Alpha Sigma Newsletter
February 2021
Identify, Illustrate, Inspire
February is here with its varied holidays: Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, and President’s Day. There is even Feed the Bird’s Day (I love this day!) and Umbrella Day. Just look it up. There will be a holiday just for your liking. When I made my new calendar in January, I filled in family birthdays, anniversaries, and other special days. I identified special days for recognition. I had to identify them so I could successfully plan for them. In Alpha Sigma, first, we identify then we plan. At the beginning of this year, we identified a plan. We decided that in this pandemic we would do our best to help Early Career Educators in addition to our usual projects. We identified both their need of help and our need to bring in new members.
After identifying your goals, we illustrate. I write in a journal daily. Many days, I draw something in there, too. On February 1st, I drew lots of hearts and frilly things in my journal. To illustrate can also mean to show by example. I believe Alpha Sigma members are amazing at illustrating our support of Early Career Educators, Brinkley Heights Urban Academy, Schools from Africa, and each other! Not only have we collected money, toys, and gift cards, but we also connected. Martha Baker connected with three Early Career Educators and Nancy Foshee connected with two. Our last Alpha Sigma meeting was a Zoom meeting. In that meeting, several of us connected with Pastor Tim Cox and Kacie Jones.
You continue to inspire me. I am blessed to be a part of this chapter. Your intelligence, kindness, dedication, and humor are unparalleled.
“Education is improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.” Marian Wright Edelman
Sonja
Future Meetings
February – We are hoping to have a mental health professional for our meeting. We had planned to have our Elmwood Tour. Due to Covid, we are planning to postpone it until March.
March – Elmwood (As of now, we are cancelling our Game Day for Brinkley Heights. We are hoping to reschedule it for fall 2021.)
April – Founder’s Day
May – Planning for next year!
Last Meeting
Eleven of us attended a Zoom with Pater Tim, Kacie Jones, and sweet baby Jaycie. They shared how BHUA survived and successfully progressed through the lock down last spring. They bought Fire tablets for every student and utilized the Seesaw app. (web.seesaw.me) Students were also provided food if needed. There were some problems with internet reception for some students, but a private company helped with the reception problems. Parents could see in real time how their students were progressing. Brinkley used a reward system to help both students and parents to navigate the virtual experience. BHUA bucks were used to reward. Using “BHUA bucks”, parents were able to buy Christmas gifts for their children. They are still using BHUA bucks for points earned with completed work and involvement.
When this school year started, BHUA was on a 75% in school with 25% virtual. In school attendance is now up to 80% in class with 20% virtual. At the present, in school students go home at 1:30 and all students are virtual at 2:30 and until the end of the school day. Everything is differentiated. They have a goal to bring the 30% students performing grade level up to grade level. Landmark Bank is sponsoring a program to teach financial skills to parents. Parents will be rewarded with Walmart gift cards upon course completion.
We learned of the history of BHUA which began in 2004. It began with 2 unpaid teachers of pre k and kindergarten. We discussed Ruby Payne’s books: A Framework for Understanding Poverty and Bridges Out of Poverty. (Which I recommend for reading.) Pastor Tim has used those books as training for his teachers.
I was humbled by the good work being done weekly at BHUA.
Continue to send in Walmart gift cards for them to use as rewards.
Member News
I have no news to report other than I have heard of some members getting their vaccinations.
Remember our member birthdays. Getting older is a privilege.
5 June Douglas
10- Judy Sandlin
24 Deborah Douglas
25 Trish Stephenson
28 Kay Aldridge
February 2021
Identify, Illustrate, Inspire
February is here with its varied holidays: Groundhog Day, Valentine’s Day, and President’s Day. There is even Feed the Bird’s Day (I love this day!) and Umbrella Day. Just look it up. There will be a holiday just for your liking. When I made my new calendar in January, I filled in family birthdays, anniversaries, and other special days. I identified special days for recognition. I had to identify them so I could successfully plan for them. In Alpha Sigma, first, we identify then we plan. At the beginning of this year, we identified a plan. We decided that in this pandemic we would do our best to help Early Career Educators in addition to our usual projects. We identified both their need of help and our need to bring in new members.
After identifying your goals, we illustrate. I write in a journal daily. Many days, I draw something in there, too. On February 1st, I drew lots of hearts and frilly things in my journal. To illustrate can also mean to show by example. I believe Alpha Sigma members are amazing at illustrating our support of Early Career Educators, Brinkley Heights Urban Academy, Schools from Africa, and each other! Not only have we collected money, toys, and gift cards, but we also connected. Martha Baker connected with three Early Career Educators and Nancy Foshee connected with two. Our last Alpha Sigma meeting was a Zoom meeting. In that meeting, several of us connected with Pastor Tim Cox and Kacie Jones.
You continue to inspire me. I am blessed to be a part of this chapter. Your intelligence, kindness, dedication, and humor are unparalleled.
“Education is improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it.” Marian Wright Edelman
Sonja
Future Meetings
February – We are hoping to have a mental health professional for our meeting. We had planned to have our Elmwood Tour. Due to Covid, we are planning to postpone it until March.
March – Elmwood (As of now, we are cancelling our Game Day for Brinkley Heights. We are hoping to reschedule it for fall 2021.)
April – Founder’s Day
May – Planning for next year!
Last Meeting
Eleven of us attended a Zoom with Pater Tim, Kacie Jones, and sweet baby Jaycie. They shared how BHUA survived and successfully progressed through the lock down last spring. They bought Fire tablets for every student and utilized the Seesaw app. (web.seesaw.me) Students were also provided food if needed. There were some problems with internet reception for some students, but a private company helped with the reception problems. Parents could see in real time how their students were progressing. Brinkley used a reward system to help both students and parents to navigate the virtual experience. BHUA bucks were used to reward. Using “BHUA bucks”, parents were able to buy Christmas gifts for their children. They are still using BHUA bucks for points earned with completed work and involvement.
When this school year started, BHUA was on a 75% in school with 25% virtual. In school attendance is now up to 80% in class with 20% virtual. At the present, in school students go home at 1:30 and all students are virtual at 2:30 and until the end of the school day. Everything is differentiated. They have a goal to bring the 30% students performing grade level up to grade level. Landmark Bank is sponsoring a program to teach financial skills to parents. Parents will be rewarded with Walmart gift cards upon course completion.
We learned of the history of BHUA which began in 2004. It began with 2 unpaid teachers of pre k and kindergarten. We discussed Ruby Payne’s books: A Framework for Understanding Poverty and Bridges Out of Poverty. (Which I recommend for reading.) Pastor Tim has used those books as training for his teachers.
I was humbled by the good work being done weekly at BHUA.
Continue to send in Walmart gift cards for them to use as rewards.
Member News
I have no news to report other than I have heard of some members getting their vaccinations.
Remember our member birthdays. Getting older is a privilege.
5 June Douglas
10- Judy Sandlin
24 Deborah Douglas
25 Trish Stephenson
28 Kay Aldridge