Silver Linings and Small Wins  As crazy as 2020 has been, Jameelah Wright was determined to find the silver linings, whether big or small. So, in March, when school buildings closed due to the Covid-19 Pandemic, and she and her team of teachers had to figure out a way to teach prekindergarten students virtually, she had an idea. Since her school (teachers and families) was already connected schoolwide on ClassDojo, it would be a seamless transition from in-person to virtual instruction. Crisis averted. As a student in Montclair State University’s Teacher Education and Teacher Development program, her classes also shifted to an online format, so not a single beat was missed in the pursuit of her doctoral degree.
That same month, Jameelah learned that she would be awarded a fellowship from the alumnae organization of her alma mater, Douglass College, Rutgers University. The Julia Baxter Bates Fellowship was named for the first Black student admitted into Douglass College, and Jameelah was truly humbled and honored to obtain it. Also, as result of receiving the fellowship, she was featured in the alumnae organization’s digital newsletter. A few weeks later, in April, she learned that she would also be awarded a scholarship from the Pi Lambda Theta honor society. Also in April, Jameelah received word that a proposal she submitted for a webinar for the Council of Professional Recognition (CDA Council) had been accepted, and that she would be facilitating Finding Our Voices: Awakening the Inner Advocates and Activists in ECE Teachers in August. In the midst of all the madness on top of a global pandemic, such as the racial unrest and political strife, it was the small wins that gave Jameelah hope and kept stress and anxiety at bay. Towards the end of summer, she learned that a book she had contributed to, The New Teacher’s Guide to Overcoming Common Challenges, would be out in October. In October Jameelah opened an email from the American Educational Research Association (AERA) informing her that her paper “Drawing Conclusions about Writing in Preschool” had been accepted for presentation at the 2021 national conference. And in November, Jameelah was notified by the university that she passed her qualifying exams and was officially a doctoral candidate! She is looking forward to more small wins and silver linings in the new year. August 2020
It's time to save dates to your caledar!Dear Alpha Sisters, We are sure this is the weirdest summer ever, and that those of you who are still teaching are really worried about what is going to happen in September. Hang in there! This is coming to you through MailChimp because DKG has changed its communication policy. Email from the society may not show the emails of all the recipients. This is an effort to cut down on the phishing and fraud that has been happening. Meanwhile, the Alpha Chapter Executive Committee has met and planned for the coming year. Whatever else happens, we have a plan that is flexible. We anticipate that at least the first two meetings will need to be virtual and you will find out more as we approach the dates. You have plenty of time to read the book for the first meeting - Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett. Bennett discusses her book in a video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/oRpIGuluEiQAlpha Chapter Meetings Thursday, October 8, 2020 4:30 p.m. social, 5:00 p.m. meeting Location: tbd Program: Book discussion on Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett Saturday, December 5, 2020 9:30 a.m. social, 10 meeting Location: tbd Program: Strong Women Series, Mary Harop (Salmon Fisher, off the coast of Alaska) Saturday, February 27, 2021 (weather date March 6, 2021) 9:30 a.m. social, 10 meeting Location: tbd Program: Helping All Women Find Their Strength, Bread For the Journey Program, Presenter: Rev. Cynthia Reynolds Thursday, May 6, 2021 4:30 p.m. social, 5:00 meeting, Location: tbd Program: Diversity in Education & Implicit Bias, Presenters Mrs. Ravenelle and Mrs. Akinwande The DKGNJ Executive Committee is also meeting and trying to plan for the coming year. You will soon be getting an email from DKGNJ asking you to vote on by-laws changes to make it possible to have state meetings virtually - chapters already have that capacity. Please, when you get it, VOTE! We will need over 50% of the state DKGNJ membership to vote in favor of the amendments in order to make this happen. Every vote counts. Meanwhile, stay healthy! Megan Connolly & Jan Paxton  Margaret E. Anzul, 91, passed away at home in Morristown, NJ on Friday, June 5, 2020.
Margaret lived in Madison for over forty years and Basking Ridge for 15 years before moving to Morristown. She received her Bachelor’s degree from Sacred Heart College in California, Masters from the University of California at Berkeley, and her Ph. D. in education at New York University. Margaret spent 38 years as a school librarian for the Madison Board of Education. She was predeceased by her husband Clement Anzul. Margaret is survived by her two sons Mark and John Anzul, and John’s wife Ann, her grandchildren, John L., Catherine, Faith, Mary and Laura Anzul and her sister Nell Rehm. In her retirement Margaret started a consulting business, and mentored over 35 clients through their doctoral degree programs. In addition, she was also the co-author of two textbooks on qualitative research, as well as numerous articles on this topic. Volunteer and community service were an important part of Margaret’s life. She was a founding member and Past President of the Friends of the Madison Educational Endowment Fund, and of the Friends of Paul Ziegler Fund. She was also a Past State President of Delta Kappa Gamma, and she was a member of the Committee on Teaching About the United Nations for over 15 years. Other interests included spending time with her family, collecting art, and listening to classical music. Her grandchildren said that qualities about Margaret that they will remember were her strength, her generosity, and her love of education. A Memorial Mass will be held at a later date at Assumption Church, 91 Maple Avenue, Morristown NJ. In lieu of flowers donations to the Rosary Shrine, 543 Springfield Avenue, Summit New Jersey 07901 would be appreciated. For more information or to send condolences please visit jacobhollefuneralhome.com Dear Alpha Sisters, What a wonderful meeting!! Thank you all who were able to attend. It was extra special to have Pat Marks, Joan Konetschny, and Judy Merz with us from far away. It was also wonderful to have Brittany and Jameelah with us as members for the first time. We're going to have one big induction ceremony when we finally get there. I am attaching two merged screenshot pictures. I think I got everyone somewhere, but there are duplicates of some people. It was so good to see you. For those of you who were unable to attend, we decided to send half of our donation to Red Hawk and half to NJ Food Bank. Emily reports that the Montclair campus has students who have no other place to go staying in the dorms and they are in need. Patti and Cathy also made plans for our Grant-in-aid winner to get her award and we will meet her sometime in the future somehow. So stay safe. Now, here is the information on Red Hawk from Emily. So, this is the Red Hawk Pantry website. It looks like they are in need for sure. Reminder of the list of things that are needed:
Red Hawk Pantry The Amazon link is here. There's a good amount of items on here. Ver mi lista en Amazon This is the donation link from the website: The Red Hawk Pantry Here's the tshirt link that people can buy if they want and the money goes to the RHP:follett Mailing address: The Red Hawk Pantry C/O Sonja Tillman Montclair State University 1 Normal Ave Student Center Rm 104 Montclair NJ 07043 We could potentially box things up and mail them over (I'm happy to do this). Again, I have an email out to Sonja. I will get back to you as soon as I hear from her. --emily Best wishes, Jan  December 1, 2019
Happy Snow Day to those of you who got one! I see from the list Kristin sent me that December 8 is a busy day for all of us. I look forward to seeing as many of you as can come to the meeting at 1 p,m, at Christ Church, Pompton Lakes. The book discussion will be lively, I'm sure! If you haven't already told Kristin you are coming (deadline 11/26, what deadline?) please let her know asap! [email protected] Those who are coming will, I am sure, bring books for Luisa's class and/or for Linda Leddy to save for Book Smiles. Those of you who are not coming to the meeting or would like to help out the Red Hawk Pantry, Emily has received the following information.Donate to the Red Hawk Pantry!Since it opened on April 18, 2016, The Red Hawk Pantry has assisted thousands of Montclair State University students who struggle with food insecurities. You can help support those students in need by donating directly to the pantry. Ways You Can DonateOnline GiftYou can make your gift online. Please select "Red Hawk Pantry" on the donation form. To donate goods, you can bring your donation to the Center for Student Involvement in the Montclair State University Student Center, 1st floor or you can drop off items at the Information Desk on the 2nd floor of the Student Center. There is also a t-shirt available for purchase at the University Bookstore! For every shirt sold, the pantry receives $5.00. Amazon Wish ListYou also can choose from our Amazon Wish List. Once you have chosen items be sure to request they be delivered to the following address: The Red Hawk Pantry C/O Sonja Tillman Montclair State University 1 Normal Ave Student Center Rm 104 Montclair NJ 07043 Learn MoreVisit the Red Hawk Pantry website. Looking forward to seeing many of you next Sunday, Jan DKG Alpha Zeta State’s President, Ingrid Williams, has initiated a president’s project for the 2019-2020 year. “For the Love of Books” Book Drive will commence this year and all chapters will be collecting new and gently used pre-school through grade 12 books to be redistributed throughout the state of New Jersey.
I have spoken to the state chair of this project, Susan Murphy, and she has indicated that the books we collect can go to any worthy recipients. I told her about the books we collect for the school in Paterson and she said this is perfect. Susan wants each member to be responsible for donating 25 books and I have the spreadsheet she distributed for me to keep track of how many books each member donates. Since the books we collect for Paterson are to be grade 4 or younger, if anyone has books for grades 5 - 12 that are new, gently used or in like-new condition I will collect them and keep them in my garage until I have collected 350 and then I will contact Book Smiles to pick them up and take them to their distribution center. Some good sources of books other than buying them on Amazon, Barnes and Noble or other retail bookstores is to buy them from used bookstores, church rummage sales, garage sales, etc. You can even ask people to donate them to you if they don’t sell them. Most of the time they are just happy to have someone take them off their hands. Many public libraries also sell or give away used children’s books. At our December meeting we are just collecting for Paterson. When you bring your books to the future meetings, please put a post-it note on the top book in your bag with the number of books, your name and if the books are for Paterson or Book Smiles. I will take the books for Book Smiles. Also, please email me the number of books you bring and if they are for Paterson or Book Smiles. Thank you all for your generosity and if you have any questions just email me at [email protected]. Sincerely, Linda Leddy Alpha Chapter Chair “For the Love of Books” |
