Many of our donors and volunteers, at some point in their lives, had the very rich opportunity and experience to play a musical instrument. It takes a good deal of practice, time and patience to be adept at playing an instrument.
There are many children out there, who we work with, who long for just such an experience! There's just one problem, they don't have the funds or access to the trumpet, trombone, drums, clarinet, flute or saxophone!
That's where Schools Count Corp comes in. We have already helped establish a band program at Chalmers Elementary and now we are assisting King Elementary in Chicago. We are buying some instruments but I'd like to reach out to you to ask you to consider donating an instrument that may be in your possession which you no longer use.
I can assure you that your donated instrument will not collect dust! It will be put to good use right away! There are children at King who want to be in the band program but can't join because there are simply not enough instruments to go around. Well, we can help them do something about it.
Simply contact me by calling 630-863-6035 or email me at rich219@comcast.net and we can chat about the opportunity to help the kids. I can write you a charitable tax receipt for the current market value of the instrument and would be pleased to provide it to you. Thanks for your consideration.
Though parting with the instrument may be difficult, it will also allow a deserving, perhaps even aspiring, musician the chance to do something they have always longed to do...to play.
Thank you,
Dick
Friday, August 31, 2012
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Seven Years Later
Seven years to the day, yet another hurricane has hit New Orleans and the surrounding area. Scant coverage of this disaster has taken place other than on the Weather Channel. To my knowledge no breaches of levees has taken place in the Lower Ninth, Gentilly, or other areas within Orleans Parish.
There has been considerable damage in such places as Plaquemines Parish, Jefferson Parish and many parts of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Biloxi, Waveland, Bay St. Louis and Gulfport are but some of the affected cities in MS. I will try to get a better assessment of the damages to these areas and pass them along to you.
I am well aware that people were pulled from rooftops yesterday and that the situation is far from stable. Some levees, other than the ones repaired, have been topped. Flooding is a huge problem and with a lack of power in many part of the NOLA area, one understands that pumps won't be able to operate.
I can report that our good friend Cheryllyn Branche is safe though she has some damage to her home. I have not been able to get ahold of Marcel and Marva Scott in Gentilly but when I do I will pass along our best wishes.
At this point, because I don't have a complete report, I am not sure of our involvement, if any, in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac. If we have the opportunity to assist these good people I will be sure to get in touch with you.
Thanks,
Dick
There has been considerable damage in such places as Plaquemines Parish, Jefferson Parish and many parts of the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Biloxi, Waveland, Bay St. Louis and Gulfport are but some of the affected cities in MS. I will try to get a better assessment of the damages to these areas and pass them along to you.
I am well aware that people were pulled from rooftops yesterday and that the situation is far from stable. Some levees, other than the ones repaired, have been topped. Flooding is a huge problem and with a lack of power in many part of the NOLA area, one understands that pumps won't be able to operate.
I can report that our good friend Cheryllyn Branche is safe though she has some damage to her home. I have not been able to get ahold of Marcel and Marva Scott in Gentilly but when I do I will pass along our best wishes.
At this point, because I don't have a complete report, I am not sure of our involvement, if any, in the aftermath of Hurricane Isaac. If we have the opportunity to assist these good people I will be sure to get in touch with you.
Thanks,
Dick
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
Teacher Unions - Hardly Villians!
I just learned this morning that the Chicago Teacher's Union has filed a ten day notice of its intent to strike. The chances of a strike are quite high following the Labor Day Holiday. This is not an unexpected event, many expecting one since early this spring.
I occasionally hear people complaining about teachers, education, and the alleged failure of schools (teachers) to meet the needs of students. Films are literature are out there claiming that such problems, and others, are caused by teacher unions.
That is simply inaccurate. There are hundreds of thousands of teachers out there. These good stewards of the educational process have all sorts of needs, pay being just one of the. Teachers understand curriculum, learning, the student and what motivates him/her, methods of delivering materials, how to make effective use of time, assessments and much more.
To make the above issues, and a whole host of others, more relevant and understood by the general public, a voice must be heard. Unions and other teacher associations are willing and able to attend to the concerns related to these issues. When you get right down to it, dealing with these issues is vital to students receiving a top flight educational experience.
Unions and teacher associations do an excellent of working on student and teaching concerns. These union and association benefits rarely get noticed by most people. This is but another reason NOT to villify teacher unions.
Dick
I occasionally hear people complaining about teachers, education, and the alleged failure of schools (teachers) to meet the needs of students. Films are literature are out there claiming that such problems, and others, are caused by teacher unions.
That is simply inaccurate. There are hundreds of thousands of teachers out there. These good stewards of the educational process have all sorts of needs, pay being just one of the. Teachers understand curriculum, learning, the student and what motivates him/her, methods of delivering materials, how to make effective use of time, assessments and much more.
To make the above issues, and a whole host of others, more relevant and understood by the general public, a voice must be heard. Unions and other teacher associations are willing and able to attend to the concerns related to these issues. When you get right down to it, dealing with these issues is vital to students receiving a top flight educational experience.
Unions and teacher associations do an excellent of working on student and teaching concerns. These union and association benefits rarely get noticed by most people. This is but another reason NOT to villify teacher unions.
Dick
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
Hurricane Isaac
Seven years ago tomorrow, Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and much of the Gulf Coast region, wreaking havoc in so very many ways. Though much rebuilding has taken place much of Gentilly, East New Orleans and the Lower Ninth are regions still working to regain their original vitality.
Not much can be said as another hurricane approaches, though it's suppose to be much less intense, other than we wish for the very best for all the citizens in the city and surrounding area. For me, and many of our donor and volunteers, the good people of NOLA are, in many respects, family.
Our charity started its work by aiding the residents and forty three of NOLA's schools. It has been a great joy to see so many families and schools grow in the aftermath of Katrina. One can only hope that the city and its residents will be spared the heartbreak that took place seven years ago.
Our thoughts, concerns and prayers are with you.
Dick
Not much can be said as another hurricane approaches, though it's suppose to be much less intense, other than we wish for the very best for all the citizens in the city and surrounding area. For me, and many of our donor and volunteers, the good people of NOLA are, in many respects, family.
Our charity started its work by aiding the residents and forty three of NOLA's schools. It has been a great joy to see so many families and schools grow in the aftermath of Katrina. One can only hope that the city and its residents will be spared the heartbreak that took place seven years ago.
Our thoughts, concerns and prayers are with you.
Dick
Monday, August 27, 2012
What is Going On?
It seems that almost any story one would read in a daily newspaper or see on television involves a teacher strike, their pay, school reform, and the problems associated with paying their pensions. There is no denying the fact that these issues are out there.
The problem is this...if that's all the media focuses on then many of the current realities of the profession are ignored or out of the purview of the general public. Teaching and teachers are going through a transformative period that is often not of their doing, has a draining effect and consumes huge portions of time and effort.
It is not uncommon for a teacher to have a variety of students in the same class...Honors, AP, Regular, Inclusion, those with IEP's and the like. The demands made of teachers in such a situation necessitates that a teacher often work with multiple aides and have at least a couple of different lesson plans for the same class period. The days of having one lesson for one class are going by the wayside.
The above situation calls on teachers to have a couple of different curriculums, additional handouts, and different classrooms materials. I am aware of many teachers dealing with this scenario. It also means that students with greater needs demand more teacher attention. Sadly, some students get passed over not because a teacher intends to; rather, it simply isn't practical to 'get to' everyone.
You would be surprised at the out-of-classroom time, at school and home, that an instructor spends with aides, case managers and parents in just one of the above described classrooms. It is incredible!!!
Oh, it doesn't end here!! You can be sure that a teacher will have to have different assessments, different tests and different rubrics that deals with the above situation.
The general public lacks much of this information. Ones view of the teaching profession and the demands placed on teachers may simply be ill informed. To be sure, those of us who have been teachers would be hard pressed in today's classroom.
The challenges are great but what I see taking place by those many great teachers continues to amaze me!
Thanks!
Dick
The problem is this...if that's all the media focuses on then many of the current realities of the profession are ignored or out of the purview of the general public. Teaching and teachers are going through a transformative period that is often not of their doing, has a draining effect and consumes huge portions of time and effort.
It is not uncommon for a teacher to have a variety of students in the same class...Honors, AP, Regular, Inclusion, those with IEP's and the like. The demands made of teachers in such a situation necessitates that a teacher often work with multiple aides and have at least a couple of different lesson plans for the same class period. The days of having one lesson for one class are going by the wayside.
The above situation calls on teachers to have a couple of different curriculums, additional handouts, and different classrooms materials. I am aware of many teachers dealing with this scenario. It also means that students with greater needs demand more teacher attention. Sadly, some students get passed over not because a teacher intends to; rather, it simply isn't practical to 'get to' everyone.
You would be surprised at the out-of-classroom time, at school and home, that an instructor spends with aides, case managers and parents in just one of the above described classrooms. It is incredible!!!
Oh, it doesn't end here!! You can be sure that a teacher will have to have different assessments, different tests and different rubrics that deals with the above situation.
The general public lacks much of this information. Ones view of the teaching profession and the demands placed on teachers may simply be ill informed. To be sure, those of us who have been teachers would be hard pressed in today's classroom.
The challenges are great but what I see taking place by those many great teachers continues to amaze me!
Thanks!
Dick
Sunday, August 26, 2012
Hard to Put into Words
Thank you is a powerful phrase but, given the generosity of the Hinsdale Central Boys Soccer program, thank you doesn't come close to expressing the heartfelt appreciation for all that they do to support student throughout the Chicagoland area.
The program helps our charity on many fronts. Each year a group of varsity soccer players solicit funds from area companies to support our work. This takes a good deal of time as the boys have to put together a presentation, make a visit to the potential donor and then follow up on various leads.
This initiative is part of the KICK program, a fifth year endeavor to help Schools Count Corp. In five years the KICK (Kick It in for Chicago Kids) has raised in excess of $20,000!!
The boys running KICK and a good core of soccer parents also reach out to the general community for financial support for our local programs. Individual donations are accepted in addition to corporate sponsorship.
The KICK program also collects winter coats as part of their effort to help school children in the Chicagoland area. Not only are coats collected but the soccer community seeks donations of hats, gloves, mittens and scarves. The HC Soccer Banquet takes place on November 7th and families can donate the winter wear at the front entrance of Ashton Place prior to attending the banquet.
All is all, no matter the record, the soccer program continues to do great humanitarian work that extends well beyond the field of play.
Thank You,
Dick
The program helps our charity on many fronts. Each year a group of varsity soccer players solicit funds from area companies to support our work. This takes a good deal of time as the boys have to put together a presentation, make a visit to the potential donor and then follow up on various leads.
This initiative is part of the KICK program, a fifth year endeavor to help Schools Count Corp. In five years the KICK (Kick It in for Chicago Kids) has raised in excess of $20,000!!
The boys running KICK and a good core of soccer parents also reach out to the general community for financial support for our local programs. Individual donations are accepted in addition to corporate sponsorship.
The KICK program also collects winter coats as part of their effort to help school children in the Chicagoland area. Not only are coats collected but the soccer community seeks donations of hats, gloves, mittens and scarves. The HC Soccer Banquet takes place on November 7th and families can donate the winter wear at the front entrance of Ashton Place prior to attending the banquet.
All is all, no matter the record, the soccer program continues to do great humanitarian work that extends well beyond the field of play.
Thank You,
Dick
Friday, August 24, 2012
Good News
More good news on the ground at Chalmers Elementary. As many of you know we provided music instruments to Chalmers this past spring. Not only did the students start learning how to play the instruments but they had the good fortune to participate in a two-week workshop this past summer. Well, there is more good news with regard to the program.
Schools Count will provide long sleeve Kelly Green shirts to the band. An order was placed this morning. Nothing like a band having its own digs. Finally, in speaking with the band director, over the past few days, tentative plans are in the works for the Chalmers students to perform at our Annual Donor Volunteer Dinner in the early Spring of 2013!! That will be a special evening. I will be sure to get information out so that you can plan on attending this event.
I am appreciative of each and every one of our donors for providing the funds (and donated instruments) so that instruments and shirts could be provided to the deserving students at Chalmers.
Many thanks,
Dick
Schools Count will provide long sleeve Kelly Green shirts to the band. An order was placed this morning. Nothing like a band having its own digs. Finally, in speaking with the band director, over the past few days, tentative plans are in the works for the Chalmers students to perform at our Annual Donor Volunteer Dinner in the early Spring of 2013!! That will be a special evening. I will be sure to get information out so that you can plan on attending this event.
I am appreciative of each and every one of our donors for providing the funds (and donated instruments) so that instruments and shirts could be provided to the deserving students at Chalmers.
Many thanks,
Dick
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