Eta Mu donated several books to the Prescott Junior High library. VP Wendy Bruce welcomed members of the chapter, and along with several students and staff thanked the chapter for the donation. The books were purchased with funds from a Learning is for Everyone (LIFE) Grant and donations from Pappapolloni Mediterranean Bistro. Bookish provided a generous discount and handled the order. Making the library a vital part of the school community is one of Wendy's goals.
Johanna, Pat and Kathleen enjoyed a heartwarming morning in December assembling Comfort Kits for children in transition within the foster care system. A Kit is a backpack for an infant to a teenager filled with a variety of items. These items may include a water bottle, a blanket, toothpaste and toothbrush, socks, crayons, and more. From the Love Stanislaus County December Newsletter 1,134 Comfort Kits were assembled.
When the backpacks were filled, Johanna, Pat and Kathleen stuffed adorable little teddy bears. These teddy bears are given to first responders to distribute.
When the backpacks were filled, Johanna, Pat and Kathleen stuffed adorable little teddy bears. These teddy bears are given to first responders to distribute.
Johanna Elms, an Eta Mu member of DKG, was awarded for Outstanding Career/Professional Service. Johanna goes above and beyond as a high school teacher coaching golf and swim, by working with the National Alliance for Mental Illness (NAMI) campus group and coaching Mock Trial. Johanna also serves as a leader among the staff, assisting with district wide curriculum and textbook adoptions, spearheading WASC committees and by mentoring new teachers.
Kathleen Heinzinger has been involved with service to the area over many years. She is always cheerful and pleasant as she leads the area through various projects and events. Kathleen has been a member of the area board over many biennia. Currently Kathleen’s position on the Area Board is described as Educational Excellence and Membership Chair, which includes assisting the Area Director with chapter concerns involving STEP(Support Team for Emerging Professionals), Global Awareness, VAPA (Visual and Performing Arts), Awards and Scholarships, and membership and liaison to the DKG California Educational Excellence and Membership Committees. She handles her many responsibilities with grace.
Kathleen has taken a major role in the planning of the area events since the last biennium. She is always ready to volunteer to help with any project or task or mentor others. She is an inspiration to DKG members as she shares her enthusiasm for the organization. In addition to her roles in the area, Kathleen is currently serving on the DKG California State Nominations Committee. In the past Kathleen has held other area positions including Area Director.
As an Eta Mu member she has held all of the executive board positions at one time or other. Members like Kathleen are what hold us to a level of excellence. She is always ready to participate in chapter activities, welcome new members, mentor members, donate her time and her talent so that Eta Mu chapter may continue to thrive. She is a shining example of a “leading women educator.”
Kathleen has taken a major role in the planning of the area events since the last biennium. She is always ready to volunteer to help with any project or task or mentor others. She is an inspiration to DKG members as she shares her enthusiasm for the organization. In addition to her roles in the area, Kathleen is currently serving on the DKG California State Nominations Committee. In the past Kathleen has held other area positions including Area Director.
As an Eta Mu member she has held all of the executive board positions at one time or other. Members like Kathleen are what hold us to a level of excellence. She is always ready to participate in chapter activities, welcome new members, mentor members, donate her time and her talent so that Eta Mu chapter may continue to thrive. She is a shining example of a “leading women educator.”
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Carol Wharton Presents her Artwork
Carol Wharton shared her journey in art with her sisters at a chapter meeting. She explained how she has worked on various techniques since her retirement. Carol spent last summer studying in Italy and has some excellent work to show as a result of her trip.
Click the link below to learn more about Carol.
Click the link below to learn more about Carol.
Mary Lou, Pat, Judy, Linda, Debbie and Kathleen enjoyed celebrating Dr. Suess Day at Mary Lou Dieterich School. They read in twenty-seven classrooms and donated twenty-one books. Trudi and Heather were unable to read, however, Trudi donated thirteen books and Heather donated two books. The students and staff enjoyed listening to a variety of wonderful stories.
The students enjoyed listening to Mary Lou Dieterich read some of her favorite books.
The students enjoyed listening to Mary Lou Dieterich read some of her favorite books.
Painting in the Garden
Eta Mu members attended an art event, Painting in the Garden, on a lovely fall afternoon. They gathered to paint Poppies under the tutelage of local artist Pam Phillips who grew up in Modesto and taught art to elementary students in several local schools. Pam loves to paint classic cars and is intrigued with painting the reflections on them. She shows her paintings in the Mistlin Art Gallery.
TEACHING DURING THE PANDEMIC
Eta Mu held its first Zoom Meeting in November. The topic was “Teaching During the Pandemic”. Members shared their experiences and challenges working with students online.
Julie Kelly, Eta Mu’s newest member, talked about teaching kindergarten via distance learning. She started her year with a virtual Back to School presentation with Google slides. Each day she had a plan for instruction and centers with materials that were sent home. Although Julie says it’s “fun”, she prefers teaching “live” with the kids in the classroom. She also said that as teachers we need to be really flexible and that we are “never done learning”.
Denise Carlson-Nieto teaches English learners and supports regular classroom teachers. Denise will continue teaching via Zoom since students will be staying in their homeroom. She says teaching using Hapara has helped her grow and really stretched her. It has also been an eye-opening experience seeing family situations through the eyes of the camera. Many of the students work in challenging home environments, but they are doing their best to attend lessons and practice English. At her site students are rewarded through a PBIS(Positive Behavior Intervention Systems) program with Cub Cash that they can spend in a video catalogue. For her it has been frustrating not to sit with a kid and help them “over a hump”.
Another member, Theresa Foote shared that teaching online is interesting, challenging, and rewarding. It has taught her to “think outside the box” as she plans lessons using a variety of online tools. One plus is that she is able to focus on what is essential in her 7th grade math curriculum. Using Peardeck she can see students’ responses and check for understanding. Like our other teachers, Theresa says it is rewarding to see students showing up, participating, and learning. Some of Theresa’s students are out of the country in Mexico and Brazil and still participating in her class.
The Zoom meeting concluded with a business meeting, and a legislative presentation by Heather Nonaca, Chapter Legislative Rep.
Cooking a Chinese Noodle Bowl via Zoom
A virtual Chinese Cooking Class was Eta Mu’s fantastic February program. Debbie Mar, a member of Eta Mu, demonstrated how to make a Noodle Bowl, a quick and healthy dish. The informative and fun cooking class was attended by an Eta Mu member that was on vacation in Palm Springs! Several sisters prepared their own meal along with Debbie while other sisters sat back and enjoyed watching. Pat Elston and Theresa Foote who cooked along with Debbie, shared that their Noodle Bowl was delicious!
A virtual Chinese Cooking Class was Eta Mu’s fantastic February program. Debbie Mar, a member of Eta Mu, demonstrated how to make a Noodle Bowl, a quick and healthy dish. The informative and fun cooking class was attended by an Eta Mu member that was on vacation in Palm Springs! Several sisters prepared their own meal along with Debbie while other sisters sat back and enjoyed watching. Pat Elston and Theresa Foote who cooked along with Debbie, shared that their Noodle Bowl was delicious!
CHAPTER MEMBER SUSAN NEUFELD AWARDED STATE PUBLIC SERVICE AWARD
Susan Neufeld, member of Eta Mu Chapter since September 2005, was recognized by DKG California State for the 2017 Distinguished Public Service Award. This recognition is for an outstanding contribution to public service. Since 2004, Susan has been director of the Abundant Books for Children (ABC) Project, the Turlock affiliate of the Dolly Parton Imagination Library. The ABC project provides individual children with a book each month from birth to age five. Susan makes presentations to local Head Start programs, MOMs groups, and service organizations. Once each month, she presides at an information booth at the Turlock Famers’ Market. Each fall, Susan coordinates a reading event for area teachers to encourage their students to read; in October 2015, students in 41 participating classrooms read over 623,000 minutes in one month. Susan’s colleagues selected her as the 2015 Outstanding Community Service Professor. Susan is a full professor at CSU Stanislaus in the Department of Advance Studies, working with graduate students. She coordinates both the Reading Specialist Credential Program and the Master of Arts in Education, Curriculum and Instruction Programs. Susan teaches graduate courses and Educational Research. Susan was initiated in the Gamma Chapter in Delta, Missouri December 1997. Eta Mu appreciates Susan’s enthusiasm for reading and sharing her enthusiasm with future and current teachers, children, colleagues and families.
Susan was honored at the 2018 California State DKG Convention in Irvine.
Susan was honored at the 2018 California State DKG Convention in Irvine.
MYSTERY DINNER: "PASTA, PASSION, AND PISTOLS!"
It’s a good thing Eta Mu members are educators and not detectives, because a criminal got away with murder at our May gathering. While we sat around a table dining on a delicious catered Italian meal, our mystery facilitator assigned several of us to be suspects and one to be the murderer of a prominent restauranteur. The rest of us were family or friends of the suspects.
After getting details of the crime, we listened to the various suspects as they presented their alibis and proclaimed their innocence. There were accusations and plenty of clues, including some red herrings meant to sidetrack us from discovering the truth. Twists abounded, some alibis were supported by witnesses, and then it was time to solve the mystery.
Keep a close eye on Carol Vieira—not one of us guessed that her character was the guilty party! But all enjoyed the time to gather in fun and discovered what exceptional actresses we have in our chapter.
After getting details of the crime, we listened to the various suspects as they presented their alibis and proclaimed their innocence. There were accusations and plenty of clues, including some red herrings meant to sidetrack us from discovering the truth. Twists abounded, some alibis were supported by witnesses, and then it was time to solve the mystery.
Keep a close eye on Carol Vieira—not one of us guessed that her character was the guilty party! But all enjoyed the time to gather in fun and discovered what exceptional actresses we have in our chapter.