[zulughana]

Brekodi, on 28 April 2010 - 09:23 PM, said:

So, we got the second grant! This grant will enable us to continue to communicate with Omenako.

Congratulations on being selected to receive a grant from the AQS Foundation. The project will provide the students with an opportunity to reach out to students in another country as well as teach them the skills and knowledge they will need in everyday life. Thank you for your commitment to provide your students with additional materials, activities and experiences. To acknowledge your hard work and dedication you and your Director will be invited to a small ceremony at our Jackson office to present the checks to each grant recipient I will email you as soon as the day and time is determined.

This was sent to the entire organization:

In February of this year the AQS Foundation offered teachers another opportunity to apply for a $500 grant. Of the 13 proposals submitted, the Foundation Board selected four to receive the $500 grant. The entire AQS staff congratulates the following teachers:

Sarah Briggs Charter School of the Dunes

Gina Rizzo Plato Learning Academy

Georgina Fofana Avalon Campus

Michelle Jordan East Chicago Urban Enterprise Academy

We are very excited about this opportunity. Additionally, we've collected 320 book to date. I will keep you guys posted. Thanks


PS: Someone from the previous grant organization will be visiting at the end of May.... so please communicate this with Omenako to see if it's possible for my students to receive feedback prior to his visit. This will help us if we want to apply for another grant next year to keep the program going. I will see if we can add some school supplies to the shipment before we send it. I will keep you posted!!

Thanks
BKD

well done...

is the $500 per teacher grant?

[Ewiase]

keep on with the good works.

[Brekodi]

Now we have four boxes containing 100 books each total making the collection to date, 400. Thanks

BKD

[The Silver Surfer]

Awesome

[Paddy]

Well done. Madam Theresa will be extremely glad to hear this.

Saw her today.

[Brekodi]

Hi all,

Just wondering if someone can tell me if the school(Omenako) has textbooks. Will they accept some text books as well? Just wondering cuz I might be able to add some. I know the system of learning there is completely different from that of the United States. That's why I'm asking first. PLease advice!!!

Thanks
BKD

[hipic_junction]

Brekodi, on 30 April 2010 - 09:25 AM, said:

Hi all,

Just wondering if someone can tell me if the school(Omenako) has textbooks. Will they accept some text books as well? Just wondering cuz I might be able to add some. I know the system of learning there is completely different from that of the United States. That's why I'm asking first. PLease advice!!!

Thanks
BKD

There might not be enough to go around, but yes, the MOE makes some effort at meeting that need.

The schools are supposed to follow a prescribed curriculum. For that reason, some of the books may have to have local content. The reality is that they will need books. The content is what will probably need to be checked in order to make it relevant and age appropriate for the kids.

You have been in the system for a while. Just use your best judgement and send what you feel will be appropriate.

If my big mouth wouldn't get me into trouble, I will suggest that you send beginners books on Math and Science/Nature studies. Books on reading are particularly important, though the teachers down there will have to find a way to resolve the occasional spelling differences, so that the kids do not get confused.

Nothing is going to hurt more than to make all these provisions, only to find that they are collected in some corner and not being used. Please try adding a bunch as 'reference' materials, to see how well they are liked.

Thank you again.

PS....do you have any Charts/Posters that could be used as teaching aids?

[Brekodi]

I'm gonna have my students make some flash cards for multiplication, addition, subtraction and division. I will have them laminated and added to the box. We will also create flash cards of English language Sight Words and add them to the box. I can certainly make some charts and posters as well and have them laminated. I will also ask teachers around my school to see if they have any they are no longer using in their rooms. I will keep you posted.

Thanks
BKD

[Bula Matali]

BKD,

Maybe you need to get in touch with the teachers in Omenako and talk and make sure what your are sending them will be useful and that U are usuing the same sorts of teaching methods and materials. There is no point shipping stuff if it will not be used.
Sometimes one will need to train the trainers.
Bula

[Brekodi]

I know it isn't much but, instead of books, one of my kindergarten students donated $20.00. I was thinking of purchasing some school supplies(pens, pencils etc.) with such donations. Please let me know if that's ok to add to the items if not then I will just purchase some books(the librarian can get a box of books for $20.00) and add them to the drive. We've currently collected 527 books. Friday is the last day for collection. However, I will keep it going if the momentum is still there.

Thanks!

BKD

[Confused]

I think your idea of school supplies is good.

When you are ready to ship you know what to do. Just drop me a line.

[hipic_junction]

Brekodi, on 03 May 2010 - 10:21 AM, said:

I know it isn't much but, instead of books, one of my kindergarten students donated $20.00. I was thinking of purchasing some school supplies(pens, pencils etc.) with such donations. Please let me know if that's ok to add to the items if not then I will just purchase some books(the librarian can get a box of books for $20.00) and add them to the drive. We've currently collected 527 books. Friday is the last day for collection. However, I will keep it going if the momentum is still there.

Thanks!

BKD

Please try and get me some good pictures of this book drive and other related activities. I am planning to do a second edition of the Newletter. I could use some of the information gathered along the way. You could also provide me with your own writeup or article to be included in the next edition.

As for the $20.00 from the kid....
Let me say a big thank you on behalf of this community.

At last check, I noticed that we have over 1800 members. If only 1000 of us contributed just 10% of this kid's donation every quarter, we could raise $8,000 a year.

That kid has done well.
We appreciate his/her generosity.

[Brekodi]

Current Update:

1000 books collect so far
Math fact flash cards
Sight Words flash cards
Math worksheets for practicing facts
Currently working on shipping method and cost.
Will continue to keep you posted

BKD

This post has been edited by Brekodi: 06 June 2010 - 03:52 PM

[Cybria]

Brekodi, on 06 June 2010 - 07:45 AM, said:

Current Update:

1000 books collect so far
Math fact flash cards
Sight Words flash cards
Math worksheets for practicing facts
Currently working on shipping method and cost.
Will continue to keep you posted

BKD

1000 books! Wow, Brekodi somehow I knew this project would multiply in your hands. I'm so happy to hear this. Keep us posted on shippng, I'd like to help out if I can.

[Confused]

Cy, Thanks.

Sow a little seed, and you never know what it can lead to. This just in:

"Information reaching us from Madam Theresa, courtesy of Toayola, indicates that Omenako has been nominated as the Best Improved School in Eastern Region and Mad Theresa is scheduled to attend an interview for the nomination of the Best Head Teacher in the Eastern Region.

Let's pray the Mad Theresa wins her award.

I think we proudly share in this(ese) award(s)."

...All this even before the books and the computers have been sent. Lets keep it up.

[Canucklhead]

Confused, on 07 June 2010 - 05:12 PM, said:

Cy, Thanks.

Sow a little seed, and you never know what it can lead to. This just in:

"Information reaching us from Madam Theresa, courtesy of Toayola, indicates that Omenako has been nominated as the Best Improved School in Eastern Region and Mad Theresa is scheduled to attend an interview for the nomination of the Best Head Teacher in the Eastern Region.

Let's pray the Mad Theresa wins her award.

I think we proudly share in this(ese) award(s)."

...All this even before the books and the computers have been sent. Lets keep it up.

Wow, so much good news and so much progress. Gratitude and respect to all who are making this happen.

[Brekodi]

So, school's out, I have over 1300 books and learning materials. Just waiting for someone to help me move them from the school to the shipping agent before summer school is over.I will keep you guys posted. Thanks

BKD

[Brekodi]

Awesome news!

Conship has shipped the books(all 1600 of them) along with materials and are charging us just $150.00(a part of their corporate responsibility program). Since this is for charity I believe we won't have to pay any duty on it either. Paddy, I believe they will contact you once everything gets home. I will keep you posted of anything else.

BKD

This post has been edited by Brekodi: 03 September 2010 - 08:14 PM

[Bula Matali]

Any update on the Computer shipment? Paddy, Goody, Lady T?

[Papa Goody]

No update on the computers yet. I think the ETA given by the Shippers is close though. I will follow up and keep u all posted. SS, u wanna check on the Shippers again, just to know the exact ETA?