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Grand Island Public Schools Foundation Awards $12,091 for Surprise Classroom Grants

Oct 31, 2024 / Mitchell Roush Director of Communications & Marketing Grand Island Public Schools

GRAND ISLAND (Neb.) — Grand Island Public Schools Foundation was out in the GIPS district with great surprises for innovative teachers, surprising both teachers and their students when they arrived at schools Tuesday and Wednesday to award 14 Classroom Grants.

The Grand Island Public Schools Foundation awards Classroom Grants on an annual basis. These grants are designed to fund educational opportunities for students that are not available through the school district's general budget.

Since the program’s inception, the Grand Island Public Schools Foundation has funded 354 Classroom Grants totaling $326,057. Grants have been awarded to every school in the district benefiting approximately 73,788 students.

The Classroom Grants program is funded in part through the GIPS Foundation Harvest event, Community Campaign, GIPS Staff Giving Campaign, and the Janeth Davis Memorial Fund.

For the 2024-2025 school year, 14 grants totaling $12,091 were awarded through the classroom grant process. Grants range from $50 to $2,500. The Janeth Davis Memorial Fund generously provided funds to expand the Classroom Grants program. This fund celebrates Janeth Davis' passion for educational advancement. These 14 Classroom Grants will benefit 6,346 students this school year.

Grant winners, grant amounts, and project titles:
GISH School Store and Academy of Business and Communications DTF Printer, Grand Island Senior High, $2,500, Collaboration led by Adam Zlomke, along with two students, Adysen Boslau and Leah Kilzer. This grant will provide a DTF Printer. This technology will empower students to bring their creative visions to life by printing custom designs on a variety of materials, including clothing, stickers, and car vinyl. By utilizing this advanced printing solution, the Academy aims to reduce production costs for student-made products sold in the school store. Additionally, the DTF Printer will be accessible to all students in the Academy of Business and Communications, providing them with valuable hands-on experience and fostering innovation in their learning journeys. This grant will benefit 400 students.

Microscope Marvels: Enhancing 2nd Grade Science Learning, Stolley Park Elementary School, $800, Project Leader Kevin Butters. This grant will equip every GIPS second grade classroom with a digital microscope. These learning tools will allow young scientists to explore the microscopic world. From examining the intricate details of plant cells to observing the behaviors of tiny organisms, students will have the opportunity to delve into the wonders of science. These microscopes will ignite curiosity and spark a lifelong passion for learning by providing hands-on experiences. This initiative is part of the district’s commitment to providing high-quality STEM education and preparing students for future success. This grant will benefit 800 students.

Outdoor Classroom Renovation, Grand Island Senior High, $1,000, Project Leader Renee Ekhoff. The grant will enable the school to revitalize the outdoor classroom by replanting native plants and creating a serene environment conducive to learning and reflection. The renovated space will be used for outdoor lessons, quiet contemplation, and hands-on exploration of the natural world. It will also serve as a resource for field trips, inspiring students of all ages to appreciate nature and become stewards of their communities. This grant will benefit 300 students.

Digital Citizenship: Insights from a Legal Perspective, Grand Island Senior High, $1,125, Collaboration of Valerie Porto, Aly Alexander and Ashley Walker. This grant will enable Grand Island Senior High to host Bobby Truhe from KSB Law for an engaging and informative presentation on digital citizenship. As a school attorney, Bobby Truhe addresses legal issues related to students' use of social media platforms such as Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. Using a combination of humor, statistics, and real-life case summaries, he highlights the importance of responsible social media use and the potential consequences of inappropriate behavior. This presentation aims to educate and empower our Freshman and Sophomore students who are more digitally connected than ever before. This grant will benefit 1,200 students in the 9th and 10th grades.

Knickrehm 5th Grade Students to GISH Planetarium, Knickrehm Elementary School, $400, Collaboration of Elizabeth Schott and Angela Jenness. This grant will provide bussing to take Knickrehm students to the planetarium at Grand Island Senior High. GISH has a planetarium and the science department at GISH has invited all 5th grade classes to visit as it directly aligns with the district’s unit of teaching about the night sky. This grant will benefit 40 students in 5th grade.

Walnut Holiday Harmony Walnut Middle School, $350, Project Leader Amy Hanquist Harris. With this grant choir students will be able to spread joy and holiday cheer throughout the community. Instead of a traditional winter concert, the choir will embark on a heartwarming “mini-tour” of local long-term care facilities. Choir members will visit two to three facilities, performing a selection of festive songs and carols. This unique initiative aims to foster intergenerational connections and bring holiday cheer to area seniors. This grant was funded by the Janeth Davis Memorial Grant and will benefit 53 students.

Where the Wild Things Are, Newel and Lincoln Elementary Schools, $800, Project Leader Ryan Hansen. Newell and Lincoln Elementary Schools will team up with artist-in-residence Nancy Fairbanks to bring Maurice Sendak’s classic tale, “Where the Wild Things Are” to life. Students in kindergarten through fifth grade will have the opportunity to create their own clay monsters. With Fairbanks’ guidance, young artists will sculpt, shape, and design creatures that are as unique as their imaginations. This grant will benefit 535 students.

Digital Citizenship: Insights from a Legal Perspective, Westridge Middle School, $625, Project Leader Jacob Morrow. This grant will enable Westridge Middle School to host Bobby Truhe from KSB Law for an engaging and informative presentation on digital citizenship. This grant will benefit 715 students.

Digital Citizenship: Insights from a Legal Perspective, Walnut Middle School, $625, Collaboration of Shane Campbell, Jaime Barrientos and Shane Fernau. This grant will enable Walnut Middle School to host Bobby Truhe from KSB Law for an engaging and informative presentation on digital citizenship. This grant will benefit 830 students.

Picture-Perfect Productions: Elevating School Morning Announcements, Stolley Park Elementary School, $1,248, Collaboration of Kevin Butters and Kylie Ilten. The grant will provide a new digital camera and lens. These tools will allow the school to produce more engaging and visually fun morning announcements for the school. By adding a second camera angle, the production team can create a more immersive viewing experience for students and staff. This will enhance our morning announcements and provide students with valuable hands-on experience in media production. Students involved in the production of the morning announcements will have the opportunity to develop essential skills in camera operation, editing, and storytelling. This grant will benefit 500 students.

Read It and Comprehend It, Stolley Park Elementary School, $43, Collaboration of Amy Schley and Krystal Jepsen. This project will be used by the first graders this year and for years to come. Students will be using the science of reading through magnetic wands and magnetic chips. Students will be using these during WIN time for students of all reading areas. This grant will benefit 42 students.

Digital Citizenship: Insights from a Legal Perspective, Barr Middle School, $625, Project Leader Matt LaCompte. This grant will enable Barr Middle School to host Bobby Truhe from KSB Law for an engaging and informative presentation on digital citizenship. This grant will benefit 703 students.

Our Solar System and Beyond, Gates Elementary School, $850, Collaboration of Sara Robinson, Jenny Nelson, Heather Fucile and Timothy Bloodgood. Students in first, third, and fifth grades are currently studying the solar system and celestial patterns as part of their English Language Arts curriculum. First graders are also exploring the spinning Earth in their science classes. To bring this learning to life and expand students' understanding of the cosmos, the school is partnering with the Edgerton “On the Move” program. A portable planetarium will be brought to the school, offering students an immersive experience of the night sky. Students will have the opportunity to virtually travel through the solar system, explore distant galaxies, and witness celestial phenomena like meteor showers and eclipses. By providing this hands-on experience, the school aims to ignite students' curiosity and inspire a lifelong passion for astronomy and science. This grant will benefit 148 students.

*Decoding our way through First Grade, Shoemaker Elementary School, $1,100, Collaboration of Melissa McDonald, Andrea Hermance, Jocelyn Bloom, Amanda Gifford and Amelia Huerta. This program will provide students with a variety of decodable books, designed to help them practice their phonics skills and build confidence as readers. By providing students with multiple opportunities to read texts that match their phonetic knowledge, the program aims to help them see themselves as capable readers. We want students to believe in themselves and their ability to read, and these books will provide the tools to success. This grant will benefit 80 students.