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Summer Updates

Meeting with Scholastic

This meeting has been moved back one week.  We meet next Tuesday with the President.  I will be sure to let you know how that works out :)  Fingers crossed they can help spread the word!

Write to Give Members Area

I have almost completed redoing the videos in the Member’s Area of the site and am working on putting exemplars up, for the illustration aspect of the program.

We are also working on implementing a new char forum for teachers as well as an online order form.

Read To Give

This summer we are also working on a pilot project called Read to Give.  This will be connected with our Write to Give Program.  More information will be sent out soon.

We are pretty excited about joining the two programs together.

Stay tuned :)

W2G Recognized by ETFO

This past month has been pretty exciting for our Write to Give Program.

The program has been honored by the Grand Erie District School Board as well as by ETFO.  I just found out today that I have received the 2009 - 2010 award for Innovative Projects on Behalf of Children Living in Poverty Award.

Both awards have been a huge honor.  The best part is that the word will now spread a little bit further, with acknowledgment of the program at the Annual Meeting in August as well as in the Voice Magazine this fall I am sure I can double my numbers with the Write to Give Program.

I have posted some pictures below.

W2G Day Volunteers Raise Money To Buy Printer

During the month of May, Mr. Jackson’s Grade Five class worked hard to get Jarvis Public School motivated to bring in their change.  The Write To Give Committee (the students featured above) from the class worked on posters and collected change for a week.  Their success enabled them to raise just over $200!

The $200 was used then sent to Springs of Hope Highschool, where they used the funds to buy a printer.  They have been in need of a printer to print off exams for the students.

Thank you Jarvis Public School and the community of Jarvis and surrounding areas for your generosity!

World Teacher Aid Gala Update

Please note that there has been a date change for the World Teacher Aid Gala.

The date has been moved back to October 22nd, 2010.  The venue has also be changed to The Greens At Renton.

Special thank you to Howard Yin for donating the use of the facility for the event.

Tickets will go on sale June 1st.

For $100 you can enjoy a dinner, dancing and a silent auction.  All for a good cause

Tickets may be purchased online at www.WorldTeacherAid.org on Tuesday, June 1st.

Write To Give Builds Schools

Just this past week, we got an update from Irene, our contact on the ground in Kenya.

Irene forwarded some great shots of the first two classrooms that are being built in a small community, two hours north of Nairobi.

We are aiming to build 8 classrooms with an administration block for teachers.  Stay tuned for more updates.

First Write To Give Day In Waterloo Ontario

On May 19th, Write To Give hosted its first celebration in Waterloo, Ontario.

The celebration was attended by several classes in the Waterloo Region that participated in the Write To Give Campaign.  The students were delighted to see pictures of Africa, their books in the hands of African students and of course they loved the dancing and drumming.

1100+ Students Celebrate Second Annual Write To Give Day

A big THANK YOU to all teachers, sponsors and helpers who helped make the day such a great success. It was a fabulous day filled with excitement, I am sure there are still a few ears ringing!

The big day started with classes arriving and children taking their seats. They entered the theater already smiling, laughing and dancing as they sat down. While  they waiting, they still continued to dance to the African music that was playing.

Once the theater was full (1125) students seated, the official countdown clock began. On the screen we posted a timer, counting down. The kids were shouting as the time counted down…

Once the timer hit 0, the lights went out and we started with our African drummer coming in the side of the theater. He walked down to the stage where he was joined with several other drummers from Sani Abu And Ijo Vodu Dance Company. They are based out of Toronto.

The students were delighted not only to see the drumming, but they also got a chance to get out of their seats and dance! Sani, from the dance company showed them how to complete a special African Dance. EVERYONE was dancing, even my principal and the Director of Education!

In between the dancing and the drumming the students were able to get a chance to see some pictures and video of life in Africa, seeing how they have helped make a difference, thanks to their participation in Write to Give.

They even had a chance to name the cow that was purchased with Write to Give Funds. The cow’s name is now “Oreo.”

Three Bus Lines on Board for W2G Day!

Special thank you to Stock Transportation, Sharp Bus Lines and First Student Canada Bus Lines. All three have greatly donated their support by offering our students a great discount on transport for the day.

It is so great to get community support.  Thank you!!!

Africa Trip HUGE Success

This past March Break, Stu and I took our yearly trip to Africa to check up on our projects and monitor the progress that has been made.  It was a great trip/

We spent some time in Kenya where we had a chance to spend an afternoon with the community where we are building

our first school.  The school is being built within an IDP community.  This community is full of families that have been forced to relocate because of violence within their own community.  At the present time, students are walking 5K to get to school.

Snow Valley Ski Resort Helps Sponsor W2G Day

With the annual Write to Give Day just around the corner.  We have been looking for sponsors from the community to help with the cost of the event.

Snow Valley has helped out by offering their assistance in making T.Shirts for giveaway prizes for the students and volunteers that are helping that day.  These will be plain t.shirts with the Write to Give Logo on the front.

Thank you Snow Valley for your support with the special day.

If you know of anyone or would like to help sponsor the event.  Please go the ‘Sponsorship Link’ at the top of the page.  There you will find some general information about the great benefits of being a Write to Give Day sponsor.