Trinity Cancer Center reaches out to area elementary students to educate them in visual and interactive ways about the long-term dangers of smoking.  Smoke Free That's Me is a program presented to 2nd and 4th graders by oncology-certified nurses.  Each presentation lasts about 50 minutes and includes an age-appropriate video, handout, and numerous interactive activities.  Educators are encouraged to call the Cancer Canter at (309) 779-5090 ext. 1 (nursing) or ext. 3 (Carolene) to schedule a visit.

• Friday October 5th from 10:00-11:30am
• Students have collected nearly $15,000 in pledge donations for new textbooks.
• mmediately following mass at St. Pius X Church (about 9:30am,) students will move to the school gym for a brief (15-20 minute) assembly.
• 5th grader Maggie Schaecher thought it a fitting day to present Fourth Grade Science Teacher Karen Lavell with a framed print
• of a May 2012 Quad City Times article highlighting her annual laboratory rat experiment which teaches the value of nutrition.
• Hy-Vee will provide a Hydration Station (water bottles) directly behind the store along 20th avenue, for the children as they walk.
• Grand prizes will be awarded to the top 3 families.
• Eighth grade students will lead the walk with Kindergarten & first grade bringing up the rear and walking an abbreviated route. The walk-a-thon will begin at approximately 10am and will commence with popsicles in the Farrell Hall parking lot. Please call me with questions & thank you for your partnership.

In early March 2011, Vernon and Loma Wegerer were among a group of twenty four on African Safari to Tanzania with Linda Meadors of Blue Horizon Travel. Upon arriving at the Kilimanjaro Airport, we were met by the Bushdrifters in their five land cruisers. The Bushdrifters is a locally owned company providing transportation and guided tours. We toured national parks, observing thousands of animals in their natural habitat.

The Bushdrifters took us to a grade school that they were building in Babati, Tanzania, approximately 300 km from Arusha. At that time the school had just walls, a roof, and wooden desks, but no teaching supplies. Since then, windows and doors have been added. Many small villages have no school at all.

Ann McConachie, a retired school teacher from Downers Grove, Illinois, was among the Safari group. Ann stayed on in Tanzania to teach English. The children in Babati can speak English but need help with sentence structure and writing. After three weeks, Ann returned to the U.S. with a desire to outfit the school with supplies. Supplies that we take for granted. Among those items are educational books, desks, chairs, teacher desks, world maps, supplies, paper, marker boards, notebooks, story books, educational games, and toys.

Vernon is working with Jordan Catholic School on a new building addition which includes new science, computer, and engineering labs outfitted with the best equipment available. Learning of the needs of the school in Babati, Jordan's administration offered to donate old, unused furniture being stored at the former Sacred Heart School, Rock Island.

On Friday August 26^th, a truck with be loaded with the furniture and sent to Hinsdale, Illinois. It will then be placed in a container and shipped to Arusha, where Bushdrifters will transport the contents to Babati School.

Ann plans to return to Africa in January, 2012, for four months to instruct teachers to be more effective in teaching the English language.

Members of the tour group have established a non-for-profit fund, "AMKA AFRIKA SCHOOL FOUNDATION". Donations will be used to help pay miscellaneous expenses for the school.