NRL rugby holiday clinic
The National Rugby League (NRL) Fiji School Holiday Clinic was held from August 28 to September 3. The free clinic was a success with many young rugby league enthusiasts turning up for the one week training. The NRL team had started their clinic from Ucunivanua in Verata and finished the program in Suva.
Ballantine Memorial School and Veikoso Primary School students took part in a mangrove tree planting exercise at Matainoco in Tailevu. The students with navy personnel from the Japan Maritime Self-Defence Force, the United States Navy, the New Zealand Navy, the Japan Ground Self-Defence Force, Republic of Fiji Navy and villagers planted 4000 mangrove seedlings at the Matainoco riverbank.
The Northern Primary School Netball Tournament had a good turn-out at Bethel Primary School in Labasa. The tournament allows young netball enthusiasts to improve their stamina, muscle strength, eye-coordination, develop depth perception and increases reaction time when playing the sport. The First Lady, Filomena Katonivere officially opened the event.
Children from Soa Village in Nakorotubu, Ra took part in the Ratu Jo Nacola Trust’s four-year pilot regenerative and agroforestry farming projects. The project was in collaboration with the Fiji-United States Alumni Association. More than 100 children planted trees within their school and village boundary under the project.
Ten players from Fiji took part in the International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Oceania Olympic Team and Mixed Doubles qualification events in Townsville, Australia and they also took part in the ITTF-Oceania Senior and Youth Championships as well.
A traditional thanksgiving ceremony (vakacirisalusalu) was accorded to the Vodafone Super Dean’s under-18 champion – the Queen Victoria School ruggers. The team was treated to a scrumptious meal by the Vunisinu villagers at Nalase Village in Rewa.
The first week of September marked National Library Week. During the week, children in schools celebrated Library week with International Literacy Day. Last year’s celebration marked the National Library Week’s 65th anniversary. The theme for the Library Week was ‘There’s more to the story’ and the International Literacy Day theme was ‘Promoting literacy for a world in transition: Building the foundation for sustainable and peaceful societies’.
Ratu Sukuna Memorial School had its junior prefect induction. The junior prefects’ takeover leadership roles from senior prefects as the senior prefects prepare for external examinations. Parents, guardians and teachers had the honour of badging the newly inducted school prefects.
The Fiji National University’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Pasifika’s free short course had its graduation. The students graduated with certificates in domestic electrical installation, basic screen printing, basic cookery, small engine repair, household and sanitary plumbing certificates. Over 140 students graduated from the short course programs.
Law students from the Western University of Sydney, Australia visited the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Protections Corporate Service Division. The students were on their study group tour in Fiji. The students were briefed on the various assistance programs implemented by the Ministry that focused on improving the wellbeing of the child while also ensuring the rights of children were protected.
Xavier College in Ba celebrated its 70th anniversary. The celebration began with a jubilee mass by the Fiji Catholic Church Archbishop, Peter Loy Chong. The celebration went on for three days. It was organised by the teachers, students, old scholars and the jubilee committee.
Mahatma Gandhi Memorial High School and the Gujarat Education Society celebrated their rugby players who made it to the Vodafone Deans Trophy competition last year. The MGM boys’ and girls’ under-18 had for the first time reached the finals. The players were presented with awards and treated to a meal during the get-together.
The American Corner “Lets Talk STEM” discussion and hands-on activity was held at the Suva Carnegie Library. The event which supports women and girls in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) had the US Department of State’s Science envoy, Dre Drew Harvell speaks to students in attendance. She shared her expertise with the young students who want to consider joining the STEM field.
