May 12, 2026 Local Stories in and Around St. Joseph, Illinois

Sorority gives grants to teachers

Psi Iota Xi is a National Sorority with local chapters in various midwestern states.  This philanthropic group helps people.  The main focus is on music, art, literature, speech, and hearing but this can branch out in many directions.  Membership is open to women who wish to enrich libraries and local philanthropic events in their area.

Iota Sigma is a chapter of Psi Iota Xi that is chartered in St. Joseph, IL.  Locally we support the Summer Reading Program at the Swearingen Memorial Library in St. Joseph as well as in Homer, IL.  We make donations to Feed the Need at the St. Joseph United Methodist Church.  We have sponsored a music student who has traveled to Florida to present with his school.  

This year we decided to offer grants to teachers at the St. Joseph Grade and Middle Schools to teachers who have special projects that expand their curriculum.  These projects were required to focus on music, art, literature, speech, or hearing.  Teachers were asked to present us with information on their goals and how they would use the money if their project was selected.  

A committee from Iota Sigma read through the materials sent to us and have decided that these three teachers’ projects would each be partially funded:

Allison Schuette Speech and Hearing for grades preK – 8th

Amber Garrison & Stephanie McCall Literature – Grade 8

Maria Wilson, Lady of the Library Literature – Middle School Librarian 

On November 7, 2023 the members of Iota Sigma presented awards to those projects selected at the St. Joseph Middle School.

Left to Right:  Alisyn Franzen (Middle School Principal), Jill Robbins (Iota Sigma Member), Amber Garrison (8th Grade Literature Teacher), Stephanie McCall (8th Grade Literature Teacher), Rita McCannon (Iota Sigma Member), Maria Wilson (Lady of the Library),  Allison Schuette (Speech and Hearing Teacher), Michelle Wagner (Grade School Principal).

Submitted by:  Jill Robbins

in Schools
Banner
Related Posts

Franzen chosen to lead middle school

March 30, 2021

March 30, 2021

The new St. Joseph Middle School Principal will be a familiar face. The St. Joseph Consolidated Community School Board voted...

‘There is no one more deserving of this honor’

June 26, 2020

June 26, 2020

Glenn Fisher loves St. Joseph-Ogden High School. For decades, Fisher’s main concern was that the facilities and sports fields at...

Senior Homecoming Court Spotlight… Bailey Dowling

September 27, 2019

September 27, 2019

St. Joseph-Ogden Senior Bailey Dowling is honored to be on the Homecoming Court. “It’s pretty cool being on homecoming court...

Wagle reaches out of her comfort zone

April 3, 2022

April 3, 2022

Alayna Wagle loves Halloween. So the Addams Family spooky motif is right up her alley. “I was pretty familiar with...

PVO Jr High Seventh grade honor roll

April 27, 2023

April 27, 2023

7 th Grade Highest Honors (3.7-4.0)Tyler BonnyIsabella FrerichsCasen GoffGaby GomezKellyn IrwinRoyce LoschenLane McKinneyConnor McMahonAtleigh MillerAirin RashKeegan RobertsKorinne TravisEvelyn ValentineLucas WatersAdyn...

A familiar face to lead PVO

February 25, 2019

February 25, 2019

Jeffrey Isenhower will start a new job on July 1, 2020. He will take over the Prairieview-Ogden superintendent for Vic...

St. Joseph Grade School to keep hybrid schedule for now

February 16, 2021

February 16, 2021

While families with students at St. Joseph Grade School and Middle School may want their students back in school more...

St. Joseph Grade School to stay on hybrid schedule through end of school year

March 11, 2021

March 11, 2021

St. Joseph Grade School Superintendent Todd Pence said he is recommending the grade school and middle school keep their hybrid...

St. Joseph Middle School 8th grade honor roll

June 7, 2023

June 7, 2023

LAST NAME FIRST NAME Albrecht Samuel Barbee Zhou Canamore Willis Ditchfield Nickolas Ennis Jameson Gaines Leah Garrett Elijah Graham Skyler...

SJO still waiting on property tax money

July 16, 2019

July 16, 2019

St. Joseph-Ogden High School has only received roughly $22,000 of the money it is due from Champaign County property taxes....

District asks residents to approve referendum

May 27, 2022

May 27, 2022

The St. Joseph CCSD #169 is asking residents to approve a tax increase. On June 28, the district is asking...

SJO Honors Night Winners- 2022

May 12, 2022

May 12, 2022

National Merit Scholarship (commendation) – Mara Burkhalter and Payton Jacob IPC Scholar Athlete/ IHSA Scholar Athlete award- Ava Knap and...

St. Joseph Middle School Announces 7th Grade Honor Roll

April 16, 2019

April 16, 2019

7TH GRADE HIGH HONORS Logan Allen Owen Baltzell Addisyn Barclay Samantha Beetz Kyler Brown Chloe Burkhalter Rachel Divan Joseph Frasca...

SJO 4th quarter high honor roll

June 2, 2022

June 2, 2022

Our Honor Rolls are sponsored by Appl Sanitary. FreshmenAllinger, OliviaBeckett, EJBenoit, AudreyBonny, SarahBrown, LandonClampitt, MadisonDavenport, AerolynDietiker, EllaDitchfield, LukeEnnis, JacksonFranzen, SavannaFunk,...

SJO to host event for seniors

April 1, 2021

April 1, 2021

The administration at St. Joseph-Ogden High School wants to give their seniors some sense of normalcy.   “The decision to have...

Comments
Leave a Reply