Tag: Volunteer

Volunteer opportunities with AART

Meet the Teachers: Christa Roan

Our teachers truly put the “heart” in AART. Each of our teachers is a crucial team member who empowers students and parents to find the magic in learning.

Meet Christa, a valued member of our teaching staff.

Growing up, Christa thought she wanted to be a middle school teacher. Positive school memories helped form this dream, starting with her kindergarten teacher, Mrs. Fisher. Christa remembers how her teacher would hug her and that she “could feel how loving and wonderful she was.”

This idea stuck with her until college, when she decided to study criminal justice. She graduated from McNeese State University and began working in security. She then served as a police officer for seven years.

Christa’s retirement from law enforcement after having her daughter marked the beginning of her teaching journey. “I enjoyed watching the lightbulb moments when she would become aware or learn something new,” says Christa, remembering fond memories with her daughter. She would help when needed at her daughter’s school, and before she knew it, she became a substitute teacher. Her family soon moved to Virginia, where one of her daughter’s teachers recommended she apply to teach at Truro Preschool and Kindergarten. Christa was hired and taught there for 13 years.

One day, Christa was minutes away from starting a weekend vacation with her family when she discovered All Ages Read Together. She truly believed in the organization’s mission to provide preschool to all children and claimed she was sold on applying for the program when she discovered that each child receives a weekly book to build their home library. When asked why she joined AART, Christa replied, “The best work in the world doesn’t feel like work. Teaching the children and watching them explore the classroom and wonder what will happen next is fun for me, and I hope for them as well.” 

While teaching her classes, Christa loves to dance with her students – “moving their bodies and stretching is important, and I like the smiles and laughter of children while we dance together.” Of course, Christa also loves to read with her class. Her favorite children’s book is “Let’s Share,” written by Jillian Harker, but she says she enjoys any book discussing sharing or good manners. 

Currently, she teaches two classes at the Herndon Neighborhood Resource Center facility and will soon lead a class in Centreville.

We appreciate Christa’s hard work as a champion for her students’ success and know that her kindness and dedication will positively impact them for many years to come.

 

10th Annual Tee Off for Children’s Literacy

10th Tee Off for Children's Literacy header

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN!!!

Join AART for the 10th Annual Tee Off for Children’s Literacy!
Date: Thursday, September 30th, 2021
Time: 9:00 am shotgun start
Price: $160

Your green fees are all-inclusive and include: 18 holes, cart rental, grab & go breakfast, bbq awards reception, and open bar (beer & wine)

  • Results and awards will be announced during the bbq award reception.
  • Sponsors that have tee greens will be able to choose the hole where their sign will appear (this is first come, first serve).
  • The return of the silent auction! We will have some great items to bid on like Caps tickets and a bourbon basket.

We hope you will join us! 

 

AART Partners with the Dulles Greenway in Family-Friendly Race

The Dulles Greenway is hosting its inaugural Run the Greenway Race on May 1, 2021. This family-friendly event provides a socially distant convening opportunity and fundraising vehicle for All Ages Read Together and other participating Loudoun County, Virginia organizations.

“The Dulles Greenway is committed to serving the Loudoun community and we are honored to directly support the positive contributions that our charity partners are making in our local community during this difficult time,” said TRIP II CEO Renée N. Hamilton. “We are excited to welcome the region’s runners and their families to the first annual Run the Greenway race and we are pleased to be able to offer our nonprofit partners a powerful fundraising platform that will help them advance their important work.”

AART has registered a growing team of runners and walkers to join our team! You can join us by going to http://bit.ly/jointeamaart!

“AART is absolutely thrilled to be invited to participate in this inaugural event,” said AART Executive Director, Michelle Sullivan. “100% of the donations raised will go directly to our summer classes in Loudoun County, which is truly the last chance for children entering kindergarten to be prepared and ready to succeed. We are looking forward to seeing everyone who is walking or running for Team AART!”

The Run the Greenway race will start and finish at the Dulles Greenway’s Mainline Toll Plaza. Runners and walkers can choose a 5K or 10K distance, there will also be an 800-meter Kids Fun Run and a virtual race option. Race participants will join their community in celebrating the Dulles Greenway’s 25th anniversary of connecting Loudoun County to the Washington Metropolitan region.

Whether you are a walker or runner, here in the DMV or virtual, you can support AART by joining our team https://bit.ly/jointeamaart.

Every registration includes a Run the Greenway race shirt and a fundraising page where runners can raise funds for the local charity of their choice. 

For more information about Run the Greenway, please visit https://bit.ly/jointeamaart or contact AART info at allagesreadtogether.org.

Calling all AART Superheroes!

As we begin the preparations for restarting our in-person classes, we are putting together a series of health protocols to help keep our teaching staff, volunteers, and students safe.

Everyone in the classroom will be required to wear a mask, which brings a new set of challenges for our young learners.

“Being able to see the mouth is critical for early learners” shared Michelle Sullivan, Executive Director. “They need to see the shape our lips make when we speak sounds so they know the shape to make when they are speaking. We have been on the hunt for a creative solution and found a mask that was originally designed for deaf and hard of hearing individuals, which has see-through plastic around the mouth!”

AART is reaching out to our community to see if you may be interested in helping us by either creating the masks (we will provide the pattern) or donating to the materials fund.

You will be helping the littlest members in your community continue their learning in a safe environment!

If you want to CREATE masks, you can visit: https://bit.ly/aartcreatemasks

If you want to DONATE to the mask materials fund, you can visit: https://bit.ly/aartmaskfund

Run the Greenway – Join Team AART!

The Dulles Greenway is hosting its inaugural Run the Greenway Race on May 1, 2021. This family-friendly event provides a socially distant convening opportunity and fundraising vehicle for All Ages Read Together and other participating Loudoun County, Virginia organizations.

“The Dulles Greenway is committed to serving the Loudoun community and we are honored to directly support the positive contributions that our charity partners are making in our local community during this difficult time,” said TRIP II CEO Renée N. Hamilton. “We are excited to welcome the region’s runners and their families to the first annual Run the Greenway race and we are pleased to be able to offer our nonprofit partners a powerful fundraising platform that will help them advance their important work.”

AART has registered a growing team of runners and walkers to join our team! You can join us by going to http://bit.ly/jointeamaart!

“AART is absolutely thrilled to be invited to participate in this inaugural event,” said AART Executive Director, Michelle Sullivan. “100% of the donations raised will go directly to our summer classes in Loudoun County, which is truly the last chance for children entering kindergarten to be prepared and ready to succeed. We are looking forward to seeing everyone who is walking or running for Team AART!”

The Run the Greenway race will start and finish at Dulles Greenway’s Mainline Toll Plaza. Runners and walkers can choose a 5K or 10K distance, there will also be an 800-meter Kids Fun Run and a virtual race option. Race participants will join their community in celebrating the Dulles Greenway’s 25th anniversary of connecting Loudoun County to the Washington Metropolitan region.

Whether you are a walker or runner, here in the DMV or virtual, you can support AART by joining our team https://bit.ly/jointeamaart.

Every registration includes a Run the Greenway race shirt and a fundraising page where runners can raise funds for the local charity of their choice.

For more information about Run the Greenway, please visit https://bit.ly/jointeamaart or contact AART info at allagesreadtogether.org.

AART 8th Annual Tee Off for Children’s Literacy

Please join us for our 8th annual golf tournament raising funds for our preschool programs.
Registration is open.
The tournament will again be held at Raspberry Falls Golf & Hunt Club, Thursday, May 9.
All food, drinks, and snacks are included with the registration green fee of $150.00.
You don’t have to be able to golf to participate. You can donate your time, sponsor a hole or green, donate a silent auction item, or goodie bag items.

Sponsorship Levels Flyer

Click to register