Delta Research and Educational Foundation

[Ms Public Service]

Sorors,

The website address to dref is http://deltafoundation.net.

[Ms Public Service]

SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION
UNVEILING AT THE 2004 NATIONAL CONVENTION
of
DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY, INC.

JULY 24, 2004

http://www.deltafoundation.net/zderf_art.htm


Dear Sorors:



Delta Research and Educational Foundation is pleased to present to Sorors of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. two beautiful sculptures, “Delta Heart” and “Delta Maiden”. The artist who created the magnificent pieces is very special to us; she is Honorary Member, Tina Allen who is internationally acclaimed for her sculpture. You have the opportunity, before and during the 47th National Convention to acquire one or both sculptures. Every piece is an original that will be made just for you when you place your order. Each piece will be numbered and signed by Artist Tina Allen. Instructions for ordering can be viewed by clicking "Ordering Form." Fifty percent (50%) of the total sale of the sculptures will benefit Delta Research and Educational Foundation and the Center for Research on African American Women. With this funding, the Center will launch in 2004-2005 research and educational awareness programs on the critical health issues affecting African-American Women, focusing initially on HIV/AIDS.


It is our hope that 222 Deltas will be the proud collectors of “Delta Heart and/or Delta Maiden”, limited to 111 of each of the sculptures. You may wish to act before the Convention to assure your opportunity to have one of these special works of art.


Mona H. Bailey

President

Delta Research and Educational Foundation

[Ms Public Service]

Keeping the Connection: Building on the Past – Focusing on the Future has been Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s mantra for the past few years. At the Science and Everyday Experiences (SEE) Project we are building on past activities while focusing on a new SEE initiative, Parent Education. The SEE Leaders are moving forward to learn about the SEE Parent Education Component so they can assist chapters of Delta Sigma Theta and community leaders in implementing the SEE informal education activity that supports parental involvement.

Parents are an absolutely vital part of the educational process and experiences of their children. Schools will improve when parents become more involved in their children's education. Research is confirming the importance of the involvement of parents in their child's education. Anne Henderson published a report, The Family Is Critical to Student Achievement, in which she said:

The evidence is now beyond dispute. When schools work together with families to support learning, children tend to succeed not just in school but throughout life. In fact, the most accurate predictor of a student's achievement in school is not income or social status, but the extent to which that student's family is able to:

create a home environment that encourages learning,
express high (but not unrealistic) expectations for their children's achievement and future careers,
become involved in their children's education at school and in the community.
When schools support families to develop these three conditions, children from low-income families and diverse cultural backgrounds approach the grades and test scores expected for middle-class children.

The Delta SEE Parent Educator component is built upon SEE activities to develop a training module that will assist parents and caregivers with the informal science education of the youth in their family sphere. It helps parents know how to give positive support and encouragement while being involved in the child’s exploration of mathematics and science.

Contact the SEE Leaders in your area for information on implementing Science and Everyday Experiences with youth in your family.

[Ms Public Service]

Partners & Collaborators: Delta Research and Educational Foundation (DREF), Delta Sigma Theta (DST) Sorority and the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) joined forces in late 1999 to bring together the strengths of each organization to the Science and Everyday Experiences (SEE) Project. We build upon the tax favored status of DREF, the wide reach of the over 900 chapters of DST and the sustained history and knowledge of AAAS in the science arena to forge the partnership for the SEE initiative.

This model of partnering and collaboration is one for all SEE Leaders to follow, to extend the reach of SEE. It can indeed extend the impact of informal science education through leveraging the respective competencies of each of the collaborators. SEE has used the network of chapters from Okinawa to the Virgin Islands and many of the continental US states in between to implement an informal education initiative to improve mathematic and science skills of the youth we have touched. Dissemination of vital information has been made easy through the Delta network.

At the local level, consider the organizations in your communities where SEE informal education activity can be conducted. Join forces with other community groups that have similar resources and educational focus. When selecting an effective partner look at these attributes:

Educational entities (science centers and museums, as well as daycare, preschool, and after-school programs)
Businesses (mentoring programs, Big Brothers, Big Sisters)
Healthcare organizations
Community-based organizations (boys and girls clubs, fraternities and sororities)
Faith-based (church bazaars, picnics)
The possibilities are endless. Seek out committed leaders with similar goals and values with the available resources to make SEE more than just a title but a way of life.

[Ms Public Service]

Project SEE — Based on Everyday Items
But Not an Everyday Occurrence!

During a Principal Investigators conference conducted by the National Science Foundation (NSF) at AAAS in late 2004, the SEE staff met other organizations doing informal science projects funded by NSF. During the course of the meeting, we realized the awesome responsibility and the confidence placed in Delta Sigma Theta in partnership with AAAS and the Delta Research & Educational Foundation. Delta is the only organization of its kind to be funded by NSF of the 68 informal science education programs. In addition Project SEE received the eighth largest monetary award ($1.7M) of the 68 organizations. These organizations include the University of Arizona, University of Massachusetts, Cornell University and the Minnesota Children’s Museum.

The work that Project SEE does is based upon everyday items. However, it is clear that SEE is not an everyday occurrence. As we have passed the three year milestone in this unusual journey, it is also clear that the Project needs your ideas, skills and commitment as SEE Leaders. But more importantly, the African American children and parents we are trying to reach across the country and internationally need our assurance of delivering on our promise to:

Help families become creators and informed users of science,
Change the family culture in which science is deemed important and worthy of participation,
Deliver inquiry-based informal science learning to families who are not well served.
In the remaining 18 months of Project SEE funding, let’s use our SEE Checklist to make this unusual occurrence in the field of informal science a phenomenal success by some phenomenal women!

Checklist:


Conduct SEE community events,
Conduct SEE training sessions at chapter, regional, state or cluster meetings,
Conduct Parent Educator training,
Attend Regional meetings to provide SEE updates and conduct training or workshops,
Maintain SEE training and community events statistics,
Input on-line Event Reflection Form for each event,
Identify and partner with community/parent groups (HSAs, PTAs, Community Training Centers, etc.), and
Establish a monthly SEE Alert newsletter for chapters.



http://www.deltasee.org/index.htm

[Ms Public Service]

Message from the SEE Project Director


Many of you may remember an exercise that teachers use to engage students when they return from summer break. It is a writing activity designed to get students back into the school's learning process while focusing on the fond, fun memories they may have of their summer vacations. Teachers know that, over the summer, students lose some of the information they learned during their past school year, so they begin to re-engage the students by focusing on their recent summer activities.

Wouldn’t it be great if children around the country would write about the Science & Everyday Experiences (SEE) projects they were involved in during their summer vacation? As SEE stakeholders, how can we have that impact on the youth in our communities? What enrichment and child development activities can we sponsor through our churches and community organizations? Here is some food for thought as summer begins for the children in your community: SEE can make an enriching summer experience! It can help parents and caregivers plan activities to help children retain and obtain new information over the vacation.

The At Home With Math kit from TERC, Inc., is a wonderful resource for use at home and on vacation with younger students, aged 5 -11. It has a mathematics activity, "When Should We Leave?" that helps the student compute the time it will take to drive from home to a vacation location. Use this and other games in the kit to engage children in fun learning activities. Visit the TERC website and download the activities for your summer or year-round use.

Use your home or library computer and go to other child-friendly websites such as the Learning Enrichment section of About.com. Sites such as these provide ideas for engaging the mind, body, and soul of the children in your charge. They present ideas for improving writing skills, learning math at home, preparing for science fairs and using parent-child activities to help ward off boredom while making the summer fun.

Here are some other suggestions for summer activities and for reinforcing the classroom learning experience:

Vacation Bible School SEE activities,
Visits to an IMAX Theatre,
Visits to science museums,
Summer carnivals at churches and other venues,
Nature walks, and
SEE activities at your family reunion.
The list can go on and on. The message is to turn off the television and turn on the sense of adventure and learning for the young person in your charge. The fun learning activities you create for children in the summer may encourage the budding of a new scientist in the family.

[Ms Public Service]

Message from the SEE Project Director


The name Katrina will be remembered for years to come. It is not the name of the girl next door, but the name of the most destructive hurricane to hit the United States ever. It has impacted many families in the southern region of the United States and beyond. The Project SEE family, Delta Sigma Theta Sorority members and AAAS staff have all been touched both directly and tangentially by Katrina. We hope these persons are getting their lives back to normal as much as possible. But by all estimates, Katrina’s effect will be felt for years.

Never in our history have we seen an entire city destroyed. In years to come, the city of New Orleans, the Gulfport area of Mississippi and locations in Alabama will be reconstructing the communities destroyed by the wind and storm surges. This reconstruction will become a virtual laboratory for many professions. Professionals of all disciplines will be needed to bring the affected areas back to their past vibrancy. However, before rebuilding starts, a massive clean-up effort is taking place after an assessment is made of every structure that remains standing and the infrastructure that supports it.

This rebuilding effort will require professionals in disciplines such as engineering, medicine, and architecture. All of these professionals, including law enforcement, must make sure the areas are safe and inhabitable. Construction personnel, computer scientists, chemical and mechanical engineers are just a few professionals that come to mind that are needed to bring the area back to its glorious past. In addition, medical examiners and forensic scientists assist in helping families identify their loved ones who lost their lives in the fury of Katrina.

Let’s hope that in years to come, the concepts of science, technology, engineering and mathematics introduced by Project SEE combined with the emotional impact of Hurricane Katrina will result in the desire of children to use their talent and seek careers in medicine, technology and mathematics to better the human condition. In this year, terms such as tsunami, category 5 hurricanes, storm surges, levees, sea level and many others have become a part of our everyday language. Show the children and make the connection that the things shared in our everyday science laboratory can lead to careers that impact and sustain our future wellbeing.

[Ms Public Service]

Kudos to my Southwest region sorors for having 79.7 percent of sorors trained in Delta SEE Project.

[Ms Public Service]

Lessons to Be Learned

Did you know that according to the 2000 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), also known as the Nation’s Report Card, the average math scores of students in grades 4, 8, and 12 have improved only slightly?

Did you know that 82 percent of our nation's 12th graders performed below the proficient level on the 2000 NAEP science test? For African-American students, these numbers, although improving, are more dismal. In the 2005 NAEP, mathematics assessment showed a national average score of 237 (on a 0-500 scale), while African-American students averaged 220.

Did you know that Delta SEE (Science & Everyday Experiences) has trained members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., in over 556 chapters across the United States, Germany, Korea, Japan, the Virgin Islands, and Jamaica to do math, science and technology activities with African-American school children?

Did you know that Delta SEE has designed a versatile educational tool that combines mathematics, science, and technology facts as well as providing biographical information on African-American scientists to assist parents and caregivers in engaging their children in learning while playing? It is our Did You Know playing cards.

Since 2003, Delta SEE has engaged 12,731 girls and 5,864 boys in a range of math, science, and technology-related activities in an effort to improve mathematics and science literacy in an informal science education (ISE) environment. ISE-related activities include trips to science museums, hands-on activities at community events, after-school programs and tutoring, and in the Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy. Delta SEE has also reached 22,603 women and 3,462 men who are parents and caregivers of African-American children.

Use the Did You Know playing cards with the SEE fractions hands-on activity. The cards are fun for all ages. Read the facts to the younger children and let the older ones explore the facts on their own during a game of War. Do they still play War with cards as I did as a child? If not, maybe we should introduce them to a much less violent form of War and there can be some lessons learned.



http://www.deltasee.org/aboutus/index.htm

[CrimsonTide4]

Originally posted by Ms Public Service
Since 2003, Delta SEE has engaged 12,731 girls and 5,864 boys in a range of math, science, and technology-related activities in an effort to improve mathematics and science literacy in an informal science education (ISE) environment. ISE-related activities include trips to science museums, hands-on activities at community events, after-school programs and tutoring, and in the Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy. Delta SEE has also reached 22,603 women and 3,462 men who are parents and caregivers of African-American children.

WOW!! That is an impressive number. Of all that you posted, this stood out to me the most.

[Ms Public Service]

Kudus to Sorors for taking this service initiative to new levels.

Delta See: Poster and Essay Contest

Poster Contest Entrants:

Create a poster showing how you use science, technology, engineering and math in any activity that you love to do!

Essay Contest Entrants:

Tell how science and math will help you reach your career goal!


Ages 10 – 14 – Poster Contest

Ages 15 – 18 – Essay Contest

- 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes for each contest by region. Cash prizes!!!

- Regional winners will compete nationally for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Cash prizes!!!

- Every student that submits a complete application will receive a prize while supplies last.


Deadlines for entries: March 24, 2006

For more information send email to: deltasee@deltafoundation.net

www.deltasee.org

http://www.deltasee.org/images/Contest_announcement.pdf

http://www.deltasee.org/images/SEE_C...pplication.pdf

[Ms Public Service]

Message from the SEE Project Director


Parent With A Purpose

Summer 2006 is over and the children are heading back to school. As the new school year begins for the students, let us as parents and parent educators commit to a greater involvement in the educational success of the children in our sphere of influence.

During the lazy days of summer, the academic lessons of the school year take a backseat to fun-filled activities like picnics in the parks, days at the beach, family vacations, and a long list of recreational outings. Math formulae and scientific theories are forgotten in the heat of summertime fun. As parent educators we must help our children focus on discovering and reconnecting to lessons learned in the past.

How can we parent with a purpose to help our students achieve higher levels this academic year? We can partner with the teachers and school to play a greater role in the success of the student. Here are our "Top Ten Thoughts" to help bring out the best in your child this school year.

1. Start the day with a healthy breakfast and end with a good night's sleep;
2. Meet with the teacher early in the school year to understand the expectations for each class;
3. Provide stability (order in the home, safety, security, etc.);
4. Provide a conducive environment for study and homework (cleanliness, clutter-free and well-lit study space);
5. Encourage completion of homework early in the evening, before watching television and/or before fatigues sets in;
6. Check homework for errors and completeness;
7. Read aloud regularly to your elementary school child;
8. Provide access to resources and reference materials. Utilize safe on-line websites that can reinforce classroom objectives. Check a new resource -- Mixing in Math, http://mixinginmath.terc.edu/ or similar sites for help. The resources on DELTASEE.ORG are informal science education activities that also reinforce classroom work.
9. Be an active partner with your child's school: attend Home and School Association meetings, volunteer in your child's classroom or at a school special event, and participate in back to school nights and other academic meetings throughout the school year.
10. Be a role model and head cheerleader for your child, emphasizing constantly that you believe in them and assuring them that they are capable of achieving all that their hearts desire and their minds aspire.
In closing, please be reminded that the word "parent" is indeed more than a noun; the word is most effective when it serves as a verb! A verb reflects the action being taken. As you “Parent With A Purpose,” may your actions direct your child in having a great academic year and encourage them to SEE life as Science& Everyday Experiences.

http://www.deltasee.org/aboutus/index.htm

[Ms Public Service]

Delta Science and Everyday Experiences

Poster and Essay Contest

Contest Theme:

Imagination 2020: Integrating Science, mathematics, and Technology into Your Future Career


Grades 5 – 8 Poster Contest
Grades 9 – 12 Essay Contest



There will be 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place prizes for each GRADE. The GRADE winners will then complete for the NATIONAL prizes for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place.

$1,000 Prize for 1st Place National Winner

Every student that submits a complete application and poster or essay will receive a prize, while supplies last!

Deadline for entries: November 1, 2006

For more information send e-mail to
deltasee@deltafoundation.net

www.deltasee.org

[Ms Public Service]

Sorors,

Delta Research and Educational Foundation (DREF) website has been updated. See the link below.

http://www.drefnet.org/site/c.drKNI3....BD4E/Home.htm

[Ms Public Service]

Being Black and Blue:
The Impact of Intimate Partner Abuse on Black Women


Date: 02/16/07

Location:
The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation The Barbara Jordan Conference Center, 1330 G Street, NW
Washington DC

Sponsored by: Delta Research and Educational Foundation/ The Center for Research on African American Women Contact

Summary:
This event will address all issues concerning domestic violence and black women by their inmate partners, specifically focusing on the long term effects of the physical and mental abuse.

Note:
Time: 9:00 am - 4:00 pm *****This event is FREE and open to the public. Because seating is limited, participants must RSVP by February 9th.

For more information, contact:

Renee Spraggins
202-347-1337, Ext. 228
E-mail: RSpraggins@deltafoundation.net

http://www.4woman.gov/calendar/detail.cfm?ID=2617