Grafton Education Foundation

2012 GEF Grant Award Winners

 

Our Prize Patrol issued $24,000 in grants for 2012-13!

 

The Grafton Education Foundation (GEF) is funding 10 grants within the five public schools of the Grafton School District for the 2012-2013 school year. District staff were notified of their winning grant applications during the annual GEF Prize Patrol where board members surprise the grant award winners with oversized checks, balloons and green apples.

 

“We’re thrilled to bring the news to district staff in such a fun way,” said Grafton Education Foundation President Bob Hoffman. “In just two years of awarding grants, we have more than doubled our impact on the district, increasing our grant amount from $12,000 last year to almost $25,000 this year. Still, we had applications totaling $66,000 so we understand the need is great. There are many teachers with amazing ideas that we would love to fund. We wish we had the money to make all these grants a reality.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The GEF grants for the 2012-2013 school year include:

 

Anatomy in Clay Learning System – GHS
Ms. Grant - $6,711.18 
The Anatomy in Clay Learning System is an effective and interactive hands-on approach to teaching anatomy of the human body. This system allows students to construct a functional and comprehensive anatomical model in a step-by-step manner. Students build the entire body using a specially designed mannequin and clay.
 

The New JLMS Pottery Studio – JLMS
Ms. Plamann - $3,495.00
A pottery studio in the art room will give students the opportunity to learn how to create wheel thrown pottery. Wheel throwing is a skill that requires patience, strength, problem solving, and tenacity. These are all qualities that students would benefit from in many areas of their lives.
 

IPad Technology in Music Education – GES
Ms. Andrews - $3,289.70
An iPad station for the music room will allow children to engage in the many musical apps available. iPads will be used for individuals or small groups to experience music making apps, sequencing apps, and more. The list of apps is endless.
 

Geocaching – KES
Mr. Huber – $2,956.11 
A geocaching curriculum will be implemented into the physical education program so that students will learn and apply the valuable educational principles that geocaching offers. The learning possibilities involved in geocaching are vast. The students will use technology that is fun and useful. Geocaching will exercise their mind and body. When students begin to use geocaching, they apply principles of math, geography, science, literacy skills, and logic to a real problem. Solving the puzzle of locating a geocache is an exciting, hands-on way to use these tools.
 

Kindergarten IPad Learning Center – WES
Ms. Breitlow & Ms. Meisegeier - $1,300.00
The Kindergarten teachers will provide individualized learning opportunities for their students through the use of an iPad learning center to engage them in consistent, independent practice in literacy and mathematics skills specific to their areas of need. These iPads will be used to differentiate for students across the entire spectrum of needs, whether it is below, on, or above grade level skills. Many of the apps selected will involve a data collection component, which will be used to inform small group, teacher-directed instruction. The Grafton Education Foundation will partner with the School District of Grafton to fund this grant.
 

Photography – GHS
Mr. Driscoll & Ms. Gorra-Patek - $3,359.41
The GHS Art Department will purchase DSLR camera bodies, a variety of lenses, tripods, camera bags, filters, and other equipment in order for students to have an equal opportunity to learn how to properly operate, experiment with, and respectfully handle the tools used within the profession of photography.
 

Second Grade Document Cameras – KES
Ms. Starr & Ms. Fujinaka - $1,390.00
These document cameras will be used in conjunction with the classroom interactive Smart Boards in all subject areas to help meet the needs of all students. The document cameras will be a fantastic tool for both teaching and reviewing concepts. They will provide opportunities for hands-on, interactive learning and will be very motivating for the students.
 

iTouch, iTalk, iLearn with iPads! – WES
Ms. Piaro & Ms. Kempfer - $1,300.00 
Placing iPads, a technology that will enhance learning, into the hands of first graders will allow the teachers to teach the students at their individual levels across all curricular areas. Talking, touching, and learning through different modalities will allow the first graders to have individualized instruction at their fingertips. The Grafton Education Foundation will partner with the School District of Grafton to fund this grant.
 

Accipiter Literary Magazine – GHS
Ms. Houck & Ms. Brogelman - $800.00 
Accipiter literary magazine offers students an opportunity to showcase their creative writing and artwork. This annual publication contains poetry, prose, essays, song lyrics, and artwork created solely by Grafton High School students. The birth of the literary magazine last school year provided the students with an outlet and an opportunity to showcase their writing and art for other students, staff, and community members to see. In turn, the student body, staff, and community had the opportunity to read and explore writing and artwork created by students who are classmates, students, and neighbors.
 

Flag Etiquette in Grafton Elementary Schools – KES
Mr. Heimann - $364.98
This project will teach fourth and fifth graders proper flag etiquette. The hands-on program trains student volunteers to raise, lower, and fold the flag each school day. The project will also provide educational materials for students in grades K-3 to be shared during Veterans’ Day. This grant was funded in its entirety by the Rose-Harms American Legion Post 355.