Lions donate pupils six Kindles for club

The Adur East Lions donated the Kindles to the school at Swiss Gardens, Shoreham, after many successful fundraisers, on Wednesday, September 11.

Last year, the school was given six Kindles which were so well received the Lions decided to donate six more this year.

The assembly was led by Susan Saunders, of Adur East Lions, who before presenting the Kindles told the children about the Lions and played a guessing game. The pupils were tasked to guess how the Lions raised money for the Kindles.

Guesses ranged from getting a job and putting it on a credit card to fundraising money and charity events.

The pupils were particularly enthusiastic about the appearance of the Lions’ mascot, Jasper, who received a very warm response in the assembly.

Susan Saunders said: “When Adur East Lions heard how well Swiss Gardens Primary School children had used the six Kindles donated to year 4 last year, they immediately agreed to donate a further six for use in year 6.

“The Kindles were donated to the school at an assembly where children learnt about the sources of funding that were used to purchase the Kindles and their maths impressed the Lions present.

“They were able to work out that it would take 207 rides on a donkey at the annual donkey derby (at £2 a time), or 42 cars selling at the car boot sale (at £10 a time) or 5 giant Easter eggs (raffled at £100) to fund the purchase of the Kindle.”

The Adur East Lions presented the kindles to six ambassadors from year six, who throughout the year are chosen for special tasks.

Lis Telcs, ECaR (Every Child a Reader) teacher at Swiss Gardens, said: “When I started the club, one of the children asked me what the point of reading was. Now he’s been telling me all about the books he has read over the summer. It’s been really exciting to see a big change in attitude towards reading in a key group of pupils.”

Head teacher at Swiss Gardens, Lawrence Caughlin, said: “I would like to thank the Adur East Lions for their generous support of our school which will undoubtedly help raise attainment.”

The Adur East Lions donated the first six Kindles last year to year four which aided the setting up of the Swiss Gardens Kindle Club.

The Adur East Lions club was formed in 2000 as part of the Lions Clubs International charity.

Throughout Shoreham, Southwick and Fishersgate ,fundraisers are held by the Lions and one of the biggest is the annual Lions Donkey Derby and Classic Vehicle Rally at Buckingham Park, Shoreham.

Other fundraisers the pupils heard about were car boot sales, Christmas collections and Easter egg raffles.