Education Focus

Co-Chairs:  Cathy Orosz & Audra Kelley

Our reading program, K.1.2.3... Let’s Read, Indeed! helps students with reading and literacy.
Our goal is to instill a love of reading in young students – from Kindergarten through 3rd grade. We encourage children in our Meek Elementary School to improve their reading habits, their reading skills and to benefit from a focused effort by dedicated AWC members.

Last year our volunteers assisted the Meek Elementary teachers by spending one hour each week on reading activities in the classroom.
If you feel led to join us in this effort, please volunteer to help our students love to read.

Co-Chairs:  Laurie Lee & Johnna Bailey

From www.ImaginationLibrary.com/news

“Since launching in 1995, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library has become the preeminent early childhood book-gifting program in the world. It is the flagship program of The Dollywood Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Imagination Library mails more than 2 million high-quality, age-appropriate books each month to enrolled children from birth to age five. (US, Canada, UK, Australia, Rep of Ireland)

Dolly envisioned creating a lifelong love of reading and inspiring children to dream more, learn more, care more and be more.

The impact of the program has been widely researched and results suggest positive increases in key early childhood literacy metrics.”

The Arley Women’s Club will collaborate with the United Way and other area non-profits to support this local initiative!

Co-Chairs:  Dorenda Doyle

New initiatives are planned to help students with reading and mentoring under the newly formed K.1.2.3... Let’s Read, Indeed!

“Storytelling fosters emergent literacy skills, including comprehension.”

Research further shows that oral language interactions can support early reading and are often the basis for children’s early writing.

Sign up to help with the interactive reading hour program. Assist the young students as they visit the library or classroom for an exciting tale. Or, be a Storyteller – costume provided!

‘Storytelling with a Flair’ will be presented to Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd graders.

Chairperson:  Pam Lattimore & Carol Davis
   

The Scholarship Program started with one $1,000 award in 2007. 

The scholarships are based primarily on service, a reflection of the mission of the

Arley Women’s Club. It has evolved to include Dual Enrollment scholarships, for

advanced college placement courses.

The students are determined to put this money to good use in preparing for their future careers and hopefully will someday invest back into the Arley Community.

This committee meets with AWC Board and is responsible for revising the student packets, presenting the program to seniors in the beginning of the school year, reviewing and selecting most qualified recipients, and presenting the awards at graduation in May.

Chairperson: Laurie Moore 

The Library Committee assists with creative community programs and adult outreach to encourage the use of the library, increase patronage, funding for books and media, and improvements for the library. 

The photo is from a presentation by author Phyllis Biffle Elmore of QUILT of SOULS: A MEMOIR, held on Tuesday, May 23, 2023, in cooperation with the Arley Library and Arley Women's Club.

It is one of many programs offered as an outreach to the community.

Co-Chairs: Sue Grogan & Anne Knowlton 

The AWC liaison for Meek Elementary School is Anne Knowlton. The AWC liaison for Meek High School is Sue Grogan. 

These dedicated professionals spend much time volunteering and working with the schools:

Meeting with school Principals to determine how we can help with priorities and understand funding needs i.e., AWC Charitable Giving sessions (2x per year).

And identifying other opportunities to help our schools and students flourish year-round.

Co-Chairs: Brittany Bailes & Becky Thomas

This Committee is responsible for planning and participation with Teacher & Staff Appreciation days and other activities to provide support to the schools. A celebratory “Literacy” lunch is also being planned.