PARTNERSHIP WITH VOIGT ELEMENTARY
Most Christians know Jesus calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves. But we don't want to just know that; we want to do it.
With that in mind, we're thrilled to be beginning a long-term partnership with Voigt Elementary, whose campus is about a mile away from ours in Round Rock.
As a Title 1 school, Voigt doesn't have the resources many schools in our district have. So, wanting to live love and share resources (and knowing that elementary school is such a formative time for students), we're coming alongside Voigt to share the love of God with its students, teachers, and parents.
We've worked with Voigt Elementary's administration to develop plans for a multi-year relationship in which our church can rally to bless our community through Voigt in some practical ways. This will take various shapes over time, but for now, we're focused on four specific ways to help:
1. MENTOR A STUDENT
Volunteer to visit Voigt once a week for a half hour to mentor a student over the course of the school year. Nothing fancy or complicated--just spending quality time with a student who could use some positive interaction with an adult.
Want to do this? Fantastic; you can sign up for a one-hour training (and fill out a volunteer application) here. If you do this, please email Katy so we can get you on our list!
2. BE A LITERACY PARTNER
A child's ability to read at grade level by the third grade is one the single most powerful indicators of their potential success as an adult. As a literacy partner you'll read with students and listen to them read to you. It's a thirty minutes per week commitment (2 students, 15 minutes per student). If you're interested, fill out this form:
3. ADOPT A TEACHER WITH YOUR SMALL GROUP
We're pairing Voigt teachers with small groups who will commit to pray regularly for them and surprise/delight them once a month. This can make a huge difference for a teacher who's trying to make it through the year.
If your small group's interested in participating, Email Matt
Looking for some ideas to support your teacher? Download this card for your fridge.
4. JOIN THE PTA
PTA isn't just for parents and teachers. It's also for community members who want to serve the school. PTA membership is $7 and every dollar goes directly back into the school and helps with events and teacher appreciation efforts.
If you're interested in joining the PTA, click on this link to pay and fill out the form.
5. DELIVER A MICRO-GRANT CHECK
Check out these pics of some of the checks we've delivered!
This year we announced that we were setting aside $9,000 to create a micro-grant program for the teachers at Voigt to apply for help with classroom needs. They let us know what they're needing, and we pull from this fund to take care of it. This year we've already had the opportunity to fund new seating, new headphones, new planners, and much more.
If you'd like to help out by delivering a check, email Ken Kohl
6. JUMP IN AS NEEDS ARISE
Throughout the year our members will have the opportunity to volunteer at events and/or chip in financially to meet needs that arise. Last year we donated money to buy plants for the school's garden which had fallen into disrepair, provided volunteers for STEAM night (an opportunity to expose kids to cutting edge technology and design), and cooked 1,000 hamburgers for an end of school celebration.
