By Candice Boyle
DINJERRA Primary School students have been getting creative and exercising and now they will be researching with the latest technology as part of a novel volunteer program.
Students have been given the opportunity to participate in a range of extracurricular activities at the school through the Just A Minute (JAM) for Kids program.
As a highlight of the program, employees of IBM, the computer, donated a laptop to the school during a morning tea ceremony last week.
Assistant principal Sharon Higgins said the program had been an “absolutely fantastic” addition to the school environment.
Ms Higgins said Grade 5 and 6 students had been participating in programs that they would not normally have been offered at the school thanks to the partnership with IBM, Maribyrnong City Council and the Federal Government.
Ms Higgins said IBM employees had been volunteering their time to help co-ordinate martial arts, jewellery making, basketball programs and a whole school sports night.
Since the council received federal funding for the program, Ms Higgins said JAM had become a popular part of the school calendar.
“The children love the program and the younger ones can’t wait for their turn. Thanks must go to the volunteers and organisers from IBM and the staff from council for making it happen,” she said.
Students from Footscray, Footscray West and Braybrook schools have also been involved in the program and received a donation of computer equipment last week.
Outgoing City of Maribyrnong councillor Joseph Cutri said more than 1200 students from six primary and secondary schools, and 200 volunteers from IBM, NAB and Ford had been involved the program since it was launched in 2005.
“When we first received funding for the JAM program, the after-school program was still just an idea,” he said.
“The program we have now – including everything from soccer to science – is only possible due to the enormous contribution of our corporate volunteers.”
The program aims to strengthen social connections between parents, schools and local communities, while using literacy, numeracy, communication and physical skills.
The program has also included training programs for parents.
“The support we’ve received from all our JAM partners has been vital to the success of the program and we hope to expand it to other schools in the future,” Cr Cutri said.
