Pictured (from left) are Vivian Simmons, ESL Lead Teacher; Barb Thorson, Statesville Woman’s Club member; Jennifer DiFiore, ESL Lead Teacher; and Dana White, first vice president of the Statesville Woman’s Club.

Special to Iredell Free News

Members of the GFWC of NC Statesville Woman’s Club recently volunteered to put together Back to School Teacher Survival Kits for Iredell-Statesville Schools teachers with three or fewer years of experience. The kits were based on a poem for encouragement for the coming year and included such items candies, classroom supplies and a “100 GRAND” because they’re worth it.

The club also collected and donated snacks, books and school supplies to the I-SS English as a Second Language (ESL) Department. The snacks that were donated will be used for the ESL teachers meeting at the beginning of the school year. The books and school supplies will be used in their classrooms.

I-SS provides services for English learners in 35 schools in the district. The ESL Department offers English language, cultural and academic support in a learning environment that nurtures and encourages them to be their best. The ESL Department encourages student pride in cultural heritage and provides the cognitive and affective support to help them become contributing members of society.