This Could Be Our New Book

Next Up: Easter Egg Hunt

If you'll be back from vacation the last weekend of Spring Break, plan to be in class on Sunday so that we can begin to make arrangements for the Easter Egg Hunt we are co-sponsoring with the Satanta Chamber of Commerce!

The Giving Continues

USD 507 business manager Jill Wahl reported this past week that the classroom grant project came in $70.34 under budget, which prompted a discussion about how to spend this money. Why not another grant?

Combined with a $100 from a member of our congregation, the money remaining from the grant will be used to purchase classroom copies of the young reader's edition of Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson for Jennifer Hanson who will use these books as part of a service-learning project in her freshmen business classroom that will culminate with a Pennies for Peace campaign.

FYI--The Pennies for Peace program (P4P) educates children about the world beyond their experience and how they can make a positive impact on a global scale, one penny at a time. It teaches children the rewards of sharing and working together to bring hope and education opportunities to the children in Pakistan and Afghanistan. A penny is virtually worthless, but in impoverished countries a penny buys a pencil and opens the door to literacy. For more information, visit www.threecupsoftea.com.

This giving is the latest extension of the classroom grant project, which funded Kindergarten materials for Stacey King and Cayla Fraley, young adult novels for Karen Burrows' junior English class, MTSS support materials for Cheri Williams' ESL classroom, and a classroom lending library for Ardis Alexander's preschool class. It should also be noted that this giving sparked the Satanta Lions Club's generous donation to Claire Koops' band program at Satanta Elementary and to the donation of money to provide expository reading for Satanta Jr.-Sr. High via a proposal made by Vicki Decker.

Giving, it seems, spawns more giving. And that was definitely the case at the chicken-and-noodle thank you dinner that we recently hosted. It was there that we received a check for $500 in support of our mission to end poverty through the promotion of literacy both at home and abroad. This money, it was decided, will go to encourage Satanta students who have found success on state assessments. The money will be donated to USD 507 and will be dispersed in the following way: $200 will go to the 7-12 building to purchase performance incentives: $200 will go to the grade school to provide performance incentives for students in grades 3-6; and $100 will be given to the preschool, Kindergarten, first, and second grade teachers to purchase supplies for their classrooms. It was also decided that we will donate the items leftover from last year's Easter egg hunt to these teachers to use as prizes in their classrooms. Now we just need to get them from the shed!

On a final note, we also discussed the Satanta Library's need for items to support the children who visit the library after school. We all agreed that we could simply go through our own over-stocked homes and find items to donate. Suggested items include puzzles (appropriate for young children), books of puzzles, coloring books and crayons, and board games. These items can be donated directly to the library.

April 25, 2010 (time TBA)

Satanta United Methodist Church

Skits, live music, and lots of good clean fun!

Chicken and Noodle Donation

The 21st Time Class received a very generous check in the amount of $500 at the chicken noodle dinner they served on February 21. This donation arrived at the same time as a need in our community has arisen. Because of the heavy budget cuts our school has suffered, there is some question as to whether the incentives that have been offered to students who make or exceed state standards in reading and math in grades 3-12 will be given this year.

The question is whether or not we'd like to divide this $500 check between the two buildings in our district and direct building administrators to utilize these funds to reward our students for their academic successes. Leanne and Karen (one from each building) could (will?) inquire with Mrs. Tschanz and Mr. Levan about their willingness to accept these funds should call members agree that this would be a good use of these funds.

On a related note, the class also discussed the need for new beginner-level AR books for the grade school. Much of the collection for first-grade readers is old and worn. Rita Shogren, USD 507 librarian, is compiling a list of titles that would benefit our youngest readers. More details on this potential project later.

Finally, it was discussed on Sunday that there is a need at the public library in Satanta for materials such as puzzles, games, and coloring books for use by young children who visit the library after school with older siblings who come to use the library's computers. Mendy suggested that many of these types of materials could be donated from the homes of class members without expending funds for new items. Start digging to see what you find. We can't miss and opportunity to educate the children in our community!

Ryan has also written a script for the UMW skit that we're planning as part of Sunday Night Live. Plus, he has the beginnings of a PowerPoint for the show. He will print them for class next Sunday.

Chicken and Noodle Thank You a Big Success

We lost count somewhere between the take-out meals we delivered to those who couldn't make it because of the snow and the steady stream of friends coming to enjoy our homemade chicken and noodle meal, but we served somewhere between 100-125 people.

Again, we wish to thank you all those in our community who donated time and/or money to help us make our community a better place. So what's next?

SUNDAY NIGHT LIVE! is coming your way this April. With skits, live music, and lots of laugh, this will be something you want to miss. More details later . . .

An Invitation

For all of those who have helped make us a success, we invite you to attend a chicken-noodle appreciation luncheon this Sunday, February 21st at noon at the Satanta Community Building.