 January 2010
The Official Newsletter of the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation
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Event Highlights
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Hot off the Press
News Release Salem, Ore., December 23 – Salem-Keizer Education Foundation is proud to announce it willreceive the total amount of local donations made to the Fred Meyer Fund through change collected in the coin boxes at Fred Meyer check stands from June 2009 through January 2010. Salem-Keizer Education Foundation will use monies collected to support literacy initiatives, The Fred Meyer Fund is honoring local school districts and/or district foundations this year for The Fred Meyer Fund recently changed the program’s policy in an effort to increase transparency to Fred Meyer customers about the beneficiaries of their generous contributions. In the past, the monies collected from the coin boxes was combined with donations made by Fred Meyer Associates to help organizations that work toward youth development or hunger reduction. The Fund’s new policy will take the change collected within a community each year tobenefit local organizations that support one of Fred Meyer Fund’s focus areas - youth development, hunger reduction, environmental conservation, military families and men’s and women’s health and wellness. About the Fred Meyer Fund About the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation
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Volunteer Spotlight
Tom Hewitt - Linking with Students Through Humor "I couldn’t do it without it," said Tom. "If I couldn’t be dry and sarcastic with middle school students, it wouldn’t last. The kids get it. I love the banter with them. Anytime you give them playfulness, they’re all over it. They’re more productive. When you ask kids the most important characteristic in a friend, it’s always sense of humor." Tom’s use of humor is just one tool in his toolkit. To truly connect and extract the excellence he expects, he taps into his student’s energy. "There is energy at that age that doesn’t exist at any other age," Tom said. "It’s a complete unleashed openness that is so fun to direct. Middle school kids carry an invisible audience with them all the time. They’re always on. Drama helps teach them how to train for that invisible audience. They’re so self aware. I think drama helps them get out of themselves for awhile." Giving students the opportunity to see beyond themselves using creativity and taking risk is one of the reasons Tom values the role of the arts in education. He said, "All the statistics show that kids in the arts do better in school. I think they learn about commitment and finishing what they started. It’s a built-in work ethic that has to happen for it to be successful. I like the fact that drama is 100 percent or nothing because there’s a creative risk of putting yourself out there. It’s built in that you do your best." Tom can relate to the same type of creativity, risk, and expectation that are fundamental to his teaching doctrines in his volunteer role as the master of ceremonies for the Crystal Apple Awards. "I love that evening," said Tom. "I love how celebratory it feels. And I have a wealth of materials teaching middle school. I usually have twice as much as I need for that gig." It’s a gig Tom enjoys because of the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation spotlight on excellence and the fact that a portion of the program focuses on rewarding individuals that use creative ways to connect-something he encourages his students to do on a regular basis. "The grants allow teachers to think outside the box," noted Tom. "Teachers are so programmed to think about what they can do with limited financial means. But the grants allow projects to happen that couldn’t happen otherwise." Students and teachers tapping into creativity and doing things they wouldn’t believe could be possible otherwise-there can be no better recipe for excellence in education, and Tom Hewitt is a master chef. Tom Hewitt - Linking with Students Through Humor |
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WHERE THE SIDEWALK BEGINS
Featured Vendor
The Box Girls is a lifestyle brand that designs, markets and distributes fun, whimsical, and meaningful gift products with exceptional packaging. We make games to create great conversations for any and every occasion! Our Box of Questions is an original series of games that ignites dialogue. Over 250,000 boxes in this successful series have been enjoyed by families and friends across the globe. These clever, age- appropriate, party and holiday themed question- games instantly unite any group while re- establishing the art of storytelling. It all started in 2001 when longtime friends Cece Feiler and Heidi Haddad were under serious pressure to avert a mealtime meltdown with their hungry husbands and six kids between them, while waiting what seemed like forever for their dinner to arrive. Drawing on Cece's background as a psychotherapist, and Heidi's as a writer and actress, they began asking the group questions that would engage and entertain. What was a potential disaster turned into a magical night of storytelling and endless laughs.....and that night, the Box of Questions was born. The Box Girls now have over 24 different Box of Questions games and since that night in 2001, through the sale of the Box of Questions, Heidi, Cece and The Box Girls team have also raised over $85,000 for various charitable organizations including the ones listed below:
Imagine being one of the most popular teachers at Whiteaker Middle School. If you’re Shep Earl, you don’t have to imagine. A retired shop teacher who has close ties to Santa Cruz skateboards, Shep has been making quality parts available to schools at a reasonable price. Through this connection, students are able to make, or at least update, their skateboards for a fraction of the price of a new complete board. Using the knowledge of Shep and equipment from the shop, Whiteaker Middle School can offer this opportunity to their students. The students pay a fee for the complete setup or just the board. Eighteen students participated in the class. "Whiteaker’s after school activity provides students the chance to be creative in designing and building their own board," said Michele. "Students must plan and use critical thinking skills while having fun in an environment they may not have experienced before. The students come up with their own design and do most of the work themselves."
Insert “Bras in the City” Featuring: GoDowntown’s “Bras in the City” Please join us as we brochure or poster here participate in Salem’s First Annual Artfull Brassiere Event. This is a fundraiser for local women waiting for breast cancer screenings through the YWCA. A portion will also benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Greenbaum’s customers and staff designed 33 “artfull” bras that will be displayed in downtown stores from Oct. 7 through Oct. 30.
Insert “Birds and Bees” Where the Sidewalk Begins will be featuring “The Birds and the jpg. Picture here Bees” by Artist Becky Ramos. All featured bras will be for sale with a minimum bid of $75. or a straight purchase of $250.
A colorful brochure has been produced and sent to medical offices throughout Salem, as well as being distributed to downtown businesses. A reminder that the minimum bid for each art piece is $75.00 or a direct purchase of $250.00. If all bras are bought at the full price of $250.00, we will be able to provide screenings for 66 of the 100+ women currently in need of help. Auction signup sheets will be in the stores with each art bra. |
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Sponsor Spotlight
By Lisa DeBruyckere That’s the mantra of Western Oregon University, the oldest institution in the Oregon university system, and one that proudly claims title to producing 3,000 graduates that currently teach throughout Oregon. During 2008–2009, Western Oregon University College of Education students were hired in 53 different districts. "Teacher preparation has remained a key mission of Western Oregon University since its early roots," said Hilda Rosselli, Dean of the College of Education at Willamette University. "The support of central administration has allowed the College of Education to provide quality programs that have remained nationally accredited for over 50 consecutive years." The key to success that has allowed the College of Education to be successful for half a century? Transformation. "The College of Education has continued to adapt and transform itself to respond to the needs of students," said Hilda. "In addition to our full-time campus-based undergraduate and master’s level programs that attract students from throughout Oregon, we also offer three part-time teacher preparation programs for students who often have job or family responsibilities." Options available to students include evening classes, online delivery modes, and degrees for secondary level teachers. Western Oregon University is so enthusiastic about its education programs that it funds one of the scholarships awarded at the annual Salem-Keizer School District’s Crystal Apple Awards ceremony. "We appreciate the role the Foundation has played in helping the community support our local schools. The funds raised by the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation help add the ‘extra icing on the cake,’ for initiatives that the district may not have always have the funding to offer," Hilda said. "WOU shares a common belief with the Foundation that excellence must be applauded, and we enjoy helping to celebrate and acknowledge all of the great educators in the district who are making a difference in the lives of our community’s children and youth." Western Oregon University’s College of Education is committed to its philosophy. Hilda said, " We believe that education can transform a life and is a hallmark of an advanced and democratic society. Together with the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation, we want to help provide increased educational opportunities for all students." It is indeed-one teacher at a time. |
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Parent Resource
  Consider this: At the turn of the millennium, what technology issue worried us? Y2K. Our kids listened to CDs on portable players. Laptops and lap dogs weighed about the same. If you wanted to watch a TV show after it aired, you had to program a VCR. AOL ruled email, which most of us accessed through dial-up. Kids surfed the ocean, not the Web; they played games on Game Boys and used their phones to talk, not text; and social networking happened at the mall. The first decade of the 21st century has been packed with innovations and entertainment that have forever changed childhood -- and parenting. Some of these have been fabulous. Others? Not so great. But all have revolutionized how our kids communicate, create, learn, and play. Here, in no particular order, are the best and worst of the last decade -- the stuff that we at Common Sense Media feel has truly rocked our kids' world.
Reprinted with permission from commonsensemedia.org 10 Best of the Decade
10 Worst of the Decade
Reprinted with permission from commonsensemedia.org |
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School Highlights
Enrichment Academy - Special Event Walker Middle School holds a variety of one day special events in addition to our 6-8 week sessions through the Enrichment Academy. |
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Grants / Programs
Winter Break Free Breakfast and Lunch Program feeds the belly and the mind! By Lisa DeBruyckere "It was great to know that these kids, who normally receive two meals a day during school sessions would not go without during the winter break," stated Vonnie Good, Salem-Keizer Public Schools environmental safety coordinator and volunteer for the program. "It was so cool to make holiday crafts, play math games, distribute free books and make a connection during their day." The partnership came together in less than a week when middle school principals expressed concern for their students who rely on the Federal feeding program during the school year. In less than a week, Sodexo was able to arrange for the meals, the schools provided the facilities and the heat, Reading for All provided the first books to be distributed from the successful Holiday Book Drive, and SKEF provided the crafts, word and math games, and put the call out for volunteers. And they responded in a great way! Over 100 hours of volunteer time was contributed by the following people: Jessica Smith, Sue Riecke-Smith, Jackie Franke, Diane Childs, Sue Bloom, Edie Buchanan, Julia Smith, Melissa Cole, Vonnie Good, Traci Kendall, Colleen Johnson, John Hagedorn, Jordan Hagedorn, Shannon Priem, and Mat Genuser. Their gift of time fed hungry minds and hungry bodies. Thank you!
Imagine being one of the most popular teachers at Whiteaker Middle School. If you’re Shep Earl, you don’t have to imagine. A retired shop teacher who has close ties to Santa Cruz skateboards, Shep has been making quality parts available to schools at a reasonable price. Through this connection, students are able to make, or at least update, their skateboards for a fraction of the price of a new complete board. Using the knowledge of Shep and equipment from the shop, Whiteaker Middle School can offer this opportunity to their students. The students pay a fee for the complete setup or just the board. According to Michele Husseman, After School Activities Coordinator, the class is very popular. “Whiteaker Middle School has been offering a ‘Make your own skateboard class’ for the past three years,” said Michele. “This fall session of our after school activities, eighteen students participated in the class.” Although the class sounds fun and has utility, teachers are enthusiastic about the skill sets students develop. “Whiteaker’s after school activity provides students the chance to be creative in designing and building their own board,” said Michele. “Students must plan and use critical thinking skills while having fun in an environment they may not have experienced before. The students come up with their own design and do most of the work themselves.” And the role of the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation in this unique skill-building activity? “Because this class is after school, the Salem-Keizer Education Foundation is responsible for the compensation of the teacher and the snacks each student receives,” Michele said. Supporting after school programs helps to round out curriculum offered, including traditional after school activities, such as sports and band. “After school activities provide a safe, supervised and fun educational occasion for all students,” said Michele. “Mr. Earl, and other staff members, teach the after school program. They provide positive role models and encourage appropriate social interaction. This particular class appeals to older students that might not be involved in after school activities, yet these are the students we are most interested involving in our after school program.” Skateboard, school, and snacks. That’s a winning combination for just about any middle school student.
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Community Resources
FREE Family Evening Workshop begins at two sites last week of January!
DOWNLOAD BROCHURE
Donate to [insert name of your nonprofit], then earn a 100% Oregon tax credit by making a matching gift to the Oregon Cultural Trust before December 31. You give twice but it only costs you once since your entire Trust gift is refunded on your 2009 taxes. Trust donors build the fund that benefits nearly 1,300 Oregon arts, heritage and humanities nonprofits, including [insert name of your nonprofit]. Double your cultural support at no additional cost:
The Marion County Children and Families Department is seeking keynote and workshop presenters, as well as exhibitors for the 2010 "For the Love of Literacy" conference on February 12-13, 2010. Proposals are due by January 4, 2010. We ask you to help us "spread the word" by sharing this email and attachment with your co-workers, partners and other constituents. The attached document has all the latest information on the conference and includes the forms to be submitted for consideration. In advance, thank you for helping us make this year's conference a success. We hope we'll be hearing from you! Click Here for more information and RFP for literacy conference |
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Be The Difference
BECOME A SKEF VOLUNTEER |
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SKEF Wish List
Feel free to drop them off at Where the Sidewalk Begins gallery/gift shop at 233 Commercial St. NE Salem, OR. 97301 or call (503) 364-2933 to make other arrangements. |
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It’s a simple philosophy-create good teachers and you create an environment where every child is given the opportunity to excel in school. Ultimately, you create a difference that lasts a lifetime.
