Congratulations to Terry Dougherty.  Terry has won 2 Awards.  The first, presented by Ret. Col. Alan Smith (USMC), was the “Seven Seals” Award  from ESGR (Employer Support for the Guard and Reserves) and the second from the Great American Teach Off!  This is an award given by the GOOD Worldwide, LLC and University of Phoenix.

Three years ago,  Terry Dougherty began a free Military Child Tutoring program known as “They are  Heroes Too!”  As a military spouse for thirty years and as a mother, she understands the separation and transition  issues that these kids face. Ms. Dougherty has said she will use the $10,000 grant to construct a mobile technology lab for the purposes of connecting kids with deployed parents and enhancing reading, math and science skills.
Terry was being honored by her school and by local veteran organizations for her work when representatives from University of Phoenix and GOOD surprised her with the news that she was the Great American Teach-Off winner. In addition to being presented with a check for $10,000, Dougherty also learned she was invited to the White House for a special tour during the holiday season.

With her grant money, Dougherty hopes to continue serving students in military families. “I’m going to develop a mobile technology lab,” she says. “The National Guard uses one in Tennessee now and it includes laptops, iPads, and things like that so military children can communicate with their parents when they’re deployed.” When asked about her winning strategy, Dougherty admitted she was amazed at how many votes she received. “It was a community effort. It included the school community, the parents of my students, the military community, Facebook, everybody,” says Dougherty. “And I can’t thank everyone because I don’t know everyone who voted for me—it got to the point where it was totally out of my control.”

Here’s more press about Terry and what she does for military children in the area.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/communities/galloway/roland-rogers-teacher-terry-dougherty-helps-kids-from-military-families/article_6faf37c8-e759-565a-aa0a-1a525980cac8.html

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/news/top_three/galloway-township-teacher-honored-with-national-award-for-helping-children/article_0306f2d0-0b59-11e1-8a5a-001cc4c03286.html

http://www.nbc40.net/news/19789/video

Mr. Diaz gave his annual Veteran’s Day presentation to all the Kindergarten, 1st and 4th Grade students on November 9th, 2011.  He talked about some of the different veteran organizations he belongs to.  He shared stories of his time in the Navy from the time he entered the Navy and went to Boot Camp all the way to his last day in the Navy after serving onboard the U.S.S. Mississippi CGN-40, a nuclear guided missisle cruiser.  He also shared photos showing how he got interested in becoming a teacher when serving in the Navy.  In every place, Mr. Diaz was stationed, he either tutored students, read to kids at a public library or did his student teaching.

Below is a picture of Mr. Robert McCarty presenting to 5th Graders.  He shared his experiences in both the U.S. Marines and Air National Guard. Also presenting were Mr. Robert Ford (U.S. Marines) for 2nd & 6th Grades, Mr. Tom Dougherty (U.S. Coast Guard) for 3rd Grade.

Click Here to See Video of Lieutenant Diaz’s Hallway Display for Veteran’s Day

Roland Rogers Elementary School held a Walk-a-thon on Friday, October 21, 2011 and raised $1,926 for the Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation.

Every year, on the last Sunday in September, people from around the world gather for this memorial run to pay tribute to the memory of the heroic life and death of Firefighter Stephen Siller, his 342 FDNY brothers, first responders and all victims lost on 9/11.

This fundraiser will

•Help build HOMES for severely injured Servicemen and women

•Help Burn Centers across America heal our firefighters and burn victims

•Help bring hope to grieving Children.

The Foundation has established LET US DO GOOD PROGRAMS as a way to make a lasting and positive difference in the lives of others.  These programs, In the Line of Duty and In the Name of Love, bring hope to grieving children, and healing to firefighters and families of our military, who sacrifice life and limb in the line of duty by supporting the Weill-Cornell Burn Center and Burn Centers across America, and restores shattered lives by building homes for surviving quadriplegic servicemen returning from combat.

All Kindergarten through sixth grade students and staff were involved.  The Kindergarten will walked 1 mile.  The first and second grade students will walked
2 miles.  The third and fourth grades walked 3.5 miles.   Grades 5 & 6 walked 5 miles.

 Terry Dougherty named Great American Teach Off finalist needs community support to win $10,000 classroom grant

Hundreds of teachers nationwide have been nominated but only ten have been chosen finalists in the Great American Teach Off. The online community GOOD, and University of Phoenix have teamed up to host the contest, which will reward $10,000 to one talented teacher.

Terry Dougherty of Roland Rogers Elementary School is one of ten finalists vying for the grant. Starting Monday, October 3rd, people can go to www.good.is/gato  to vote for their favorite teacher. People can vote once a day. Each week, the lowest two vote-getters will be eliminated from the competition until one teacher is left. He or she will be declared the winner and receive a $10,000 classroom grant.

Three years ago she began the program Free Military Child Tutoring-They are Heroes Too! As a military spouse for thirty years and as a mother, she understands the separation and transition issues that these resilient children face and is making a difference by offering free tutoring services. Her success and positive impact at Roland Rogers Elementary School and in the community brings attention to the unique needs and sacrifices that the children of our military personnel endure for our country.

Please support Terry and vote every day!   To vote you have to register on the website.  Look at the top righthand side of the website to join and login.

 
FOX NEWS Philadelphia Interview:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrKCYqaHe_E
 
Blog article National Math and Science Initiative:
http://www.nationalmathandscience.org/blog/2011/10/13/military-spouse-running-rotary-teaching-grant

Best selling author Tamara Monosoff’s article
http://www.mominventors.com/2011/10/17/military-momteacher-who-is-making-a-difference-in-the-classroom/

Interview:
http://galloway.patch.com/articles/galloway-teacher-advances-to-the-second-round-of-great-american-teach-off
 
 NBC 40 interview:
www.nbc40.net/news/19382

Military Spouse Magazine:|
http://www.milspouse.com/blog.aspx?id=23381&blogid=153375

Interview:
http://www.shorenewstoday.com/snt/news/index.php/galloway-twp/galloway-twp-general-news/17110-galloway-teacher-one-of-10-finalists-in-great-american-teach-off.html
 

 An eBoard acts like an on-line cork board where teachers can post information for students and parents. Postings show up as sticky notes, which can be opened by clicking on the note title.

  Click Here for the Roland Rogers Email/eBoard Listing

Students at Roland Rogers are going onboard the ASK Train for the NJ ASK Tests.  They WILL ROCK IT ALL WEEK LONG.  They WILL ROCK IT indeed!

A Pep Rally was held in the afternoon on Thursday, April 28th to help take off the edge of the state testing for Grades 3-6 in the upcoming two weeks.  The event also included puppet shows and video performances by students. 

3rd & 4th Grade Presentation with Mr. Diaz (Short Version)

ASK Train Lyrics sung to the tune of Love Train by the O’Jays

Refrain:
Students at Roland,
Join in
On the ASK Train – ASK Train

The next stop that we make will be easy
Tell all the kids in Grades….
3  thru 6

Don’t you know that it’s time
to get onboard.
And let this train keep on
riding……riding on through

Refrain

3rd & 4th Grade Presentation with Mr. Diaz (Full Version)
Crazy Train, Somewhere Over the Rainbow, Wake Me Up Before You Go Go, Peanut Butter Jelly Time, Love ASK Train, C’Mon Ride the Train N’ Ride It

5th Grade Presentation

6th Grade Presentation

 Click Here >>>>To See Videos of the Roland Rogers 2010 ASK Pep Rally

April is the Month of the Military Child so each year Ms. Dougherty has a luncheon for them in thrid grade.   She hopes to expand for all children next year.

Month of the Military Child gives the nation the opportunity to recognize the character, strength and sacrifices of America’s military children as well as the role they play in the armed forces community. Today, there are 1.7 million American children and youth under 18-years-old with a parent serving in the military and approximately 900,000 children and youth with one or both parents deployed multiple times

Scroll Down to See All 3 Videos

Ready for the Test I Am

Eye of the Tiger – Roland Rogers -Home of the Tigers

EYE OF THE TIGER- Roland Rogers Pep Song
Music by Survivor
Adapted from Eye of the Tiger © 1981 Frank Sullivan & Jim Peterik
Popularized by Survivor in 1982.  Adapted by  Jose’ Diaz and Marion McDonough

Risin’ up, back on my feet
Got dressed up, ate my breakfast
Went to school, now I’m back in my class
Just a kid with a will to succeed

So many times, we learn in class.
Study hard and do your best
Don’t lose your grip on any tests ahead.
You just try and you’ll do Alright.

Chorus:

It’s the eye of the tiger, it’s the thrill of the fight
Risin’ up to the challenge of our rival
And the last known survivor stalks his prey in the night
And he’s watchin’ us all in the eye of the tiger

Day to Day, At Roland Rogers
Workin’ hard, staying focused
Building a Better World, One Student at a Time.
For we try to reach high, ever higher.

Chorus

Risin’ up, straight to the top
Have the guts, got the glory
Went the distance, now I’m not gonna stop
Just a kid with a will to succeed

Chorus

The eye of the tiger
Roland Rogers Home of Tigers

I Gotta Feeling – By the Black Eyed Teachers