We provided a personal dictionary to every third grader in the area… represented by four school districts and five schools. Enjoy this short video showing a few highlights of this year’s program.
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All posts in category Education
Valley Grange Completes Dictionary Days!
Posted by Walter Boomsma on December 13, 2022
https://valleygrange.wordpress.com/2022/12/13/valley-grange-completes-dictionary-days/
Dictionaries and Words Are Coming!
We’re scheduling Dictionary Days… so far we have
- P.C.E.S. on Thursday, November 17, 2022
- SeDoMoCha on Wednesday, November 30, 2022
- Ridgeview Elementary on Monday, November 21, 2022 (drop off only)
- Brownville Elementary on Friday, November 18, 2022
- Harmony Elementary on Friday, December 2, 2022
As a reminder, these days are not public events. If you are interested in attending, please contact Walter Boomsma by email or at 207 343-1842.
Kids who receive dictionaries and their families are invited to our Breakfast for Supper on Friday, December 2, 2022. You can come in your jammies!
Posted by Walter Boomsma on November 9, 2022
https://valleygrange.wordpress.com/2022/11/09/dictionaries-and-words-are-coming/
Dictionaries Coming to Schools Soon!
Posted by Walter Boomsma on October 19, 2022
https://valleygrange.wordpress.com/2022/10/19/dictionaries-coming-to-schools-soon/
Dictionary Day Planning Underway
Yes, it’s that time of year! Valley Grange will again be conducting our “Words for Thirds” Dictionary Project. At this point, we are gathering approximate census/counts of third graders so we can order the dictionaries. The purchase of those dictionaries was approved at our September meeting.
We’ll probably be planning the actual dictionary day distributions in early to mid-November. We hope we can offer the same options as we did before COVID:
- A field trip to the Grange Hall
- A personal visit to the school/classrooms
- A “drop off” with a support video for teacher use.
Obviously, that choice will be made by each district. We distribute to Piscataquis Community Elementary School (Guilford), Brownville Elementary School (Brownville), Ridgeview Community School (Dexter), SeDoMoCha Elementary School (Dover Foxcroft), and Harmony Elementary School (Harmony). Home-schooled students are of course included. Parents should contact their school or the Grange.
We’re proud of our program and know the kids look forward to it! We’ve been distributing dictionaries since 2004 and are approaching the 3,000 mark! Some of our students report using their dictionaries in high school. These dictionaries empower the kids and encourage them to “look it up!”
Stay tuned! There’s more to come!
Posted by Walter Boomsma on September 27, 2022
https://valleygrange.wordpress.com/2022/09/27/dictionary-day-planning-underway/
Hot ‘Nuff for Ya?
It’s cool to cool off–at least some! We’re particularly interested in the forecast for Saturday, July 30, 2022, because that’s the day of Riverfest!
The current NOAA forecast is “sunny and in the low 80’s.” I’m not sure we can ask for anything much better than that! Valley Grangers will be there, talking about Grange Membership, handing out pins, and selling raffle tickets! See the complete schedule of events on the Riverfest Facebook Page. The parade starts at 9:30 am and vendor tents open at 11:00 am. Stop by and say “Hi!”
Alumni of the Valley Grange Bookworm Program and Dictionary Recipients are especially welcome!
If, for some reason, you can’t make it and would like to buy a raffle ticket, contact any Valley Grange member. It’s your chance to win up to $100 and support the many Valley Grange Programs, including:
- Words for Thirds–Third graders in four area school districts receive a dictionary that is theirs to keep! Nearly 4,000 have been distributed to date.
- Bookworming–Volunteers visit school and listen to second and third graders at PCES read.
- GrowME–An annual program of hands-on activities in local schools, promoting agricultural literacy.
- Veterans Honor Program–In conjunction with the Community Health and Counseling Hospice program, we collect lap quilts and afghans as part of a celebration for individual vets.
- Blistered Finger Knitters–Knitters create lap robes for seniors and hats and mittens for local school children.
- Sock It to Us!–We collect socks and distribute them to six local elementary schools.
- Project Linus–We host an annual “blanketeers” day to make blankets for kids and members participate in Project Linus Day.
- Hall Use for non-profits–Past use has included 4-H, Guilford Historical Society, D.A.R, Spirit of America Foundation…
- Newspapers in Education–Contest encouraging fourth graders to explore commercial art and advertising.
- Garry Owen House–We support this transitional shelter where homeless veterans can find hope for the future.
- Bikes for Books–We support this Mason’s Program that encourages literacy both financially and through our Bookworm Program.
- Community Citizen Award–An annual celebration of community and recognition of “boots on the ground” service to our communities.
- Kiddy Ditty Bags–We provide the local courts with these activity bags designed to entertain children who must sit in courtrooms.
- Teddy Bear Parade–We provide teddy bears to local law enforcement agencies as requested.
- Special Programs–“If you have the passion, Valley Grange is the place.” We are always willing to consider addressing community needs and opportunities… and we have annual programs including an annual fellowship breakfast, balloons and baked stuff at Piscataquis River Festival, an annual picnic fun and fundraiser…
Some programs have been temporarily suspended due to COVID mandates and restrictions—we can’t wait to get them going again!
Posted by Walter Boomsma on July 24, 2022
https://valleygrange.wordpress.com/2022/07/24/hot-nuff-for-ya/
We Came, We Saw…
Our February Meeting included a number of guests, some great food, good conversation and a good time! We were especially pleased to “obligate” our newest members, Sarah Mahan and Nick Jackson. Some of us got to try lamb for the first time, thanks to their potluck contribution and most of us went home with some eggs! For those of you who didn’t come and haven’t seen it, you must watch this video. Not only will you get to meet the family, but you’ll also find their regeneration techniques fascinating.
In other news, we approved the new Hall Use Agreement. A copy will be uploaded to the website soon. We also began discussing Grange Month (we celebrate in May) and Community Citizen of the Year. If you now someone in the area who deserves recognition for their service to our communities, contact Mary Annis or Walter Boomsma. We’re looking for an unsung hero.
We received socks and have more on the way. Thanks to Helping Hearts Ministry in West Virginia for their generous donation! We’ll likely be making our final delivery for this year next week… if you intend to “Sock it to us,” please do so soon!
Thanks also to Phyllis Lyford from the Dover Foxcroft Historical Society for her donation of two patriotic lap afghans for the Operation Gratitude Hospice Project for Veterans.
We started to get writer’s cramp signing thank-you cards and notes. We’ve been so fortunate this winter to members of our communities who have helped us keep our hall open. I’m afraid I’ll forget someone, but thanks to Brian and Cindy Woodworth, Jimmy French, John McKusick… the anonymous donor who left socks in the tote on the porch… with all this help, we were able to come to the February meeting, see the fruits of our labor and have a certain sense that we conquered winter.
Our new Busy Box was put to good use! As a reminder, we are still looking for puzzles, games, etc. suitable for kids. I recently was able to replenish our Book Bin after a visit to the Abbot Liberry. Now that we have kids attending, we welcome any contributions to both! If you can’t come to a meeting, you can leave them in the tote on the front porch.
I stopped at the hardware store on the way to the hall to start the furnace. One of the clerks asked if he could ask a question. “Are you the guy who does that bookworm club thing?” I was able to explain that COVID has our Bookworm Program on hold, but yes, Valley Grange has bookworms who listen to the kids read at school. He complimented the program and said how great it was. (Little does he know that he’s on my list of potential volunteers when we get started again!)
These questions and the support we receive help us remain committed “…to labor for the good of our Order, our country, and mankind.” Thank you!
And if you want to experience the warmth and welcome of the Grange, our next meeting is Friday, March 18, 2022. Potluck is at 6 pm–bring a dish to share if you can. Our meeting and program start at 7 pm and we are usually finished by 8:30 pm. Come as you are and bring a friend! Remember, we are kid-friendly!
Posted by Walter Boomsma on February 24, 2022
https://valleygrange.wordpress.com/2022/02/24/we-came-we-saw/
Check Us Out on WABI-TV5!
Posted by Walter Boomsma on January 22, 2022
https://valleygrange.wordpress.com/2022/01/22/check-us-out-on-wabi-tv5/
Valley Grange Delivers!
And we had company! Reporters from WABI TV 5 and WVII Fox Bangor asked if they could “tag along” when we delivered dictionaries to Brownville Elementary School and we were happy to have the company!
Valley Grange Master/President Jim Annis and Program Director Walter Boomsma had the back of his car filled with “words”–cases of dictionaries to deliver to several area schools. Annis admitted, “Sometimes we’re not sure who gets more excited, us or the kids.”
Boomsma noted that he misses the contact with the kids. “In the past we’ve had several schools make field trips to the Grange Hall and we’ve visited classrooms to hand out the dictionaries personally while explaining a little about the Grange and trying to get the kids really excited about having their own dictionary. Since safety is a priority as a result of COVID, we’ve had to get a little creative.”
The Guilford Grange produced a short video and some resources for teachers who are now doing the actual presentations. But the curious kids in Brownville were watching out the window at, what for Brownville was a “media extravaganza.” It wasn’t long before a window was opened and some chatting took place “long distance.”
Boomsma noted that the day’s delivery included a bag of knitted hats and mittens, compliments of Valley Grange’s Blistered Finger Knitters. “We have one woman in New Jersey who knits for us throughout the year and brings her work when she visits in the summer.”
A relatively new program started by the Grange asks people to “Sock It to Me.” Boomsma warned Principal Carol Smith “We’ll be back in a couple of weeks with a bag of socks. We want add feet to our efforts to keep our kids warm this winter, so we’re asking people to help us out with donations of socks we can provide to area schools.”
The stockings were piled at the Grange Hall with care
In hopes children’s feet would be saved from cold air!
If you’re interested in a Dictionary Project in your area or at your school, contact Mr. Boomsma or visit the Dictionary Project Website. To learn more about the Valley Grange Program, visit the Valley Grange Website.
Posted by Walter Boomsma on December 2, 2021
https://valleygrange.wordpress.com/2021/12/02/valley-grange-delivers/
Somebody Socked It to Us!
Why is FedEx bringing a package? We aren’t expecting anything… Once it arrived, we discovered we have another anonymous Grange Angel. (We have our suspicions!) As the photo shows, inside the box from Target were a number of packs of socks—a generous and nice start to our “Sock It to Me” Collection.
If our math is correct, we have an 80 pair start! We haven’t set a goal but are now starting to wonder how many pairs we might end up with.
We plan to continue collecting through December. There’s a plastic tote on the porch of the Grange Hall where you can “sock it to us.” Better yet bring them to our Breakfast for Supper on December 3, 2021. (Don’t forget to RSVP.) If you want to “drop ship, ship to Walter Boomsma, Valley Grange, 17 River Road, Abbot ME 04406.
We need kids’ sizes and adults’ sizes. Boys, girls, unisex… warm socks are best, obviously but we’re not going to be choosey. We’ll be distributing the socks collected to school nurses where there is a need, either in late December or early January. Thanks for helping us help the kids!
The stockings were piled at the Grange Hall with care
In hopes children’s feet would be saved from cold air!
Posted by Walter Boomsma on November 26, 2021
https://valleygrange.wordpress.com/2021/11/26/somebody-socked-it-to-us/
Sock It to Me! Sock It to Me!
At the November Valley Grange Meeting–at every meeting–we always discuss emerging and existing needs in our communities. One brought to our attention was that several schools in our area have expressed a need for socks! There are too many kids coming to school “sockless” and it’s not a fashion statement. So we’re starting a “sock drive” with the socks collected being distributed to school nurses where there is a need.
We need kids’ sizes and adults’ sizes. Boys, girls, unisex… warm socks are best, obviously but we’re not going to be choosey.
Grange members voted unanimously to make our Breakfast for Supper Program a key sock collection point and date. “We usually collect food cupboard donations at this meeting,” Community Service Chair Mary Annis noted,” so this year we’re adding socks. We’ll have a tote on the front porch of the Grange Hall. For those who can’t come to breakfast, swing by the Grange Hall and sock it to us by leaving some socks in the tote.”
“Since this is sorta last minute,” Program Director Walter Boomsma noted, “We’ll probably continue to collect throughout the month of December. Any and all help will be appreciated! We may try to set up some collection points around the area… if a business or organization is interested in helping with that, call me at 207 343-1842.”
The stockings were piled at the Grange Hall with care In hopes children's feet would be saved from cold air!
Posted by Walter Boomsma on November 20, 2021
https://valleygrange.wordpress.com/2021/11/20/sock-it-to-me-sock-it-to-me/
GrowME
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Walter Boomsma
Valley Grange #144 