Masonic Life Network

The Inland Empire Public Schools Advisory Council presented their Public Schools Month Kickoff on April 12, 2012 at San Jacinto Elementary School (SJE), in San Jacinto, CA.  The Masonic visitors were treated to tours around the school by students in the 5^th grade.  This included the schools new library, that was just dedicated in March of this year and a new computer lab that is used by the 1^st to 5^th graders on a weekly basis.  The program began with the Pledge of Allegiance being led by a Kindergarten student and “America the Beautiful” being sung by a 5^th grader.  Many school officials were present, including the principal of the school, Wendy Brown, the president of the board of education, John Norman, the school board superintendent Dr. Shari Fox and 3 other board members.

The Junior Grand Warden, Russell Charvonia, was on hand to make the presentations on behalf of the Grand Lodge of California.  The Grand Lodge presented three “Investment in Success Scholarships” to three local high school students.  These scholarships are renewable 4 year scholarships, with grants of $1,000.00 for the first two years and $2,500.00 for the third and fourth years.  He also explained the “Raising A Reader” program that will begin in September as SJE and showed the “Raising A Reader” red and blue bags, the DVD and some of the books that will be given to the children.  The last presentation was a larger than life check, for $66,000.00 to the San Jacinto Unified School District, which represents the Grand Lodge commitment to the schools in this district for the next year.

All of those in attendance, which also include many parents, members of Lodges in the Division and members of the youth groups, were treated to performances by the SJE kindergarten students. The morning concluded with refreshments on the library’s new outdoor reading patio.

Frank Lee – AGL Division 8