Education Foundation Grant Recipients
Posted on 05/23/2022
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Congratulations to the first grant recipients of the GBAPS Education Foundation!
Mark Valentine - STEM Flex Farm (Aldo Leopold Community School)
The grant goal is to teach the students of Aldo Leopold the importance of growing healthy foods locally. First, by purchasing the Flex Farm, students can see how they can grow healthy greens and herbs year-round. The problem with school gardens is that they are often most fruitful during the summer months when students are out of school. Second, growing hydroponically will teach students about alternative farming methods that can reduce our carbon footprint and provide healthy food for families and the greater community.
Diana Delbecchi - Read Your Heart Out (Howe Elementary & Tank Elementary)
Funding will support the expansion of the Read Your Heart Out (RYHO) event to include both Howe Elementary Community School and Tank Elementary. RYHO celebrates African American families and community members by inviting them into the school to read books. The event typically includes an all school assembly where a guest performer will take stage (African drummer or African dance), a meal is shared, students work collaboratively on a STEAM project, and each scholar receives a book.
Kathleen Neuser - Sprouts Reading Program (Title 1 Schools)
The Sprouts Reading Program will provide direct support to our kindergarten readers in our Title 1 schools. The books and activities chosen will have an emphasis on diversity and inclusion with the main goal of spurring curiosity in reading and gaining confidence. Students who are in the program will be able to select a book with their volunteer to read together. The student will get to keep the book to grow their home library.
Michelle Erickson - Recess Read Alouds (Elmore Elementary)
Children need to be exposed to a variety of stories to assist with learning to navigate life. Reading to children of all ages encourages growth in reading and writing. Listening to reading helps develop stronger language and vocabulary skills. For the time between World Read Aloud Day, February 3rd and the end of National Reading Month at the end of March, Michelle will read the first chapters of a book during recess. Each grade will have time to come in during recess to listen to the first chapter of a preselected book. This book will be available on a Playaway so students can finish listening to the story at their leisure.