| Temple Square is always beautiful in the springtime. Gardeners work to prepare the ground for General Conference. © 2012 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. | 1 / 2 |
"I love going to school because I learnt not to be scared to try hard things," wrote 7-year-old Summer Higgins in her poem for the Poetry Extravaganza of Education Week held at Sydney Macarthur Stake (diocese) Centre this weekend.
Senior Church leader Elder Johnny Leota of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints opened the event. He remarked, "One of the most important things we can learn in life is that we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father."
Elder Leota achknowledged life's challenges, but encouraged people, irrespective of age, to seek learning to meet these challenges.
Financial Literacy workshop presenter Mr. Massey Archibald, explained that we are never too young to understand financial management principles. He is currently teaching his 11-year-old son how to plan financially for his future so that he may learn independence. He hopes that one day he will be able to care for his older autistic brother when they, his parents are unable to.
The needs of children with developmental challenges were acknowledged at the Poetry Extravaganza. Their unique abilities, likewise, were recognised through the heartfelt poem of an autistic child expressing his worries about school: "Worries...get in trouble...waking up on time...teachers to understand me...Excited."
Mr. Seamus Fitzgerald, Director of Talent Management at BYU Hawai's Polynesian Cultural Centre, used personal experiences to illustrate how lifelong education can steer individuals away from antisocial lifestyles and towards becoming productive, successful and influential people in the community.
Following workshops on communication in the home, family history research and financial literacy, the day finished with the reading of 14-year-old Talisha Pousima's poem, "Going to school is where dreams begin, An investment for our future it's a great big WIN."