Mary Beth Williams, Project Manager         Phone:  520-2311            E-mail: willimb@dll.org

WELCOME to the 2008-2009 School Year!

  I would like to welcome everyone back as we begin another school year and the eighteenth year of GrandFriends.  Many of you have already returned and are continuing the great work for which GrandFriends are known. On page five there are suggestions for how to get started this year.  If you need any assistance please call or email me.

I am very excited about the fall trainings and coffee already scheduled. Our first training will be on September 30 and I am very pleased to have scheduled Dr. Barbara Swaby.

On October 21^st we are going to have a “Bring a Friend to GrandFriends” Ice Cream Social. This will be a great opportunity to invite someone that you think would be interested in becoming a GrandFriend.  We will take some time to explain GrandFriends and answer any questions. It will be very beneficial for perspective GrandFriends to all the ways they could impact student achievement.

On October 28^th there will be an orientation and training for new GrandFriends to provide more information so volunteers will feel more comfortable coming into our schools.  All GrandFriends are welcome and encouraged to attend.  I will really appreciate your feedback regarding the material covered and offer suggestions to improve this training.

Due to the asbestos removal in the main administration building this fall, Volunteer Services will not have the conference room available for coffees or trainings.  There will be   employees from the main administration building using the room temporarily as their office. This year the dates our presenters were available did not coincide with an available room at the Senior Center. I want to thank the Senior Center for the trying to accommodate us.

         September Training and Breakfast

 Dr. Barbara Swaby, Professor of Education at UCCS

GrandFriends will benefit from Dr. Swaby’s knowledge and expertise in the field of education and increase their effectiveness in working with students of all ages and abilities. 

When:         Tuesday, September 30, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m.

                                      Breakfast:  8:30 – 9:00a.m.

                                      Presentation: 9:00- 10:30a.m.

Where:       Tesla Educational Opportunity Center

                   2560 International Circle, Rm. 112

RSVP:        Please call Mary Beth, 520-2311 or email me at willimb@d11.org by September 25^TH.  Let me know if you would like breakfast or will be coming for the presentation only.

Directions to TESLA are on page 5.

“Bring a Friend to GrandFriends”

Ice Cream Social

When:         Tuesday, October 21, 2:00 -3:30

Where:       Tesla Educational Opportunity Center

                   2560 International Circle, Rm. 110

This coffee is for all GrandFriends and any person interested in becoming one.

There can never be too many GrandFriends volunteering in our schools and I

would like to increase our numbers this year. The best way for the program

to grow is for those currently volunteering to ask a friend, spouse and neighbor

to join the fun of being a GrandFriend.  Please invite one or two perspective

volunteers and “bring a friend to GrandFriends” ice cream social. Please attend

even if you are not able to bring someone so you can share your GrandFriend

experiences and rewards of volunteering in our schools.

RSVP:  Please call me, 520-2311, or email willimb@d11.org, so I will know

             how many scoops of ice cream to bring!

Directions to TESLA are on page 5

   GrandFriends Orientation and Training

When:         Tuesday, October 28^th, 9:00 – 11:00a.m.

Where:       Tesla Educational Circle, Room 110

          Dick and Jane just threw their pencils down and refuse to do their work – what do I do now? I cannot get Jane to focus on her work, she is looking everywhere else. I think Jane and Dick both need a hug, why not? What is RtI?  A teacher is not treating a student the right way – who do I tell?

Come find out the answers to these questions and more at the new orientation and training October 28^th. The purpose is to give both new and continuing volunteers skills and knowledge that will help them feel comfortable in the school setting and helpful when working with our students. I want those of you to attend so I can get your feedback on the material provided in the training.

RSVP: Please be sure to let me know if you are coming and if you are bring someone!

I want to be sure to have enough morning snacks!

All trainings and the coffee will be held at TESLA this fall!!!

Directions to TESLA are on page 5.

I realize that trainings and other social events are scheduled when you may be

volunteering, but there really is not a time that GrandFriends are not in our

schools.  So please consider rearranging your volunteer time the week of the

training so you may attend if possible.

Compliments for GrandFriends From  Last School Year Teachers

“She is absolutely wonderful with the students and with her help they have made a lot of

progress in reading fluency. --- Let her come back next year! --- Mr. B. everyday he

raises their self esteem with positive feedback.---Great role model!---Creates a welcome

and productive environment.---Listened to my students.--Has loved and supported my

children wonderfully!--- This has been a very positive experience!---The students respond

so positively to his assistance and are excited to show him their reading progress.---Send

us more!

Directions to Tesla

From Pikes Peak Ave., turn south on Printers Parkway, then take first left on International

Circle.  Tesla will be on your left, just past the Inn at Garden Plaza.  There is limited

Parking in front, but plenty of parking at the rear of the building.  There are handicapped

spaces both in front and back.

From the rear parking lot, enter the building from the parking lot (east side of building)

side through the double doors on the far right as you face the building.

Once inside the first of double doors look for a white buzzer button to the right of the door.

Just push it and when the person responds, just let them know you a GrandFriend.

Walk down the hall to the elevators on the left, go to the first floor, turn left out of the

elevator. Left after the reception area and  room 112 is on the left and 110 is on the right.

If you enter from the top entrance you will be on the first floor.  Turn right at the reception

desk and then left and room 112 will be to the  left and room 110 will be to the right.

I will have signs but in case they fall down, you will have a good idea of where to go.

Starting the school year…

Teachers usually prefer to wait a few weeks before having volunteers join their classes.  This gives them time to get to know their students, establish a routine and assess the needs of their students.  Then they’ll be able to determine when, where and how your assistance will be most useful.

!     If you are continuing as a GrandFriend with the same teacher as last year, give him/her a week or two to get settled, then call or email the teacher and ask when he/she would like you to start.  If you’d like Mary Beth to contact the teacher or need a phone number, call 520-2311.

!     If you need a new teacher or a new school, please call Mary Beth, 520-2311, for help in arranging a new placement.

!     If you are a prospective GrandFriend, call Mary Beth, 520-2311, to schedule an appointment for an interview.

!     A District 11 calendar is included in this newsletter. 

Please let me know….

 If you would please take a moment to fill out the information form below and then return it to me I would really appreciate it. The information is important to us as we appreciate our volunteers. When I am placing a new GrandFriend it helps me to know how many volunteers there already are in a school. It also helps School District 11 when applying for funding of programs as community involvement is very important.

I am continuing as GrandFriend:         Yes ___     No ___

I will continue at the same school:       Yes ___     No ___

I will continue with the same teacher:  Yes ___     No ___

I am at:    School Name______________________________

I volunteer with:  Teacher/Staff Name ________________________  Grade level: ________

I would like a new placement:  _____

Please return to Mary Beth Williams, 1115 N. El Paso Street, Colorado Springs, Co 80903

Or you may call or email the information to me.  520-2311          willimb@d11.org

Help Me Spread the Word About the GrandFriends Program

Do you know of an organization that would like to learn about GrandFriends?  Please let me know and I will be happy to go tell the group about this wonderful program.

Logging Hours!

          It is very important for each volunteer to keep track of the number of hours you volunteer in our schools.  We appreciate our community volunteers and want to recognize the time you have given to our students.  In addition community involvement is important to show when the school district is applying for funding of projects that also benefit our students. 

          There are a few ways to “log” your hours into our Volunteer Management System (VMS). You may go online and log your own hours, let the school volunteer chairperson know or call me.

          In addition we are trying a new idea to see if it makes it easier for our volunteers to log their hours.  We have put a computer “KIOSK” in some of our schools that is only for people to log their hours into the VMS. Look for them in the following schools: Chipeta, Freedom, Jenkins, Mann, Palmer, Rudy, Scott, Washington and Wasson.   

District 11 News

Senior Sounding Board

                             Attention all GrandFriends who reside in District 11.

     Terry Bishop, superintendent of schools for District 11, will meet with “senior” citizens (age 55+) the third Friday of each month during the school year.  The first meeting will be Friday, September 19, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the Board Room at the main administration building, 1115 N. El Paso.  Senior Sounding Board members hear firsthand the latest information and news about D-11 and public education.  They provide input on issues and bring forward questions and concerns of interest to the senior community. 

     Please come meet Dr. Bishop and consider becoming a member of the Senior Sounding Board.  Call Mary Beth Williams at 520-2311 for more information.  

Galileo

          East middle school has been renovated and reopened with a new name and identity. Galileo, a math and science magnet has opened it doors only to sixth grade students this fall. This is a neighborhood school embracing students in the boundary area as well as welcoming students throughout Colorado Springs.

          Galileo and the Colorado Springs Conservatory have developed a partnership to enhance the fine arts program offered during the day and then to provide an after school program to students from all area districts.

GrandFriends Calendar

Sept.  1 :                    Labor Day - schools CLOSED

Sept.19 :                    Staff Development - NO students

Sept. 30:                    GrandFriends’ Training, 8:30 – 10:30 a.m., TESLA

Oct. 17 :                    Teacher Work Day – NO Students

                                    Senior Sounding Board – 2:00 – 3:30

Oct. 21:                     “Bring a Friend to GrandFriends Ice Cream Social 2:00 – 3:30 TESLA

Oct. 28:                     GrandFriend Orientation and Training – 9:00 – 11:00 at TESLA

Oct. 30-31:               Parent/Teacher/Student Conferences – NO school

Nov.11:                      Veterans’ Day –schools CLOSED

Nov. 21:                     Senior Sounding Board, 2:00-3:30 p.m., Administration Bldg. Boardroom

Nov. 26 - 28:             Thanksgiving – Schools CLOSED

Dec. 22 – Jan. 6:      Winter Break – Schools CLOSED

Updated 9/17/2008