A Night at the Museum
On Sept. 23 we held our annual "Night at the Museum" recruitment event. Members brought tea, fruit, and cookies to share with the 12 possible members.
The "Pride in the Big Picture" PowerPoint was presented by President, Rita Galloway, brief introductions shared and a scavanger hunt of the museum enjoyed by all.
We will welcome these wonderful women into membership at our November meeting.
2015-2016 Projects
Supporting Early Educators
We continue to support local early educators. Thanks to an ASTEF Grant of $300 we are able to provide supplies, monthly gifts, and support to 35 women educators in the Harlingen and Rio Hondo areas. Survival Bags were handed out in August.
September's gift was a decorated journal and inspirational bookmark. Each month the educators will be rememberd by the "Support Sisters" of Lambda Eta and in December will be invited to join us for our Christmas Celebration.
Supporting Veterans
We continue to support our local Veterans through handing out school supplies in August to Veterans and their children and collecting soaps for Caregivers of Valley Veterans in September. In March Connie Pety made all the arrangements for Yesenia Ramirez to visit. Yesenia spoke on volunteer opportunites available to help with military families in the Valley. She also told about her job as the Family Assistance Specialist working at the Natonal Guard Armory in Weslaco. Members brought snack and monetary donatons for our deployed servicemen and women from the Valley.
Honduras Teachers
This year we scheduled a full week of DKG sponsored activities for the teachers from Honduras.
Monday: Linda Correa-Garcia taught the ladies sewing.
Tuesday: The ladies visited the TSTC campus.
Wednesday: The Honduran teachers worked at Ines Velez' home, learning about ESL from Ines and doing Science/Math activities with Rita.
Thursday: The Honduran teachers toured Bonham Elementary with before attending a Science and Math PTA meeting.
Saturday: Rita Galloway hosted the ladies at her house for a SPED inservice with Jan Demro in the morning, then they headed over Claudia Penuelas Benitez home for lunch and a Spa Pampering afternoon.
2014-2015 Projects
Honduras Teachers
This year our teachers from Honduras were delayed because of the VISA process. Because they were not here during Spring Break we offered them a variety of inservices in the evenings and on Saturdays. They especially asked for information on bullying, special education, and math. It has been a wondeful experience sharing with, getting to know, and learning from these awesome women!
Supporting our Troops
In March our speaker discussed the challenges of being deployed in the service. Communications with Valley soldiers through member Connie Petty indicated a need for snacks and GOOD coffee. We collected items to be mailed.
Meet Annie our Lambda Eta Turtle at STI
After a presentation at a meeting by one of the educators at STI we donated money to Sea Turtle Inc. on South Padre Island. Our donation was used to build and equip an educational display cabinet at the STI facility. We were also asked to name one of the box turtles used for education during presentations. Say hello to "Annie"!
Early Educator Project
Our Early Educator Mentoring program has grown! This year we have expanded to over 25 new teachers in 3 different districts. Goodies were gathered and “Survival Boxes” were prepared for each teacher. Our October meeting was used so everyone could help cut, glue, and assemble. Small monthly surprises were provided throughout the school year.
By providing names, room placements, and phone numbers we were available to them when needed.
2013-2014
Projects
Pillow Cases for Cancer Patients
Members gathered for their first sewing party on Saturday, November 9, 2013. Yards of colorful material were cut, sewn, and ironed into standard size pillow cases to be donated to locate cancer patients. The pillowcases will be used to cover the plastic pillows patients use during chemo. A total of 50 pillowcases were sewn. These will be placed in a ziplock bag along with a poem about what cancer can't do and cards made by the "seedlings".
This Project earned us the Annie Award!!!
Recycling
Recyclable items:
Styrofoam—rinse and clean
Magazine—remove staples
Newspaper and ads
Plain paper no staples,tape,or tissue
Water bottles—rinsed, label removed, no caps (#1)
Other plastic bottles—milk, laundry….(#2)
Plastic bags—clean and cleared of receipts
Cardboard—flattened
This project is ongoing each year.
Early Educator Mentoring
In mid-September our Lambda Eta members from Bonham Elementary began to officially mentor 6 educators new to HCISD. Goodies were gathered and “Survival Boxes” were prepared for each teacher.
By providing names, room placements, and phone numbers we can be available to them when needed. Our goal is to remember them monthly with some small surprise and to pray for them often!
Christmas at the Museum
Students from the classes of: Mrs. Prechel, Ms. Kerens, Mrs. Garza, and Mrs. Galloway made the ornaments to put on our Lambda Eta tree at the Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum. The Christmas Extraveganza this year used the theme "Christmas in the Rio Grande Valley". The Lambda Eta tree was titled - Nature in the Rio Grande Valley. Students made butterflies, poinsettias, palm trees, and pictures of native animals.
Recycling and Lil'Green Healers
In March the Lil' Green Healers - Bonham Elementary Recycling Club - shared tips on recycling with us. In return we helped them with a project making a terrarium from recycled materials. Parents joined us for this activity. Everyone had a wonderful time!
Teachers from Honduras
We gathered on the first Monday of Spring Break at the home of one of our members to provide training for 5 teachers visiting from Honduras. Delta Kappa Gamma members talked to them about sewing projects, use of iPads and the internet, special education, and English Language Learners.