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 Together we make a profound difference

Public school support

In San Diego Unified School District, a “partnership in education” program connects public schools to local businesses and organizations for support. S.W. Hackett Lodge No. 574 has been among these public partners since 1998, and for the past nine years members have been devoted to Sequoia Elementary School. In addition to answering one-off needs throughout the year, the lodge has established several annual events and activities.

“S.W. Hackett Lodge is by far our best partnership within the community,” says Sequoia Elementary Principal Ryan Kissel. “They have helped many, many families over the years here.”

James Achenbach, Past Master and current chair of the lodge’s Public Schools Committee, explains.

Dynamic support

• The lodge’s Public Schools Committee stays in regular contact with school administrators. This way, we learn of the school’s needs as they arise, and can organize lodge support to help out.
• Over the years, we have provided backpacks filled with school supplies; renovated classrooms; erected a flagpole; donated funds to buy library books; provided musical instruments and supplies; and more.

Holiday deliveries

• Every year a school secretary or counselor identifies five or six families that are struggling and demonstrate significant need for the holidays. The lodge provides everything they need for a holiday meal, a gift card for the family, and gifts for the children.
• At lodge, we announce all the food and gift items that are needed, and individual members sign up to provide them.
• On the day of the deliveries, we load up a vehicle for each family, and a few brothers personally deliver the food and gifts. It’s a very moving and rewarding experience.

Spelling bee

• Each spring we sponsor the Sequoia Elementary School spelling bee for fourth, fifth, and sixth graders. We provide $75, $50, and $25 cash prizes to the first, second, and third place winners in each grade. The teachers talk about these prizes year-round to motivate students.
• Lodge members and families make a special effort to attend. The school always reserves the first few rows of the auditorium for the lodge.
• The principal takes a moment at the beginning of the event to thank our lodge.

Teacher of the Year dinner

• Every year the school selects a Teacher of the Year, and we honor him or her at our June stated meeting dinner. The teacher, principal, and their families are guests of honor.
• We provide each teacher with a framed certificate and honorarium. We’ve collected photos over the years of the master and principal awarding these certificates together.
• The principal gives remarks congratulating the teachers and thanking our lodge.
• The teacher says a few words. We provide suggestions ahead of time: what brought them to teaching, their experience working with children at this particular elementary school, and what it means to have the support of community members.

Advice to other lodges

• Many larger school districts already have a community partnership program in place. Start with the administration offices, and ask how your lodge can get involved.
• Try to avoid simply writing checks. To make the experience more meaningful for lodge members, work with the school to figure out opportunities for active participation.
• Be open to ways for the students and school to reciprocate support. Sequoia Elementary School has invited our lodge to community recognition events, and students poured ice tea and coffee at our stated meeting.
• Get your whole lodge on board. A long line of lodge leaders have prioritized this school partnership, and our fraternal family is very generous with its support and time.

“S.W. Hackett Lodge models what it means to be good citizens for our students,” says Principal Kissel. “They demonstrate to our kids, ‘We care about you.’ They stress the importance of obtaining a good education.”