ASTEF AWARDS $33,000+ IN PROJECT STIPENDS
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MID YEAR REPORTS 2020-2021
KAPPA LAMBDA - BEYOND THE TEXTBOOK
We’ve used the grants to help fulfill some of the basic needs of Success High School students. We’ve maintained the stock of emergency diapers, formula, and baby food in the childcare pantry. We’ve also maintained the stock in the student pantry with easy-to-prepare food for weekday and weekend use. COVID 19 has ravaged the community and some of the support from other organizations has ceased and we were able to step-in to help the young mothers and their children. We’ve been in close contact with the principal to help meet the school’s need for the fall and have made plans to help in the spring and possibly this summer, if we have any funds left.
MU TAU AND FOREVER FAMILIES - BOOK DISPLAY STANDS
Books have been rotated in and out of the Book Display Stands during special occasions and holidays. Books will continue to be rotated in and out of the display stands. Children at the Forever Families home will select books to rotate with the help of Mu Tau members and Forever Families staff.
ALPHA MU- MIDDLE SCHOOL GARDEN
The project stipend of $900 was given to one of our local middle schools, Stell MS. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Stell sponsors for the garden improvement have only been able to get a few students involved reading books about gardening. They plan to allow students to participate in the garden's improvement in March. This is when the Brownsville Independent School District will allow students to participate in extracurricular activities.
ETA OMEGA - TEACHER INDUCTION AND SOCKS OF ENCOURAGEMENT
We had to change our method due to district COVID-19 restrictions. The first project could not happen (new teacher meeting was virtual) so we got permission from the district to deliver baskets of packets of lemonade singles to EVERY TEACHER in the district with a sign that said When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Lemonade. The second activity went as planned.
PHI - MENTORING AND SUPPORTING FIRST YEAR TEACHERS
Due to Covid, we started the project in November instead of September and are supporting seven teachers in three Rusk County school districts. Phi members have met with the first-year educators twice, providing mentoring along with classroom supply gifts: pocket organizers, and chart paper and markers. We have also purchased classroom clipboards for disbursement in February, and we will continue to work with educators in February, April, and May.
ETA ALPHA - PANHANDLE CRISIS CENTER
The Panhandle Crisis Center was contacted as to their needs and committees were formed for school supplies, medical and cleaning supplies, and Angel Tree gifts for clients. The committees purchased and delivered the specified items. One more committee will be formed in February.
ZETA EPSILON - FIRST YEAR TEACHERS AND STORYBRIDGE
We’re proud of Zeta Epsilon’s involvement in making a difference with first year teachers and Storybridge. Chandra started the non profit in 2016, and she has a web page which highlights other endeavors.
Storybridge THETA BETA - CHILDREN'S SHELTER
Chapter members were able to visit the Children's Shelter and discuss with Denise Bennett what items were needed for a sensory room/children at the shelter. This committee then met to discuss and agree on items to be ordered. Pictured are what was donated to the Children's Shelter.
EPSILON GAMMA - IRON HORSE SQUARE LITTLE FREE LIBRARY
The train library has been built and the concrete pad has been poured. Members have donated books and bookplates have been put inside the books. The miniature train that runs at Iron Horse Square has been closed since March due to COVID, so we have not opened the library yet. We hope to receive a grant to construct a cover/canopy for the train and book patrons. We are going to have a child size bench for reading beside the library also.
BETA LAMBDA - WANTED: PAGE TURNERS! SCIENTISTS & MATHEMATICIANS
Beta Lambda member Paula M. presented the 8th grade math and science teachers at Commerce Middle School with STEM books selected to supplement their curriculum. A. C. Williams 3rd grade math and science teachers received STEM math and reading books selected to supplement the math and science curriculum. The 5th grade math and science teachers at A. C. Williams Elementary School in the Commerce Independent School district also received STEM reading material they selected to supplement their curriculum.
PROJECT STIPEND AWARDS
Although the year has not gone quite the way our leaders had planned for TSO and ASTEF, we found out that the corona virus cannot stop Delta Kappa Gamma members from doing wonderful things for students and communities across the state of Texas.
TSO/ASTEF members will be very busy implementing the 30 projects that received full or partial funding through stipends from the Projects Fund. Project awards this year range from mentoring early educators in a variety of different ways, such as helping chapters purchase classroom materials, teaching supplies, science lab necessities (beakers, test tubes, etc.), providing goodie bags to new teachers and/or gift cards and sharing organizational strategies using folders and binders. In addition, encouragement and additional support throughout the year with notes and contact will be provided as new teachers maneuver the challenging first year. Other projects are providing books, books, and more books to enhance reading, math or science STEM learning activities in the classroom. Another project provides exploratory activities as teachers guide students through the STEAM program. Book display cases will be built and a Little Free Library constructed and filled with reading materials to be placed in a railroad themed area. Every first grader in two schools will receive a new book and a corresponding activity book as a project stipend for a chapter. Knowing how important counselors are to delivering curriculum to students, another chapter selected a book on kindness to be given to every second grader in that county to enhance the theme "Make Kindness Normal." An outdoor garden is planned for very young children and a garden area that is already established for middle schoolers will be improved with new seating and a covered canopy to protect students from the hot Texas sun. Other chapters recognize the many different needs that students have by supporting children in a crisis center or in shelters with clothing, food, or supplemental learning materials. One chapter is filling Blessing Boxes, a "pantry on the go" for families in the community to take what they need while other chapters are providing Take Along Bags filled with personal use items and female sanitary products. Diapers, wipes and meals for teen student mothers is another example of the variety of project stipends awards for 2020-2021. Some projects challenge students to submit poetry in a writing competition. Then those students are recognized for their compositions. Another chapter assists student teachers in ESL and ELL strategies with their project. ASTEF is making a difference in school districts and communities across the state. These projects provide funding for activities that support professional and personal growth of women educators in Texas and promote educational excellence for Texas students. Thank you for your continued support to our Foundation with your tax-deductible donations. |
FINAL REPORTS 2019-2020
PHI CHAPTER - SUPPORTING AND MENTORING FIRST YEAR TEACHERS
Phi Chapter purchased materials for 12 first-year educators in Henderson ISD, Carlisle ISD, and West Rusk CCISD. We purchased pocket organizers, chart paper and markers, storage caddies and highlighters, "sub tub" materials, and rolling storage drawers for the educators. Upon delivery, Phi members used the opportunity to mentor the teachers, exploring ideas about how to best utilize the materials in the classroom for better organization.
MU UPSILON'S THANKS
Mu Upsilon Chapter of Area 2 is so grateful for the stipend we received to help Kountze Elementary purchase iPads for its STEAM lab. The principal and staff were elated to hear the news as the technology will assist both students and teachers as they explore science, engineering, art, and math. Thank you, ASTEF!
Trudy M. Mu Upsilon 2020-2021 PROJECT STIPENDS
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