local community, partnering on projects and generally being out and about making the most of it for their learning and teaching.

John Fergus School seeks to develop those qualities that best enable each individual to operate as effectively as possible in their own environment. The school upholds the principle that every person has the right to develop their abilities in their own way, to their own limits, as a whole person. Presently the school are looking for much needed funding to support the various projects they are undertaking including the upgrade of their sensory garden.

The Rotary vote of thanks was given by Chantal Mrimi.

Next week 26^th January 2023 will be an evening meeting at the Gilvenbank Hotel meeting by 6.15pm and commencing at 6.30pm prompt. To which is an open invite, includes Conner Pratt and the Black Watch pipes and Drums. ticket cost £20. Please contact us through our Facebook page if interested.

If you were interested in supporting the community and international projects get in touch by Private message on The Rotary Club of Glenrothes Facebook page. You will be made most welcome.