Greetings Brethren, family, and friends of Lodge 542! Last month, we had the honor of welcoming the Principal of Coldwater Elementary School, Cynthia Braley, to our Stated Meeting Dinner. Our Lodge has partnered with Cynthia for over 10 years in a literacy program for elementary school kids in the neighborhood.
This reading program started in 2011. Worshipful Armen Mardirousi – the Master of the Lodge that year – and Worshipful Kusaladhamma partnered with Cynthia, who was a reading coach at Lakershim Elementary at the time. Together, they provided books to the children, held essay contests, and sent Brethren to school to help read to the children. When Cynthia received a promotion to Principal at Coldwater Elementary, the program followed her to that school.
Currently, we support Coldwater Canyon Elementary with donations allowing them to purchase three books for each child. Our efforts have demonstrated a direct impact on the children’s testing for reading comprehension – which provides them with a more competitive advantage for their academic and professional futures. Every year, Cynthia asks her teachers to have the children write thank you letters that include illustrations from the books they read or of them enjoying their books.
Here is a showcase of the essays of all these motivated readers in PDF form. I hope you enjoy them as much as I did! Where possible, I included the class names and room numbers, but not all had labels.
- https://lodge542.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Mrs-Prezas-4th-Grade.pdf
- https://lodge542.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Ms-Nietos-Class.pdf
- https://lodge542.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Pre-K.pdf
- https://lodge542.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Room-04.pdf
- https://lodge542.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Room-06.pdf
- https://lodge542.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Room-15.pdf
- https://lodge542.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Room-23-3rd-Grade.pdf
- https://lodge542.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Room-32.pdf
- https://lodge542.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Room-35-Ms-King.pdf
- https://lodge542.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Untitled-01.pdf
- https://lodge542.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Untitled-02.pdf
- https://lodge542.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Untitled-03.pdf
- https://lodge542.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Untitled-04.pdf
- https://lodge542.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Untitled-05.pdf
- https://lodge542.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Untitled-06.pdf
- https://lodge542.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Untitled-07.pdf
- https://lodge542.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Untitled-08.pdf
- https://lodge542.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Untitled-09.pdf
- https://lodge542.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Untitled-10.pdf
On July 21st, we are conferring the Master Mason degree upon Troy Newham. Again, I encourage all Master Masons to attend and show support for our Brother as he attains the highest degree of Masonry in our Lodge. It will be a night to remember, and I hope to see you there!
Until next time, I hope you’re all doing well and continue to do so. Please reach out if there is ever anything we can do to help.