| Schools - Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Briefs: Halaby named arts educator of the year
by Miranda Simon
Betsy Halaby, program director of Art in Action and an Atherton resident, was named 2011 San Mateo County Arts Educator of the Year for Arts Education Development, said Art in Action spokesperson Torben Gronning.
The San Mateo County Board of Supervisors issued a resolution March 1 commending Ms. Halaby for her contribution to arts education in the county's schools.
Ms. Halaby joined Art in Action in 1987, five years after it was founded. AIA is a Menlo Park-based nonprofit that promotes visual arts education in schools, provides art curriculums, and trains local school teachers.
According to Mr. Gronning, Ms. Halaby has trained more than 10,000 teachers and parent volunteers in K-8 education. In turn, she has helped provide more than 23,000 local students with an art program each year, Mr. Gronning said.
Ms. Halaby also supervises the annual Art in Action Summer Art Show in San Mateo County public libraries and helps county schools with their annual spring art shows.
"Many teachers and parent volunteers ascribe their teaching success to Betsy's outstanding, knowledgeable, and friendly teaching of art history, art concepts, and art projects," said Judy Sleeth, executive director of Art in Action.
$100,000 grant for Meals on Wheels
Peninsula Volunteers Inc. has received an annual $100,000 grant from the Sequoia Healthcare District to help with the delivery of Meals on Wheels to homebound older adults.
Meals on Wheels delivers a hot meal a day five days a week, providing a nutritious, well-balanced meal, as well as face-to-face contact with a delivery person.
A total of $1.5 million in grants has been awarded this year to 27 non-healthcare agencies by the Sequoia Healthcare District as part of its Caring Community Grant program, said hospital spokesperson Bart Charlow.
Project Read
Project Read-Menlo Park announces spring training dates for adults who wish to volunteer as tutors. Session 1 takes place from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 10; session 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 14; and session 3, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 14. Volunteers must attend all three sessions.
No experience is necessary to volunteer, flexible hours may be arranged, and Project Read provides all necessary materials.
Visit projectreadmenlopark.org for more information.
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