Ellis Elementary School Wins $20,000 Symetra Heroes in the Classroom ‘MVP Award’

BELLEVUE, Wash. & CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–#SymetraHeroes–Symetra, a national provider of employee benefits, annuities and life
insurance, awarded Ellis Elementary School with a $20,000 Symetra Heroes
in the Classroom® “MVP Award.” The education grant will fund “Colorín
Colorado: nuestro cuento ha comenzado
,” a two-pronged effort that
combines a culturally relevant after-school literacy program for
Spanish-speaking students and their families with a bilingual performing
artists series. The program’s goal is to promote intercultural
understanding and respect in the Round Lake Beach, Illinois, school and
larger community through an authentic exploration of Hispanic culture.


“Symetra is proud to act as a catalyst for innovative programs that
benefit community schools. ‘Colorín Colorado’ helps meet a
critical need in a positive, proactive way. We believe that by helping
English language learners thrive as members of our community, everyone
benefits,” said Tracy Wort, assistant director, Community Relations at
Symetra. “Together with the Chicago Bears, we applaud educators like the
Ellis Elementary team who are reaching out to underserved student
populations — they are the true MVPs.”

George McCaskey, chairman of the Chicago Bears, a Symetra Heroes in the
Classroom program partner, joined Wort for the presentation to Ellis
Elementary Principal Debra Holland and bilingual education teachers
Olivia Carreiro, Christine Forster, and Monica Silva-Alejo during a
special assembly on Nov. 7 at the Grades 1–5 school.

Since 2010, the Symetra Heroes in the Classroom program has honored
Chicago-area K-12 teachers for educational excellence during the regular
NFL season. Each of the 16 schools with a 2017 Symetra Heroes in the
Classroom honoree was eligible to submit an MVP Award grant proposal.
Nominated programs were evaluated on a range of criteria, including
innovation, feasibility and demonstrated need.

About “Colorín Colorado: nuestro cuento ha comenzado

Colorín Colorado” will be the first teacher-designed,
culturally driven after-school program Ellis Elementary has implemented
and will have two components. A literacy program will support students
who speak Spanish as a home language—nearly 43 percent of the school’s
population—by targeting the entire family, not just students. It will
teach Spanish-speaking families how they can support their children’s
literacy development, despite linguistic limitations. It will also model
how families can build their children’s awareness of their heritage,
culture, and language while being immersed in American culture. It will
complement Ellis’s existing literacy program in mainstream and bilingual
classrooms by providing authentic, engaging, culturally appropriate
Spanish literacy support to families. Biliteracy has been proven to have
a positive correlation with academic achievement.

In addition to the after-school literacy program, the MVP Award grant
will help bring bilingual performing artists to the school for
assemblies and family nights. Performers, such as storytellers, will
contribute to intercultural understanding and respect in the school and
larger community by providing all Ellis students and their families the
opportunity to learn about and more actively engage with Hispanic
cultures.

About Symetra Heroes in the Classroom®

Symetra has partnered with the Chicago Bears on the teacher-recognition
program since 2010, honoring more than 130 area teachers to date. The
company established Symetra Heroes in the Classroom® in its
Pacific Northwest hometown in 2006, has recognized 568 teachers
nationwide and contributed nearly $1 million to schools for classroom
books, supplies and in support of student programming.

Symetra Heroes in the Classroom are recognized in front of their
students and peers at surprise in-school presentations, and they receive
a $2,000 donation from Symetra for classroom books and supplies. In
addition, they receive tickets to a Bears home game and are acknowledged
during an on-field presentation at Soldier Field.

Teachers may be nominated by their principal, district staff, student or
student’s parent. The winners are selected based on their ability to
make a real difference in students’ lives; to go above and beyond in
their day-to-day responsibilities; and to help students build life
skills. More information about Symetra Heroes in the Classroom is
available at www.SymetraHeroes.com/Bears.

About Symetra

Symetra Financial Corporation is a diversified financial services
company based in Bellevue, Washington. In business since 1957, Symetra
provides employee benefits, annuities and life insurance through a
national network of benefit consultants, financial institutions, and
independent agents and advisors. For more information, visit www.symetra.com.

Contacts

Symetra
Diana McSweeney, 425-256-6167
diana.mcsweeney@symetra.com

Recibe gratis las noticias más importantes y más leídas diariamente en tu email

Este sitio está protegido por reCAPTCHA y Google Política de privacidad y Se aplican las Condiciones de servicio.

¡Muchas gracias!

Más sobre este tema
Contenido Patrocinado
Enlaces patrocinados por Outbrain