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 tagged Literacy
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/
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/
Busy Grangers and Grange Friends Visited by Grange Angel
In our last Valley Grange Gram, we noted that folks should “not clip their fingernails” before our October Meeting because we would be peeling and sticking labels into over two hundred dictionaries and sorting and preparing knitted hats and mittens for distributions to local schools. Well, an anonymous “Grange Angel” snuck into our hall and had everything finished for us! A handwritten note proclaimed, “glad to help in some small way.”
We do have our suspicions regarding the identity of our angel, but we’ll protect her identity and simply say, “Thank you!”
Anyway, as a result we were able to bag up hats and mittens and are now ready to begin scheduling “Dictionary Days” around the area. For those unfamiliar, on Dictionary Day Valley Grange provides third grade students with their own personal dictionary at Piscataquis Community Elementary School, in Guilford SeDoMoCha Elementary in Dover Foxcroft, Harmony Elementary, Brownville Elementary, and Ridgeview Elementary in Dexter. Thanks to our Blistered Finger Knitters we also provide a bag of mittens and hats–usually entrusted to the school nurse– for use with students in need.
Walter Boomsma, Valley Grange Program Director, noted that distribution “may be a little different this year.” Historically Grangers have made person visits to schools and, in some cases, third graders have made field trips to visit to the Grange Hall on Guilford Center Road. “We’re still working with the schools on some ideas,” he noted. “At a minimum, we’ll provide a prerecorded video explaining how we hope the kids will use their dictionaries. We’ll also explore the idea of a ‘virtual’ classroom visit.”
Folks in the area who might like to become an angel have a number of opportunities that don’t necessarily involve sneaking into the Grange Hall, according to Mary Annis, Community Service Director. “We definitely can use more knitters… this is not a one time need–we often get requests for more mittens and hats as the winter lingers on. Yarn donations are also helpful and we can often supply yarn to our knitters.”
Prospective Community Angels can get their wings by contacting any member of Valley Grange or attending a meeting. “COVID has changed some things but it is not going to stop us,” Boomsma noted. “We are always looking for opportunities to serve and strengthen our communities. And that means we are always looking for like-minded folks of all ages. Let’s fly together!
For information about future projects and meetings, visit the Valley Grange Website at http://valleygrange.com or their Facebook Page.
Posted by Walter Boomsma on October 18, 2021
https://valleygrange.wordpress.com/2021/10/18/busy-grangers-and-grange-friends-visited-by-grange-angel/
Family Literacy Activity Calendar
The following article is reprinted with permission from an e-newsletter published by Paul Stearns, State Representative for District 119.
The Maine State Library is marking Maine’s bicentennial year with the publication of the Maine Day by Day Family Literacy Activity Calendar. The perpetual calendar is designed to assist parents, caregivers, teachers and librarians in creative activities that encourage emergent reading. Thirty-thousand calendars were printed with funding from the Maine Bicentennial Committee, the David Family Foundation and the Maine Community Foundation. The calendar is free and copies are being distributed to libraries throughout the state to give to their patrons. Each month features works from Maine authors and illustrators with a focus on a theme around which books, songs, activities, arts and cultural events, and health and family wellness information are centered. The calendar is an easy to use tool for anyone to work with kids on the five early literacy practices – reading, writing, talking, playing and singing. Copies of the calendar can be obtained at Maine public libraries. If a library has not requested copies or need more, they can make a request through the Maine State Library website: https://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/services/MaineDaybyDayFamilyLiteracyActivityCalendar.htm
Posted by Walter Boomsma on January 28, 2020
https://valleygrange.wordpress.com/2020/01/28/family-literacy-activity-calendar/
Bookworm Schedule for October/November 2018
Tuesday, October 16 — Mr. Boomsma will be at school for a program kickoff at 8:00 a.m.
Tuesday, October 23 — Mrs. Kimball will be at school for reading starting at 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, October 25 — Mrs. Lander will be at school for reading starting at 10:00 a.m.
Monday, October 29 — Dictionary Day! Third graders will be visiting Valley Grange for some fun and a dictionary!
Tuesday, October 30 — Ms. Erwin will be at school for reading starting at 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, November 1 — Mr. Boomsma and Mrs. Katz will be at school for reading starting at 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday, November 6 — Mrs. Kimball will be at school for reading starting at 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, November 8 — Mr. Boomsma will be at school for reading starting at 10:00 a.m.
Friday, November 9 — SAD 4 Veteran’s Celebration at PCSS… 8:15 am!
Tuesday, November 13 — Ms. Erwin will be at school for reading starting at 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, November 15 — Mrs. Orton will be at school for reading starting at 10:00 a.m.
Friday, November 16 — Community Night at Valley Grange! Join us for a free supper at 6:00 p.m. and say “Hi” to your neighbors and friends. We’ll be featuring the famous beans and mac ‘n cheese by Bill Bemis of Garland Grange! Stick around for our regular meeting 7:00 p.m. Kids are welcome!
Tuesday, November 20 — Mrs. Boomsma will be at school for reading starting at 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, November 22 — No school — Happy Thanksgiving!
Tuesday, November 27 — Mrs. Orton will be at school for reading starting at 10:00 a.m.
Thursday, November 30 — Mrs. Lander will be at school for reading starting at 10:00 a.m.
Posted by Walter Boomsma on October 10, 2018
https://valleygrange.wordpress.com/2018/10/10/bookworm-schedule-for-october-november-2018/
Thank you, MHFC!
As part of their Community Care Program, Maine Highlands Federal Credit Union recently presented a donation to Valley Grange. Employees contributed based on their “dress down” Fridays with the proceeds being distributed to local community organizations. Walter Boomsma, Program Director for Valley Grange noted, “Through no fault of our own, we recently lost part of the funding of our Words for Thirds Dictionary Program, so this is perfect timing and will help us to continue to give a dictionary to every third grader in four area districts. Thank you!”
l-r: Sonya Smith, MHFC; Walter Boomsma, Valley Grange Program Director; Jim Annis, Valley Grange Master
Posted by Walter Boomsma on July 19, 2018
https://valleygrange.wordpress.com/2018/07/19/thank-you-mhfc/
Bookworm Schedule for May 2018
Tuesday, May 1 — Mr. Boomsma will be at school to read starting at 10:10 a.m.
Thursday, May 3 — Mr. Boomsma will be at school to read starting at 10:10 a.m.
Tuesday, May 8 — Ms. Erwin will be at school to read starting at 10:10 a.m.
Thursday, May 10 — Mrs. Kimball will be at school to read starting at 10:10 a.m. “Canstruction” and Reveal at 5:30 p.m.
Friday, May 11 — Bikes for Books Assembly at 8:00 a.m.
Tuesday, May 15 — Mrs. Orton will be at school to read starting at 10:10 a.m.
Wednesday, May 16 — Spring Art Show/Book Fair (4:00 p.m.) and Spring Concert (6:00 p.m.)
Thursday, May 17 — Mr. Boomsma will be at school to read starting at 10:10 a.m.
Friday, May 18 — Community Night at Valley Grange! Join us for a potluck supper at 6:00 p.m. and program at 7:00 p.m. — Find out who is Community Citizen of the Year!
Tuesday, May 22 — Mrs. Kimball will be at school to read starting at 10:10 a.m.
Thursday, May 24 — Mrs. Orton will be at school to read starting at 10:10 a.m.
Friday, May 25 — No School. Happy Memorial Day weekend!
Tuesday, May 29 — Mrs. Lander will be at school to read starting at 10:10 a.m
Thursday, May 31 — Mrs. Orton will be at school to read starting at 10:10 a.m.
Remember… every Tuesday at 5:30 pm, kids and parents can join Miss Dunton in the PCES Cafeteria for the first “Tuesdays Together” Program — an after-school program featuring cutting edge design thinking and problem-solving.
Posted by Walter Boomsma on April 28, 2018
https://valleygrange.wordpress.com/2018/04/28/bookworm-schedule-for-may-2018/
Bookworm Schedule, April 2017
Bikes for Books!! Don’t forget to get an entry form for every book you read… deadline for entries is this month!
Tuesday, April 4 – Mrs. Kimball will be at school to read starting at 8:45 a.m.
Thursday, April 6 – Ms. Erwin will be at school to read starting at 8:45 a.m.
Remember Valley Grange is hosting the Piscataquis Pomona Meeting tonight! Chicken Pie Supper at 6:00 p.m. – meeting at 7:00 p.m. features National Grange Master Betsy Huber. All are welcomed!
Friday, April 7 — Jump Rope for Heart activities all day at school!
Tuesday, April 11 – Mrs. Kimball will be at school to read starting at 8:45 a.m.
Wednesday, April 12 – Newspapers in Education Supplement (including winning Valley Grange ads) will be in the Piscataquis Observer.
Thursday, April 13 – Ms. Erwin will be at school to read starting at 8:45 a.m.
Friday, April 14 – Bikes for Books Assembly! Bikes… books… clowns… oh, my!
April 17 – April 21 – School Vacation!
Friday, April 21 – CWA Potluck Supper at 6:00 p.m. and special program at 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, April 25 – Mr. Boomsma will be at school to read starting at 8:45 a.m.
Thursday, April 27 – Ms. Erwin will be at school to read starting at 8:45 a.m.
Reading gives us a place to go when we have to stay where we are!”
Posted by Walter Boomsma on March 28, 2017
https://valleygrange.wordpress.com/2017/03/28/bookworm-schedule-april-2017/
Bookworm Schedule, March 2017
Bikes for Books!! Don’t forget to get an entry form for every book you read!
Thursday, March 2 – Mrs. Lander will be at school to read starting at 8:45 a.m.
Tuesday, March 7 – Ms. Erwin will be at school to read starting at 8:45 a.m.
Thursday, March 9 – Mr. Boomsma will be at school to read starting at 8:45 a.m.
Tuesday, March 14 – Mrs. Lander will be at school to read starting at 8:45 a.m.
Thursday, March 16 – Mrs. Kimball will be at school to read starting at 8:45 a.m.
March 20 – March 24 is Agriculture Week — GrowME activities will be scheduled!
Tuesday, March 28 – Mrs. Kimball will be at school to read starting at 8:45 a.m.
Thursday, March 16 – Ms. Erwin will be at school to read starting at 8:45 a.m.
Posted by Walter Boomsma on February 24, 2017
https://valleygrange.wordpress.com/2017/02/24/bookworm-schedule-march-2017/
February 2017 Bookworm Schedule
Will the groundhog see his shadow or be too busy reading!?
Newspapers in Education –ad creation starts this month!
Thursday, February 2— Mr. Boomsma will be at school to read starting at 8:45 a.m.
Tuesday, February 7— Mrs. Lander will be at school to read starting at 8:45 a.m.
Thursday, February 9— Ms. Erwin will be at school to read starting at 8:45 a.m.
Tuesday, February 14— Mrs. Kimball will be at school to read starting at 8:45 a.m. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Thursday, February 16— Mrs. Chadbourne will be at school to read starting at 8:45 a.m.
February 20 through February 24— School Vacation! Lots of extra reading time!
Tuesday, February 28— Ms. Erwin will be at school to read starting at 8:45 a.m.
Posted by Walter Boomsma on February 1, 2017
https://valleygrange.wordpress.com/2017/02/01/february-2017-bookworm-schedule/
GrowME
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Walter Boomsma
Valley Grange #144 