The Avon Lake City Schools Foundation recently awarded 11 grants to Avon Lake teachers to help with projects that receive no support from state funding.
This year’s grants, distributed June 14 at the Board of Education meeting, include the purchase of an iPad to help with language and reading skills, sheet music to be used by the choirs at elementary buildings and money for a three-dimensional interactive mural for Art Club.
The Avon Lake City Schools Foundation, established in 1986, has since awarded more than $100,000 in grants aimed at helping student development across the district.
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The foundation is organized under the Community Foundation of Lorain County. The fund’s base grows with contributions and distributions are based on a percentage of the annual interest earned with the remaining interest reinvested with the principal. The actual funds donated are never distributed.
Grants are considered in the areas of academics, fine and performing arts and other extracurricular activities that are not part of the school district’s state funded curriculum.
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“Grants to the foundation can be applied for as an "annual grant" or a "mini grant (less than $500)," Celia Wright, the Foundation's student representative, said.
Millicent Simmelink, the Avon Lake City Schools Foundation’s president, said the grants and foundation represents a “remarkable long-term effort to provide a stable source of funding for student enrichment opportunities” that are not part of the school district’s state-funded curriculum.
“The Foundation is committed to funding as many grants as possible that are consistent with our mission,” Simmelink said.
Annual grants are reviewed each May. Annual grants awarded this year exceed $11,000 for 11 grants (see below).
“As state budgets continue to tighten, the Foundation’s role and our community’s support of the Foundation’s two endowment funds will only increase in importance,” Simmelink said. “Educational enrichment is a wonderful way to provide unique learning opportunities that stimulate the intellectual and personal development of our community’s youth while preparing them to be caring, responsible citizens and innovative thinkers.”
Simmelink said residents are encouraged to serve on the board, supporting board fundraising activities or making a direct contribution to the Avon Lake City Schools Foundation.
More information is available on the Foundation's website.
Grants awarded June 14
Patty Rini: All Learwood Students
15 Bananagrams games (similar to Scrabble) that will challenge a student's vocabulary, spelling, and word development. $203.85
Patty Rini, Mike Grumbos, Kim Johnson: Learwood/Grade 8
"Beck Center Residency Program"- promotes the HS Drama Club to Students. Playwriting program which allows students to learn the fundamentals of narrative versus playwriting. $1,700
Dr. Daniel Murdock: Students not making adequate reading gains (12 students maximum) in all grade levels.
Summer STARS (Summer Training Accelerating Reading) reading intervention program for students who are 1-2 grade levels behind. $677.84
Marsha Wisser: All Westview students
Sports teams books (32 book set) to encourage reading. $950
Debbie Wakefield: 64 students in the LEAPS program
Building speech and language skills with an iPad. Includes the purchase of an iPad, a storage case and an account for funding the applications. $1,300
Dennis Foldesy Students and people entering Troy Intermediate School
Three-dimensional interactive mural made of wood made by members of Troy's Art Club. $400
Brenda Wiblin and Chris Soltis: Grade 2 Students at Westview
Supplies for Literacy Buddy Bags (a grant for the Buddy Bags was awarded last year). This grant would provide more materials for the bags. $374.02
Lisa Perry: Approximately 20-25 students who need occupational therapy
Visual-Motor Integration Activities software to help increase visual-motor skills for reading, writing, and keyboarding. $400
Cydi Orr and Kathy Walker: Grade 3 and 4 students in choir at all 4 elementary buildings.
Sheet music to be used by the choirs at elementary buildings. Will also share music with Troy. $2,025
Laura Smith: Grade 4 students at Erieview with a potential of utilizing the program at all grade levels
WriteOnline, Write On My Own- a LearningGrids World website for Erieview . $2,000
Michael Lisi: Students in Grade 8 Choir at Learwood
Commissioning of an original composition by Ruth Elaine Schram. $2,000
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