District Fifteen Educational Foundation
Programs
Foundation’s 2007-2008 Teacher Mini-Grants Awarded
Teachers across District 15 are the recipients of the District Fifteen Educational Foundation Teacher Mini-Grants Program, supported through funds raised by the Foundation’s annual Hearts of Gold dinner dance. The mini-grants help to support programs or projects not normally financed with taxpayer dollars but which enhance and supplement the educational experience of students. This school year, the Foundation awarded 15 mini-grants totaling $28,051. Over the past three years, the Foundation has presented mini-grants valued at $42,637.
Programs
Read-At-Home Backpacks
Ken Skelnik, Jane Addams
This project supports Jane Addams’ academic goal of increased student achievement in the area of reading comprehension. It is also meant to be a means of further developing a partnership between school and home by providing an opportunity for parents to become actively involved in their children’s early literacy skills.
Enriching the Six Traits
Julie Miller, Frank C. Whiteley
This program supports the Six Traits third-grade writing curriculum at Frank C. Whiteley School by making specific books that are not available in the school’s resource center available to the classroom teachers. This literature enhances the lessons by modeling each of the writing traits.
Harry Potter Literary Group
Carrie Kledzik, Kimball Hill
This program is an extracurricular activity aimed at elementary students in grades 4-6. The goal of the club is to promote students enthusiasm for reading—not only in students that have already read the books, but also to encourage others to begin reading the series.
Orffestra/Parent Child World Music Ensemble
Susan Carlson, Lincoln School
This two-year acquisition of Orff instruments will provide opportunities for students who are not in band, orchestra, or chorus to learn and enjoy music skills by participating in a musical ensemble during the school day. The Orff instruments will also be used in a similar ensemble for students and parents to facilitate communication and connection between cultures.
Building and Supporting Family Literacy
Lauren Lukowski, Grace Rios, Jaime Lewis, and Connie Towry, Gray M. Sanborn
This program is designed to help parents of English Language Learners to understand and have a working knowledge of how they can support classroom instruction. Teachers will model strategies for parents who will turn in assignments as well as school-required recreational reading.
Bal-A-Vis-X
Melanie Andres, Stuart R. Paddock
Bal-A-Vis-X stands for: balance, auditory, vision and exercise. This program encourages cooperation and self challenge while increasing focus and learning retention.
Literacy at all Levels
Michele Scott, Plum Grove Junior High
This program provides the necessary literature resources for students with disabilities to truly gain literacy skills.
Jaguar Journal
Kim Haas and Pamela Baldus, Jane Addams
This program is designed to challenge the third- through sixth-grade students in the self-contained LD/BD classrooms to generate a newspaper. The students will be required to listen, gather information, and put their interviews into words. The newspaper (once edited) will be distributed to the entire school.
Physical Education Program
Paul Behen, Conyers Learning Academy
This program is designed to help fifth- through eighth-grade students who have behavioral disorders learn to become physically fit with the use of specialized fitness equipment.
Technology
For all to See
Jeanne Marino and Shari Pass, Hunting Ridge
The purpose of this program is to enhance the educational experience of students by using the cutting-edge technology provided through the Elmo viewer to make lessons come alive in the classroom.
Interactive Music Technology
David Wilkie, Hunting Ridge/Thomas Jefferson
This program allows music students to use a new and innovative software program called “Smart Music.” It is an interactive computer program that will inspire students to problem-solve mistakes after recording themselves.
Visions Through Lenses
Joanna Angelopoulos, Gray M. Sanborn
This new digital technology will afford students additional approaches, techniques, and views to their art making. Students will experience how technology has altered the way people communicate different concepts learning from the past, present and future.
Electronic Language Translators
Karen Alderson, Willow Bend
This program provides talking translators to help bridge the communication gap between students, parents, and District 15 staff members. This device also has a reverse translation feature—a true asset to the school’s diverse population.
Math Vocabulary Professionals
Ralph Banasiak, Winston Campus Junior High
This project is designed to accelerate and further math skills for seventh- and eighth-grade students. MVP develops vocabulary understanding and mental math skills. This program is used through the Classroom Performance System technology and will help the school meet or exceed adequate yearly progress in math.
Social Studies Smartees
Jane Goehler, Lake Louise
This program allows sixth-grade students who do not have access to computers at home to see first hand many of the ancient civilizations discussed in the classroom. Through interactive technology called a SMART Board which uses white board technology software and the Internet, the concepts of ancient civilization can come alive for the students and further the learning process.
A special way to Thank a Teacher …
The end of the school year is a wonderful time to recognize special people who make a difference in your and your children’s lives. If you are looking for a unique way to honor teachers and school staff at this time of year, consider the District Fifteen Educational Foundation’s “Teacher/Staff Tribute” program.
Your contribution will be used by the Foundation to fund a variety of programs. This year, the Foundation is focusing on raising money for its teacher minigrant program and for additional technology items requested by teachers and staff.
Use the Teacher/Staff Tribute form to designate a contribution of any amount in recognition of a teacher or staff member. Each person named will receive a letter from the Foundation acknowledging the gift that was made in his or her honor.
All contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law, and you will receive a letter acknowledging the gift for tax purposes. If your company offers a corporate matching gift program, please be sure to include the appropriate forms.
About the Foundation
The mission of the District Fifteen Educational Foundation is to acquire resources to be used for programs and projects to enhance and supplement the educational experience of District 15 students.
The Foundation is an autonomous 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation that supports programs not funded by the traditional tax-based educational system.
Questions? Call Tina Huss, 847-963-3160.
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