Students at China Grove Elementary School recognized United Nations Day and Polio Awareness Day on Wednesday with a visit from a number of Rotarians.
District Governor Chris Jones and assistant governor Ineke Van der Meulen along with China Grove Rotarians Jim Morton, Michael Hanzlik, and Jenny White, who is also the school principal, were on hand for the event.
Ineke brought clothing native to countries previously and currently affected by polio and allowed students to dress in those outfits and model for the student body as she spoke of each country.
She gave a brief overview of how and why the UN began, as well as the origins of Rotary. She then had each grade level do physical activities that are common in each of the countries modeled and further explained that if a child had polio, they could not participate in those activities.
When Africa was highlighted, dirty water was shown and students were given an understanding of the importance of clean water and how the polio virus exists in dirty water.
After gaining an understanding of the origins and effects of polio, the program moved to the eradication of polio. District Governor Chris showed a container of the vaccine and students were told that it only costs ten cents per immunization to protect a child from polio.
Principal White then collected a dollar from a student council member and demonstrated how Rotarians paint the pinky of an immunized child with Gentian Violet so that they are only immunized once. She also explained how his actions made him a hero, as he was helping people he did not know and would never meet.
District Governor Chris and Principal White then inducted the 2012-13 Young Rotarian Student Council, which includes Madelyn Suggs, Angel Salazar, Jynasia Chambers, Colby Renken, Carson Withers, Jillian Dunn, president elect, Cameron Dunn, secretary, Eric Clark Jr, and Rachael Lipe, president.
District Governor Chris presented each child with a Rotary 100 Year pin. The students and Rotarians then recited the 4 Way Test and Principal White explained how that relates to the job of the Student Council ,embers.
Young Rotarian Student Council sponsors are Jennifer Lambert, Angela Gillespie, Georgianna Karriker and Jenny White.