The Garden City Public Schools Foundation Grant Squad visited schools on Thursday, March 7 to award $200 mini-grants to help teachers enhance instruction in their classrooms. The awards were presented to teachers in a surprise celebration in their classrooms.
The foundation received 14 grant applications from staff around the school district. The grants are awarded to help support learning initiatives in the classrooms. The grants may be used for the classroom, department, or individual staff development for a district employee. The applications are read and judged by the Garden City Public Schools Foundation committee.
Dustin Algrim, Kenneth Henderson Middle School Family and Consumer Science teacher, will use the grant to purchase a sewing machine. He will use the sewing machine to involve STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) to increase interest and meaning in math and science.
Catherine Fick, Jennie Wilson Elementary School kindergarten teacher, will use the grant to purchase materials to strengthen fine motor muscles in the students hands to help with pencil grip and handwriting.
Katrina Calvin, Alta Brown Elementary School first grade teacher, will use the grant to purchase Cricut materials to allow students to create a variety of items to build a positive culture focused on leadership and learning in the school.
Kathryn Jackson, teaching science at Edith Scheuerman Elementary School, will use the grant to purchase Magna tiles for Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) activities for students. It will help students with cognitive development, creative thinking and problem solving skills.
Sara Brown and Allan Garcia, Edith Scheuerman Elementary School 4th grade teachers, will use the grant to purchase manipulative supplies for the Social Students State Assessment project, The Fourth Grade Wax Museum. This project will give students a deeper understanding of famous Kansans.
The Garden City Public Schools Foundation has provided over $38,000 in grants to fund opportunities to enhance the learning environment and increase the effectiveness of instruction across the district. The foundation was founded in 2004 and is a non-profit organization that is committed to effectively generate, manage and distribute funds to stimulate excellence for the preservation and enhancement of exemplary education provided by Garden City Public Schools. The Foundation functions in alliance with the Western Kansas Community Foundation.