VICKERY MEADOW MITZVAH PROJECTS

Fun Saturdays needs you!

We need Volunteers, Big & Small!
Fun Saturdays are held at the Jill Stone Elementary at Vickery Meadow.. Volunteers should be able to help out any age that attends. School age children can interact with Jill Stone Elementary students while their parents attend parenting classes. Activities include arts and crafts; play-dough; puzzles; board games; student led and organized athletic activities in the gym; play ground; and healthy snacks. A great way for students to earn Mitzvah and community service hours. Appropriate for school-aged children with their parents. Great for teens! It is a great activity for families with school-age children and older, provided that the children can take care of themselves, and/or help other children.

Hours: one Saturday afternoon per month 1:30-4:00 p.m.

Dates:
September 12
October 17
January 23
February 20
March 27
April 17
May 15

Time: The time commitment for volunteers is from 1:30-4 p.m.
(The children are in our care from 2-4 p.m. We use the first 30 minutes to set up and have a short D’var Torah)

Where: Jill Stone Elementary at Vickery Meadow | 6606 Ridgecrest Road (at Ridgecrest and Eastridge).

Contact: Karen Naseck at ksn90@aol.com or Rabbi Knight’s study at 214-706-0026

Background: Jill Stone Elementary School serves children within the Vickery Meadow Improvement District---a zip code area where many families live below the poverty line and many are immigrants from Mexico, Bosnia, Africa, and other places. These students need opportunities to speak and learn from English-speaking friends as many parents do not speak English at home. Since the area is full of apartments built for adults, there are very few safe places for the children to play.

The principal of the Jill Stone Elementary at Vickery Meadow holds parenting workshops at the school once a month. Fun Saturdays supports her efforts by providing child care, allowing the parents to attend the classes.

Purpose: The goals of the project are three-fold:
1) to provide a safe place for the neighborhood children to play;

2) to provide educational opportunities that help the children learn English and understand basic problem-solving skills through games; and

3) to provide an opportunity for our Jewish families to get to know a diverse population in a fun and positive way.

Jill Stone Elementary Parent Workshops
Help plan classes for these neighborhood parents while our Temple members play with their children. Each month, while we entertain children during our Fun Saturdays, we help the school by planning the parent workshops. Bring ideas, plan the calendar, help with Saturday dates, translate, coordinate speakers – all help is welcome.

Hours: one Saturday afternoon per month, 1:30-4:00 p.m.

Contact: Rabbi Knight’s study at 214-706-0026

Jill Stone Elementary Tutoring
Help a well deserving child get ahead in a school which is located close to Temple Emanu-El in distance, but is not in a wealthy neighborhood. Many of these families are at or below the poverty level. The principal has asked us for tutors to help 3rd-5th grade students in math and English during school hours or afterwards. These children are in crowded classrooms and occasionally need some one-on-one time to keep up. This is a great way for teenagers to get community service hours also. We want to help keep our adopted school in the Recognized category of DISD.

Hours: 1-2 hours/week or month between 8:30am-6:00pm

Contact: Rabbi Knight’s study at 214-706-0026

Reading Is Fundamental (“RIF”)
With financial assistance provided by the Priscilla R. Stern Memorial Funds, every student enrolled at Jill Stone Elementary School receives four books each year to keep as their very own. Volunteers are needed three times a year (from one-four hours each event) to help sort and distribute the books.

Hours: 1-4 hours at each event

Contact: Syl Benenson sylben@sbcglobal.net 972.62 0.2212

Jill Stone Annual Uniform and Coat Distribution
Help put a smile on the face of a Jill Stone Elementary student when you place a new uniform or a new coat into their hands. Make a difference in this community! In late August or early September, volunteers are needed to sort by size and then distribute school uniforms to all students at Jill Stone Elementary. This activity requires two days of joyful but intense work -- any time given is appreciated. When coats and jackets become available, volunteers will be notified of distribution dates. These unforms, coats and jackets are made possible by different funds from Temple Emanu-El.

Hours: variable in late August or early September and through the fall

Contact: Syl Benenson sylben@sbcglobal.net 972.620.2212

Fun Saturdays
Vickery Meadow Food Pantry