Rotarian Audrianna Esser has agreed to be the Club's liaison with Mina Elementary administration. She has already met with the appropriate folks, and also put together a fantastic plan to guide the Club through the entire year of volunteer events. Those events and their volunteer requirements will become part of our on-going calendar, so keep an eye out for what we will be doing this Fall.
Keep reading to find the full calendar.
Rotary Club of Bastrop, TX – Partnership with Bastrop ISD Adopt-a-School Program
The Rotary Club of Bastrop is proud to announce our partnership with Bastrop Independent School District (BISD) through their Adopt-a-School Program. This initiative provides us with the opportunity to build meaningful relationships with students, staff, and families while supporting the educational community throughout the school year.
📌 Volunteer Registration Requirement
All members who wish to volunteer or be present at any of these events must complete the BISD volunteer form in advance. This form is valid for the entire year and will cover participation across all activities and events.
Our point of contact for this collaboration is Lauren Redmon. I (Audrianna Esser) will be overseeing the partnership and coordination on behalf of Rotary. I recently met with Lauren to begin shaping our first-year plan. Since Lauren is expecting a baby, Audra will serve as her replacement from mid-September through December to ensure continuity.
Proposed Year-Round Engagement Plan
The idea is to structure our involvement into four seasonal initiatives, allowing Rotary to have a steady and visible presence at the school across the academic year:
🍂 Fall (Aug/Sept)
- Stock the Teachers’ Lounge: Within the next 1–2 weeks, we will provide drinks and snacks for the teachers’ lounge as an initial gesture of appreciation and encouragement to staff.
- This will set the tone for our collaboration and highlight Rotary’s commitment to supporting educators.
❄️ Winter (December)
- Adopt-a-Child Holiday Drive: We will coordinate with Lauren and the school counselor to receive a list of students in need. Rotary members will “adopt” these children and provide holiday gifts.
- This will directly support families in our community and bring joy to children during the holiday season.
🌸 Spring (March 13th)
- Career Day Participation: Rotary members will attend the school’s Career Day on March 13th, rotating throughout the day to ensure full-day coverage.
- Members can present about their careers, share personal experiences, and showcase “visuals” or hands-on activities to keep younger students engaged.
- The goal is to dedicate as much time as possible and expose students to the wide variety of careers represented within Rotary.
🌞 End of School Year (May – Teacher Appreciation Week)
- Teacher & Staff Appreciation Event: In collaboration with Lauren, we will honor all staff (not just teachers) during appreciation week. Lauren will provide us with the total number of staff members.
- Proposed ideas:
Summary & Next Steps
This four-season plan provides Rotary with a structured way to engage meaningfully with BISD while balancing volunteer commitments across the year. It allows us to:
- Show appreciation for teachers and staff.
- Directly support students and families in need.
- Inspire the next generation through career exposure.
- Strengthen community ties by partnering with local businesses and organizations.
With everyone’s support and participation, this partnership can become a cornerstone of Rotary’s service in Bastrop, building goodwill and lasting impact within our schools.
