D300 Foundation Awards More than $30,000 in Educational Grants

Algonquin, IL – The School District 300 Foundation for Educational Excellence announced more than $30,000 in new grants for the 2019-20 school year. The grants will support innovative, creative projects that improve teaching and learning and are not normally funded within school budgets.

The Foundation awarded 12 new Innovation Grants, smaller projects proposed by individual teachers that could serve as pilot programs for school district of Foundation expansion. Also approved were three new Large Project Grants, which are studied, recommended for approval and monitored during implementation by Foundation committees.

New Innovation Grants will provide funding for:

Calm Down Boxes ($998), which will support and teach replacement behaviors to students with social-emotional challenges. Awarded to Lisa Brodie, Gary D. Wright Elementary School

Summer Book Buddy Bags ($950), a pilot summer reading program with families that will seek to increase reading benchmark scores. Awarded to Lisa Brodie, Gary D. Wright Elementary School

Drums Alive: Music and PE Collaboration ($1,000), a fitness program that will use a movement based approach to learning through music and rhythm. Awarded to Nancy Brocker, Westfield Community School

Polymer Pals: A Science Buddy Program ($697), a program allowing students to explore the concept of polymer sciences while making connections to the world around them. Awarded to Brooke Hermann, Alexa Beschorner, and Taylor Ellett, Lincoln Prairie Elementary School

Café 10A ($562), a pilot program to promote teamwork, socialization, responsibility, executive functioning, money management skills and future employability and independence, through hands-on experience planning, purchasing and marketing for, and running a bi-weekly coffee cart. Awarded to Kelly Krohn, and Marissa Begun, Hampshire Middle School

Kids Run and Read ($926), which will create an after-school program for developing readers that includes cardiovascular fitness options. Awarded to Christina Rayner, and Elisa DiFatta, Meadowdale Elementary School

After School STEM Club ($386), a program is for middle school students to explore science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) related activities and develop a passion for STEM fields that could lead to future career paths. Awarded to Angela Greenberg, Victoria Halevy, Carpentersville Middle School

Tranzendesks ($999), a program using learning services that can be cranked up to a standing table position. The program will foster collaboration, active movement, and give students more choice in their learning environment. Awarded to Shannon Buckley, Hampshire High School

Kid Studio ($1,000), a program that will give students opportunities to be creative with learning and presenting their information. Awarded to Alexander Odom, Liberty Elementary School

Giving All Students a Voice ($867), a program that will use a throwable microphone to engage and motivate students to participate in classroom discussions. Awarded to Lisa Papeck, Gilberts Elementary School

Raised Planting ($998), a program to provide an outdoor learning experience that is easily accessible for small children or those in a wheelchair. Awarded to Kathleen Graham, Gary D. Wright Elementary School

Newly funded Large Project grants include:

Harmonic Instruction ($5,125). This grant will allow middle school music students to hear how their individual notes fit into complete chords, which will help them perform successfully in a group.

NIU Reductive Woodcut Workshop ($3,000). Twenty students from each high school will travel to Northern Illinois University to learn about and participate in Reductive Woodcut Printing, a form of printing dating back to the 4th and 5th century.

Sensory Supports ($12,500). This grant will provide sensory equipment for students from early education through high school to help manage their unique sensory needs to engage in the learning environment. It will be funded from the Joan Steenhausen Memorial Fund. Steenhausen dedicated her life to helping children with special needs and was an advocate for innovative therapy techniques and best practices for students. The grant was written in her memory.

The District 300 Foundation for Educational Excellence, established in 2002 by a group of community volunteers, seeks to enhance and extend learning opportunities for all District 300 students. The Foundation has awarded over $500.000 in grants that have been deployed into classrooms across the District. For more information, include past grant awards, visit www.d300foundation.org.