Holy Cross Hall

520 S. Bennighof Ave. Evansville, IN 47714

Phone (812)402-6700
www.meoforkids.com
www.meoidol.com Volume 19, Issue 1
August 2016

Tech It Easy Makes Summer-Time Learning Fun

By Trisha Hannon Smith, Message assistant editor

Marian Educational Outreach sponsored
the third annual Tech it Easy summer
day camp on June 27-28. The goal of the
camp is to introduce students who benefit
from assistive technology to new accessible
programs in a fun atmosphere, which will
inspire students for success, educationally
and in life. This years camp, hosted by
MEO for students from grades 3-12, was
held in the Reitz Memorial High School
Media Center.
MEO Director Beverly Williamson organ-
izes the annual workshop with the assis-
tance of area teachers and technology spe-
cialists. Teachers and volunteers serve as
instructors for the sessions, taking care to
ensure that students are as active as possi-
ble in playing, creating and designing.
Using Tellagami, an app that allows users
to create quick videos with messaging,
counselors instantly engaged students as
the camp began. Students shared infor-
mation through their own video clips dis-
played on a large screen. Jamie Broeker,
special education teacher at Holy Spirit
School, stressed the importance of how
students could use this program, as well as
others such as PicCollage, Jotnot and
Students created a cartoon version of themselves, to
Wunderlist in the real world across devices. which they could add recorded messages and effects.
Sandy Stabenfeldt, PATINS (Promoting
Achievement through Technology and On June 28, Stabenfeldt held a parent
Instruction for all Students) Coordinator break-out session to share tips and tricks to
for Southwest Indiana, agrees with help students use tools not only in the
Broeker. The need for (devices and apps) classroom, but also to assist students as
is growing. Were getting the word out and they continue to learn at home. Helping
sharing what is available. parents become familiar with the apps in-
creases the students chance for success.
The PATINS Project is a statewide tech- The more students use the apps, the more
nical assistance network that connects local comfortable they will become and be less
education agencies to accessible materials, hesitant to use the tools to assist in their
assistive technology, professional develop- classwork.
ment and technical support through the
Indiana Department of Education.

Save the Date for the 2017 MEO SPONSORS TECH CONFERENCE
By Bart Burke

MEO Tri-State Idol!

Teachers from across the Diocese of Evansville gathered at Mater Dei High School in June 2016 for a summer
technology conference, sponsored by Marian Educational Outreach and the Catholic Schools Office. Two dy-
namic speakers impressed upon the audience, the importance of being a Lifelong Learner and the many bene-
fits of mobile technology. Speaker Travis Allen, a senior at Kennesaw State University, is the founder of iSchool
Initiative, and spoke on how teachers can become key influencers in social media. Teachers quickly began to

Saturday March 4th

explore Twitter, and had the opportunity to explore many educational articles and ideas through a series of hashtags and learned how to
share their discoveries with others in attendance at the workshop. He also spoke on several other areas in the field of education, and
stressed the importance of creating student leaders in and out of the classroom.

St. Marys Manor Cathy Giles, a longtime teacher, administrator, and coach for her teachers and students, shared her knowledge with those in attendance
about how to be an instructional leader in her school each and every day. Giles demonstrated how she shares her love of learning with her
students, and the importance of being a teacher, who challenges students to believe in themselves and be the best that they can be so that
they can achieve their personal best. Her workshops detailed how to create a brain based learning environment for students, and meeting
the needs of all learner types. Like Allen, Giles has a love of technology, and shared her favorite apps to her fellow educators.
Sixth MEO Tri State IDOL Another Success Story
By Sally Wedding, 2016 Chairperson
Along with the
five individual
soloists and one
trio, Jenna and
Paige Talbert also
provided passion-
ate performances
at the IDOL Gala
in the Crescent
Room on April
22, 2016.
2016 Idol Winner Stacia Reisinger
The Gala is a showcase for aspiring, talented
Tri-State musicians who entertain and annu-
ally captivate the crowd. This year, Jenna and
Paige painted a more important picture of
the purpose of the Gala with their presenta-
tion that included a video of their journey as
a family. Paige encountered difficulties when
she started school at Holy Rosary. Family
research led to a diagnosis of autism and
guidance from their Pastor, Bernie Etienne,
led to MEO. The Talberts were introduced
Using iPads to Improve Classroom Learning
By Beverly Williamson, Director
Marian educational Outreach has received a
grant to implement a 1:1 iPad Pilot Project
for students with special needs in one of our
Diocesan Elementary Schools.
Fifteen students at Corpus Christi School will
comprise the study focus group. Their teach-
ers will test, try out and choose educational
apps first and then receive training to be-
come familiar and comfortable with the soft-
ware before iPads are put in the hands of the
students. The early focus will be on training
for teachers which is deemed to be the key
for project success.
During the year-long project, teachers will be
looking to the students for 1)improvement in
academic performances 2) Increase in en-
gagement and motivation for learning 3)
improved focus on instructional content and
4)Increased social awareness and interaction.
to the Resource Program launched by MEO
at Holy Spirit School and Paige was offered
the individualized instruction she requires to
succeed.
Paiges story is a testa-
ment to one of the finest
ministries in our diocese.
She has a whole world of
opportunities now. She
has the classes and sup-
ports she needs, and she is
Holy Spirit student, continuing her Catholic
Paige Talbert
education, Jenna told the
crowd.
Tri State IDOL also provides an avenue of
opportunities for the performers who step
up to the microphone! Meghan Gallagher is a
prime example. She competed in IDOL a
few years ago and now has a recording avail-
able on iTunes, Spotify and Amazon. Me-
ghan has worked with some of the best vocal
The instructional flexibility provided with the
assistive technology will allow students to
record lectures and convert the lecture to
notes, provide heavy photo versions of les-
sons for visual learners, offer translations,
communications and individualization with
unrivaled effectiveness!
This is a very exciting project for the stu-
dents and MEO. Research has documented
the fore- mentioned and many other benefits
to improve learning with the use of assistive
technology. We think that daily usage of
iPads in the classroom will facilitate an edu-
cational lifeline for students with learning
disabilities.
With expected success of this project, MEO
hopes to provide this opportunity for many
other students in our Diocesan schools.
and performance coaches in Music City.
She was the contestant coach this year.
Needless to say, the contestants were
outstanding.just ask anyone who
attended to describe the talent at 2016
MEO Tri State IDOL! We extend our
congratulations and gratitude to these
wonderful musicians: Stasia Reisinger,
Colton Colbert, Jessica Weinzapfel,
Matt Cassidy, Emily Pfister, Trinity
Cravens, Hanna Jaramillo and Natalie
Cummings. When all the votes were
tallied, Reisinger captured the crown.
Colbert finished second and the trio of
Weinzapfel, Cassidy and Pfister claimed
third place.
The IDOL Gala was a sellout again for
the 4th consecutive year and a larger
venue for 2017 has been selected.
Double
Endowment for
MEO
Mission
We were notified in December
2015 that both Beverly Jean
Groban and Irene G Ruston
had selected Marian Educa-
tional Outreach as one of the
residuary beneficiaries of their
estates. We are humbled and
honored to be chosen as an
organization held in such high
esteem by these two ladies.
We are truly grateful for this
wonderful gift to our special
children. May God bless Irene
Ruston and Beverly Groban.
What A Difference Marian Educational Outreach (MEO) Makes!
By Trent Engbers, PHD
Since 1958 MEO has supported students
with learning challenges in the Catholic
school system. In the last decade alone,
MEO has provided almost a million dol-
lars to ensure that every child has a
chance for a Catholic education. This
includes long-term support for the Holy
Spirit special education program, launch-
ing the resource and life skills program
located at Memorial and Mater Dei, fund-
ing assistive technology for students
across the diocese and ensuring that
teachers are prepared to deal with unique
learning styles through professional de-
velopment on differentiated instruction.
However, MEO strives to evolve as the
needs of the diocese change. Over the
past year, MEO has been undergoing a
development process to ensure that it
continues to meet the demands of stu-
dents with unique learning needs. This
process has included expanding the board
to ensure appropriate representation,
Be Sure to visit MEO Booth #98 for your Texas Treats during Fall Festival Week!
New Board Members and President
John Browning Valorie Dassel
Vince Bernardin, Jr.
PhD RMHS Board of Youth First
RSG, Inc. Trustees Licensed Clinical Social
Director President Worker
Annunciation Parish St. Benedict Parish St. Philip Parish
conducting focus groups to better un- 2. Fundraising for Holy Spirit Special
derstand community need and awareness Education Program
of MEO and the formation of an execu-
tive council to better support the execu- 3. Innovation and incubation of new
programs
tive director.
These initiatives culminated in a strategic These priorities were selected in order to
planning retreat for the board on June maintain continuity with the Marian Day
11th at the Catholic Center. The day- Schools history and its evolution at St.
long event included large group planning Theresa and Holy Spirit, but also to ade-
sessions and spiritual guidance led by quately address the demands placed on
outgoing MEO chaplain Fr. Christopher our schools by greater awareness and
Droste. The goal of the retreat was to diagnoses of special learning needs.
MEO has always been on the forefront
ensure that MEO remains relevant and
of special education and plans to use its
continues its long history of passionate
strengths in program development to
support for students with special needs
in our Catholic schools. The retreat re- meet the needs of future students. The
sulted in the board identifying three stra- board is following up on the success of
tegic priorities to guide MEO in the next the retreat by identifying intermediate
five years. These include: goals to motivate fundraising, increased
awareness and new programs to address
1. Advocating for special needs children unmet needs.
in the Catholic school system
Trent Engbers Kelly Jackson
Kim Kinnanman Matthew Miller Elizabeth Warren Fr. Alex Zenthoefer
PhD Ziemer, Stayman Board President Diocese of Evansville B.Ed-WKU Annunciation Parish
USI Weitzel , Shoulders CPA Office of Worship St. Benedict Parish Pastor
Assistant Professor Attorney Harding Shymanski Director
Holy Rosary Parish Holy Rosary Parish Senior Advisor St. Benedict Parish
St. Joe Parish