The Southsider Voice
Visit us at these places!
  • Home
  • News
    • Top Stories
    • Sports
    • Car Nutz
    • Stilley Goes Trackside
    • Southside Deaths
    • Personal Recollections
    • Reminiscing
  • About the Voice
  • Advertising
  • Contact
  • Newspaper Archive
  • Classifieds

Good eats mean tech treats

4/26/2017

0 Comments

 

​Enjoy spaghetti dinner, bingo and more this Saturday

PicturePHOTO COURTESY OF MARISSA GARZA Katie Jones (left) and Marissa Garza are hosting their annual Tech Trek Saturday evening at Nativity Grade School.
By B. Scott Mohr
Editor

If you want to enjoy a great spaghetti dinner while contributing to a worthy cause, you won’t want to miss Saturday’s Tech Trek at Nativity Grade School.

The fundraiser was launched five years ago when then first-year teacher and Indiana University graduate Marissa Garza noticed that the school’s technology resources were almost nonexistent. Garza had just completed her student teaching and was used to at least having an LCD projector, which the school didn’t have.

“We were making the most of what we had, but the need was there for much more,” she said.

Knowing that something had to be done to advance the school technologically, she teamed with fellow educator Katie Jones to launch Tech Trek, which would raise funds to purchase much-needed items. They approached Principal Terri Bianchini with their idea and were given the green light. 

“She was incredibly supportive and agreed that technology was an area that needed improvement as indicated by parents via a survey,” said Garza, who along with Jones is a graduate of Roncalli. 

In addition to dinner, the event features bingo, a bake sale, arts and crafts, raffles, a student art exhibit and the popular pie throwing contest, which features teachers as the targets.

“I like Tech Trek for several reasons,” Bianchini said. “It’s a homegrown idea, and there is a lot of volunteer work. They (Garza and Jones) saw what they needed and wanted, and they went after it. They plan all of it, and there are a great group of teachers who help them. The response has been good. It’s always a well-attended event.”

The gala runs from 6-8:30 p.m. at the school, 3310 S. Meadow Drive, off the 7300 block of Southeastern Avenue, with dinner being served from 6-7:30 p.m. 

“The spaghetti and meat sauce is excellent; so is the salad and garlic bread,” said Garza, and she should know. The meal will be prepared by her aunt MJ Stallings, who will use her special recipe. The cost is $5 per child, $7 per adult, $25 per family. Tickets are available at the door.

Garza and Jones, who teach fourth- and fifth-graders, respectively,  said it takes about 20 volunteers, mostly fellow teachers and family members, to pull off the affair. “We started planning in January, and April is really a busy time, but we have some helpers who ensure the event goes as planned.

The duo recalled organizing their first Tech Trek and commented, “We were terrified at first because it was so much work; we didn’t know how much money we would raise. We didn’t know if it would be worth the trouble.”

Those worries have evaporated as the event has raised $21,610 since its inception. The money has been used to purchase LCD projectors for each room and iPads, as well as to build a fund that is used to replace bulbs and update the equipment when necessary. 

Garza and Jones would like to see that amount go over $25,000 after Saturday. “We want to do so much more,” Garza said. 
​
“This year the funds will go toward providing each classroom with a document camera (a newer version of an overhead projector),” Jones said. “We are so grateful for the support of the Nativity community over the past four years. We hope that this year can be just as successful. Passion and dedication can transform a dream into reality.”

0 Comments

Perry grad in charge

4/26/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
NAVY PHOTO BY MASS COMMUNICATION SPECIALIST 3RD CLASS DANNY KELLEY INDIAN OCEAN – Naval Aircrewman 2nd Class Brett Timmons, a graduate of Perry Meridian, operates a radar console on an MH-60R helicopter from Maritime Helicopter Strike Squadron 37 attached to Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy. The ship is on a regularly scheduled Western Pacific deployment with the Carl Vinson Carrier Strike Group as part of the U.S. Pacific Fleet-led initiative.
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    July 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014

    Categories

    All
    Arts & Entertainment
    Lead Story
    Sports: 500
    Sports: Basketball
    Sports: Track

    RSS Feed

 DROP OFF: The Toy Drop 6025 Madison Ave., Suite D
Indianapolis, IN  46227  |  317-781-0023
MAILING ADDRESS: P.O. Box 17187, Indianapolis, IN 46217

ads@southsidervoice.com | news@southsidervoice.com
Website by IndyTeleData, Inc.