Grant projects presented by D303 Teachers and Staff 10/2/2024
The St. Charles Education Foundation hosted District 303 educators at its annual meeting to celebrate how they’re leveraging grant-funded projects to improve classroom learning. Eleven total projects were funded by the Foundation in the 2023-2024 school year, with gifts ranging from $500 to over $2,800.
Students in Norton Creek’s RISE Program are receiving advanced instruction thanks in part to electronic whiteboards, or BenQ Smart Boards, made possible through Foundation grants. Students with low-incidence disabilities can engage with the curriculum through the whiteboards with an open hand, fist, or elbow to demonstrate what they know.“ Which is amazing because for some of our students your traditional classroom technology - keyboard, mouse, laptop - they cannot easily access or utilize,” said Makenzie Weberski, RISE Teacher. Foundation President Gordon announced their intention to fund a third Board this year, which will mean all RISE classrooms will have a smart board.
Federal and local grant dollars helped District 303 install communication boards at each early childhood and elementary playground. The Foundation provided full grant funding for the board at Fox Ridge Elementary School. The boards display symbols to help children effectively engage with their teachers and classmates on the playground.
Since they were first funded by the Foundation, Wonderbooks have been flying off the shelves of Anderson’s LRC. The audio books, which read to students while they follow along, have been very popular and are routinely checked out. “This has been such a great opportunity for our students to listen to some of their favorite stories and improve their literacy,” said LRC Media Specialist Melissa Mejewski.
At Thompson, students are raving about flexible seating in select rooms, saying it helps them maintain focus and stay on task. Teacher Debbie Yelle said students take turns using the six chairs across two of the school’s health classrooms. Yelle conducted a survey to gauge student interest in the chairs. Of the 143 who responded, she said that 96% of students provided positive feedback on the chairs. A majority of respondents stated that the chairs’ rocking motion is soothing and helps them concentrate while reducing fidgeting.
The Green Team at Anderson has cultivated four vibrant vegetable and flower gardens, thanks to Foundation grant dollars. Through the Growing Learners initiative, students are learning about plant life cycles, ecological interdependence, and sustainable food production. The work supports the school’s commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship to help make a positive impact on the area.
