2018-2019 Grants – $44,945.96

Reynolds Elementary School – $5,000
Reynolds Elementary received a grant for Building a Reading Life, a Pre-K-5 language arts program designed for nearly 800 students. Building a Reading Life is centered on the premise that through establishing the appropriate environment, literacy can be built and students can build their reading life.  Students will be able to engage in meaningful discussion centered around literacy as well as engage in structured independent reading through their access to leveled, organized libraries. The application was submitted by Dr. Angeles Perez, Rebecca Perez and Nicole Sever.

Claughton Middle School – $4,668.95
Claughton Middle School received a grant for 50 eighth-grade students involved in a new DJ Performing Arts program with the objective of developing students’ critical listening, analytical and technological skills.  The equipment will offer students opportunities to learn fundamental concepts and terminology necessary to establish a strong foundation in performing arts. The application was submitted by Terrance Bircher and Melody Lunenburg.

Heritage Elementary School – $4,306.62
Heritage Elementary Characters Like Me, will provide students with a chance to experience literature through a new lens. In alignment with Spring ISD Guiding Principles, literacy is the foundation for academic success. The use of text with authors, illustrations and characterizations that is familiar to scholars will make text-to-self and text-to-world connections make sense. The application was submitted by Quasha Monique Furr.

Anderson Elementary – $4,974.77
Anderson Elementary received a grant for Flexible Seating for Flexible Minds, which will provide flexible seating for students that struggle with staying on task in the classroom and to help stay focused during instruction and ultimately be more successful in the classroom. The application was submitted by Sharon Stryjewski and Katie Lopez.

Hirsch Elementary School – $2,939
Hirsch Elementary received a grant for Bits and Bots, a bilingual fourth- and fifth-grade math and science, and robotic coding club that introduces students to the concept of coding and robotics. Students have the opportunity to learn that anyone can code. The application was submitted by Nancy Gealow, Jacqueline Moreno and Alejandro Urquides.

All Spring ISD Middle Schools – $4,306.62
Each Spring ISD middle school — Bailey, Bammel, Claughton, Dueitt, Roberson, Twin Creeks and Wells — received a grant for Traveling Culture Trunks, which will provide students with a trunk filled with a variety of items that will engage students with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS). These experiences will bring history alive so that students will be able to see and understand the relevance of what is being taught in middle school. The application was submitted by Michelle Neyrey, Susan Pelezo, Eboni Jeanerette, Stephanie Powell and Kenisha Williams.

Spring High School – $9,100
Spring High received a grant for two organizations—Lions Den and Paxton/Pattersons Health Science College & Career Ready Lab. The Lions Den, which received $4,100 in grants, is designed to encourage 500 new and current students in the Career and Technical Education (CTE) Business Pathway to learn how to operate a school-based enterprise. For many students, this project will provide them with first-hand and real-world experience beyond the traditional classroom setting. The application was submitted by Dr. Christina Hinkson, Dawanda Richard, Daniel Lucas, Carla Denney, Toshira Gouard and Nicholas Powell.

The Paxton/Pattersons Health Science College & Career Ready Lab received a $5,000 grant to provide a project-based personalized learning environment for students that includes content delivered through media, writings, and printed materials; and components for activities, college and career research that is 65 percent hands-on. The foundation skills of Spring High School students are reinforced through reading comprehension, math and science connections, and critical and narrative writing activities. The application was submitted by Dr. Valerie Chin, Jennifer Stanfield, Candice Gaither-Sykes, Jennifer Cathey and Tiayannia Polk.

Dekaney High School – $5,000
Dekaney High received a grant for five students within All Abroad, which will provide funding for a new study abroad program at the school. Immersion is arguably one of the most effective ways to successfully acquire language and enrich oneself with the vast world outside of one’s own. This grant will provide resources for students, who would not have the means otherwise, to travel to neighboring cities and states, and expand their knowledge of other languages, people and cultures.  The application was submitted by Jaleesa Brown.

Westfield High School – $4,650
Westfield High received a grant for Tech Me Out! The project is focused on producing stronger student outcomes and achievement on the Biology STAAR End of Course (EOC) assessment by using the “ALL In Learning” system.  Tech Me Out! will provide meaningful ongoing data analysis for the Westfield biology team to use for targeted instructional planning and interventions. The application was submitted by Qwendalyn Grant.

2017-2018 Grants – $39,313.67

Learn Spanish TO Succeed! – $5000.00
The Bammel Middle School is seeking a grant for our “Learn Spanish To Succeed!” Project with the objective of helping all of our at risk and not at risk students to increase their Spanish level of reading, writing, listening, and/or speaking skills at a better grade level.

Submitted by Itzelda D. Lascano – Bammel Middle School

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Click in 2 Success – $5000.00
Click in 2 Success is a catchy, tech savvy way for teachers to immediately check their class for understanding and see their student’s level of comprehension by use of an individualized response pad directly connected to the teacher’s computer.

Submitted by Vickie Bacon – Reynolds Elementary

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The Sound of Elevated Learning – $4981.75
The Sound of Elevated Learning will provide the equipment necessary for a richer learning and recognition experience for all students at Spring Early College Academy. The equipment will offer students opportunities for leadership, public speaking, classroom learning, and student honors.

Submitted by Valerie Hassel, Kelly Ellis, Shannon Dwyer – Spring Early College Academy

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Great CHARACTER is a Work of HeART – $3612.47
Great CHARACTER is a Work of HeART is a collaborative effort between the counselor and art teacher to help develop positive character traits and social emotional learning within our school community. The school wide initiative will include counselor lessons and art projects as well as visual displays focused on increasing awareness of the district character education plan.

Submitted by Lisa Hayes and Deanna Wesner – Winship Elementary

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Small Group Flexible Seating – $479.94
This project will help to provide a flexible seating option for students. This will allow the students limited freedom of movement, while allowing them to maintain better focus while working in teacher small groups.

Submitted by Allison Saurage – Winship Elementary

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WATCH 1: Police Mobile Learning Center – $8,134.28
The purpose of this project is to create a mobile training center for police and emergency services, WATCH 1, that can reach at least 18 elementary and middle schools for recruiting and educational purposes. Spring ISD STAAR and graduation scores are the target of this innovative mentorship that is primed to make a positive social impact on the community and its relationship with police as well as enhance our academic prowess.

Submitted by Keith Underwood, Mary Scherzer, Anthony Jones, Waylon Randolph and
Katerina Wingfields – Carl Wunsche Sr. HS and all elementary/middle school campuses.

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Children’s Museum of Houston Field Experience – $2000.00
Students can participate in action-packed, hands on programs in science and technology, history and culture, health and human development, math, literacy and the arts through TEKS and national standards aligned interactive exhibits and innovative workshops.

Submitted by Crystal Gosselin, Maria Trujillo, Zuriel Rubio, Ashley Wall and Arleisha White –Major Elementary School

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Reading Music for the 21st Century – $549.00
This technology will allow students to read music and mark their music appropriately. It will also allow the choir department to incorporate technology on a daily basis.

Submitted by Stephanie Barrett-Summerson – Twin Creeks Middle School

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Children’s Museum of Houston Filed Trip – $1244.69
The purpose of the field trip to the Children’s museum of Houston is to expose our 2nd grade students to a real-life experience. They will be able to explore and participate by using hands on activities. The field trip will consist of five different student-centered activities, lasting twenty minutes each. As a result, our 2nd grade students will have the opportunity to exercise high order thinking skills related to the content area such as Science, Math, and Writing.

Submitted by Giana E. Diaz, Patricia Gonzalez, Yasmin Hamilton, Shashauna McIver and Chairty Gallien – Helen Major Elementary School

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I-READ – $995.00
Children in 4 fourth grade classes will be able to hear fiction and content related non-fiction that they are not yet able to read independently using iPods. Experienced readers will provide them with a model that will help them improve their fluency, phrasing, word accuracy and reading rate, components research a has determined positively impacts comprehension. Content related texts will provide students with access to academic vocabulary and higher level concepts. Students who are learning English as a second language will be able to hear books reads in English that will help them improve their English language proficiency, vocabulary development as well as access concepts difficult to attain in their second language.

Submitted by Khristina Hogan – Heritage Elementary

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Clark Primary Readers Under Construction – $2947.00
The purpose of this proposal is to provide a take home reading program for scholars with poor reading skills.

Submitted by Brittany Joseph and Bridget Harrison –Clark Primary

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Read To Success – $4369.54
The purpose of this proposal is to provide reading intervention for our students with poor reading skills. Beneke Elementary has 499 at risk students.

Submitted by Danita Birdow and Allison Boyer – Beneke Elementary

2016-2017 Grants – $6,586.54

Tiny Worlds – $1,407.54
Today’s technology can impact the tiniest of Worlds. In our 21st century Science classrooms, we want to bring the microscope worlds to the students through a technology that allows the teacher to examine those worlds through a special microscope that will then project the image on a screen and allow the teacher to detail and share with the class.

Submitted by Jennifer Ellison and Chase Jones-Twin Creeks Middle School

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Gradual Release Document Camera Project – $4,179.00
The Gradual Release Document Camera Project at Spring High School will address both instructional and disciplinary concerns. All students in an English class from 9th through 12th grade will benefit from this project.

Submitted by Tess Bennett-Spring High School

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Boer Goat Breeding – $1,000.00
We will be breeding Boer goats to see the process of gestation, genetics, anatomy and physiology, and economics. We would like to artificially inseminate a herd of goats with different sires, “dads”, to see what the genetic differences they will have. Once the kids are born then the care and responsibility of a mock farm will teach the students dietary needs, disease prevention, and the livestock production process. Towards the end of the school year the students will see the ending process at a slaughter house. They will see the anatomy and physiology of the animals’ inner workings while seeing any differences among genetic makeup.

Submitted by Bobby Heiser-Westfield High School, Roberson Middle School

2015-2016 Grants – $28,861

STEM-ulating Young Minds Through Robotics – $9,922.77
The purpose of this proposed grant is to provide students an introduction to STEM education through robotics.  This is a field where women and minorities are underrepresented.  Teachers hope to change the statistics for young women and minorities by introducing them to this field.

Jenkins Elementary and Ponderosa Elementary Schools
Wesley Vaughan, Shanna Swearingen

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Student Global Leadership Institute – $5,000
Carl Wunsche Sr. High Student Global Leadership Institute was created to develop the leaders of our future workforce and communities.  The Institute will teach students how to become leaders of themselves and their peers presenting the opportunity for students to create positive influences and effectiveness on a student-to-student level in an environment that is relevant to their generation.  Through the institute, facilitators will introduce students to principles, experiences, skill sets, and practices that students can use to transform values into actions, problems into solutions, dreams to realities, failures into learning experiences, and risks to rewards.

Carl Wunsche Sr. High School
Phylicia Hill, Karla Sandoval, Lisa Chebret, Tekedra Pierre, Austin Hayward

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SMARTer Math – $5,000
Bailey Middle School proposes the integration of ten SMART Slate WS200 wireless slates for use in math classrooms to better serve students, increase student achievement and proficiency in areas of technology and mathematics, and support and enhance the learning of its student population.

Rickey C. Bailey Middle School
Tracey Taylor

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Scholars On Stage – $639.95
The Scholars On Stage Project will encourage involvement in the arts, consistent attendance, and build communication skills while at the same time strengthening reading comprehension skills and improving self esteem.  

Hoyland Elementary School
Maria Cano, Kelli Lewis, Shannon Becks

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Forensic Science District Cohort – $8,298
The purpose of this project is to provide an equitable Forensic Science experience for all students at Spring ISD high schools through access to the appropriate and required materials, as specified in Texas Essential Knowledge Standards.  With this access, a Forensic Science professional learning community of cohort teachers can develop common gradual release model curriculum including checks for understanding and suggestions for modifications for students with learning or language difficulties.  

Wunche, Dekaney, Spring and Westfield High Schools
Kara Marquez, Robin Bailey, Phelecia Parks, Zuriel Morales

2014-2015 Grants – $26,250

V.I.E.W. Vocabulary in Entertaining Ways – $2,300
Kindergarten students at Major Elementary will dramatically improve their vocabulary building skills through the use of the PAVEd for Success Vocabulary Building Program and a dramatic play area. The dramatic play area will focus on working with students to develop or strengthen vocabulary skills through abstract thinking. Through the use of dramatic play kids can be anything they want just by pretending while building their vocabulary at the same time! Major Elementary Students will V.I.E.W. (Vocabulary In Entertaining Ways) their way to success!

Major Elementary School
Jamie Bates, Kathy Francis, Allison Johnson, J.C. Harville, Jacqueline Deas

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See the Music – $2,250
See the Music will draw visual learners further into musical success by providing them immediate visual feedback regarding their performance. Our program will also meet “digital natives” in their element and promote their engagement, while encouraging all students to strive for excellence.

Bailey Middle School
Suzanne Ray, Victor Flowers, Michael Krueger, Nathan Reeves

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Bocce Bonanza – $6,400
Bocce Bonanza will provide all Spring ISD secondary schools with the necessary equipment and tools to participate in district-wide Special Olympics traditional and unified bocce programs, with the end goal of participating in area and state games. The programs will include students served in both general and special education programs through Unified Sports, awareness, and empowerment/leadership through volunteering and planning, and encourage awareness, participation and growth for families and other staff.

Dueitt Middle School, Dekaney High School
M.J. Carvell, Katrina Barton, Carolyn Mayer, Susanna McKelvy-Guinn, Frances Banks

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Ways to Use Words with the Houston Symphony – $3,800
Seventh grade students at Wells Middle School will attend a performance of the Houston Symphony through the Cameron Explorer Concert Series to gain a cultural and educational experience. Students will complete lesson resources developed by the symphony staff as well as write a personal narrative.

Wells Middle School
Devon Pickett-Hammel, Reva Bland, Denise Coello

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Makerbot Academy – $11,500
Makerbot 3D printer/Makerware software. This multicampus grant for Dekaney, Spring, Westfield and Wunsche High Schools, provides the schools with the latest technology available in a 3D printer. With the focus on Engineering and STEM Pathways, this innovative technology will stimulate students to create and develop projects in Architecture, Drafting, Digital Electronics or Robotics.

Wunsche, Dekaney, Spring, Westfield High Schools
Tiara Woods, Justin Jackson, Tobin Giruad, Chris Igwe, Joseph Malchar

2013-2014 Grants

Lyrical Learning – $800
Music goes beyond entertainment values; it promotes students’ academic achievement. This grant will support the development of a music program that will have a positive impact on student academics. Lyrical Learning is intended to advance English fluency through the use of divers and cultural music so that all students may improve on the STAAR standardized test-taking and that ELL students may also improve on the TELPAS.

Lewis Elementary School
Seba Houston

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Creative Family Literacy – $1,900
Creative Family Literacy sessions are designed to help parents of kindergartners whisk their children away into the creative land of literature and arts. Parents will be equipped with tools and resources to enhance their child’s reading, creativity, and critical thinking skills. By building a strong foundation at home, the parents will enrich their children and help guide them towards achieving long-term academic success.

Marshall Elementary School
Tasha James, Gwendolyn Wright, Cindy Zwerneman, Alex Nativi

3M: Momentum Mechanics and Maniacs – $3,500
3M: Momentum Mechanics and Maniacs is an experience in force and motion. Students will make and design their own roller coasters. It will be a “thrilling” experience!

Smith Elementary School
Nancy Gealow, Terry Genseal

StrataLogica – $4,500
This project will use an interactive, web-based product called StrataLogica published by Herff Jones Nystrom which combines traditional 2D maps and atlases with the 3D satellite imaging and terrain of Google Earth to provide cross-curricular, collaborative learning experiences to 21st century students.

Twin Creeks Middle School
Shelly Tindle, Katherine Bailey, Charity Morgan, Mark Murphy, Michael Culbertson, Tammy Spangler, Albert Brooks, Daniel Garcia, Evangeline Welch

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TAAPS (Tablets and APPS) – $1,600
The goal of TAAPS is to provide students with autism and intellectual disabilities multiple approaches to learning and reinforcement of skills. Electronic tablets and applications provide an additional response mode for teaching academics, daily living, and social skills to students with autism and ID.

Twin Creeks Middle School
Ramona Buffington, Kathy Vestal Brown

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Pretty Brainy S.T.E.M. Workshop – $9,800
Employers today report that a majority of job candidates lack problem solving skills. The goal of this initiative is to increase awareness and interest for our female population in the S.T.E.M. Academy at Spring High School, consequently preparing them better for the career market several years from now. Our Academy currently has a small enrollment of young ladies and would like to increase that number by demonstrating that Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics are favorable subjects through a framework that is favorable to students.

Spring HS, Twin Creeks MS, Dueitt MS, Bailey MS
Debra Beeman, Kerri Saffer

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Outdoor Classroom – $5,000
The outdoor classroom is a planned educational play area, using the natural environment to provide children in Early Learning Academy opportunities to reach developmental milestones physically, emotionally and socially. We serve ages six weeks to 3 years old. Students enrolled in Principles of Education and Agricultural Mechanics and Metal Technology will collaborate in order to teach, design and construct the area.

Westfield High School
Carol Briggs, Kimosha Seastrunk, Arlinda Turner

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Math Blast – $5,000
Throughout the spring semester of the 2013-14 school year, we are enrolling students that are successful on the Algebra 1 STARR Retest into an online SAT/ACT Math Prep program already in place at Westfield High School. By building on their recent success, we will solidify their confidence and self-esteem in the first step towards higher education.

Westfield High School
Amy Keene, Robert Kearney, Van Polk

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Even Start Multimedia Family Check Out Library – $4,500
The Even Start Family Literacy Program would like to create a multimedia checkout library consisting of appropriate printed materials, portable internet ready devices, and musical/listening activities, to offer greater interactive opportunities for families to continue intergenerational literacy building and language development on-site and at home settings. The library would encourage early childhood literacy development, creating greater opportunities for primary grade educational success. In addition, adult reading would be supported through multi-genre high interest titles, study materials for basic adult education and GED preparation, and parenting education.

Spring ISD Even Start Family Literacy Program
Elizabeth Villalta

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V.I.E.W. Vocabulary in Entertaining Ways – $2,300
Kindergarten students at Major Elementary will dramatically improve their vocabulary building skills through the use of the PAVEd for Success Vocabulary Building Program and a dramatic play area. The dramatic play area will focus on working with students to develop or strengthen vocabulary skills through abstract thinking. Through the use of dramatic play kids can be anything they want just by pretending while building their vocabulary at the same time! Major Elementary Students will V.I.E.W. (Vocabulary In Entertaining Ways) their way to success!

Major Elementary School
Jamie Bates, Kathy Francis, Allison Johnson, J.C. Harville, Jacqueline Deas

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See the Music – $2,250
See the Music will draw visual learners further into musical success by providing them immediate visual feedback regarding their performance. Our program will also meet “digital natives” in their element and promote their engagement, while encouraging all students to strive for excellence.

Bailey Middle School
Suzanne Ray, Victor Flowers, Michael Krueger, Nathan Reeves

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Bocce Bonanza – $6,400
Bocce Bonanza will provide all Spring ISD secondary schools with the necessary equipment and tools to participate in district-wide Special Olympics traditional and unified bocce programs, with the end goal of participating in area and state games. The programs will include students served in both general and special education programs through Unified Sports, awareness, and empowerment/leadership through volunteering and planning, and encourage awareness, participation and growth for families and other staff.

Dueitt Middle School, Dekaney High School
M.J. Carvell, Katrina Barton, Carolyn Mayer, Susanna McKelvy-Guinn, Frances Banks

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Ways to Use Words with the Houston Symphony – $3,800
Seventh grade students at Wells Middle School will attend a performance of the Houston Symphony through the Cameron Explorer Concert Series to gain a cultural and educational experience. Students will complete lesson resources developed by the symphony staff as well as write a personal narrative.

Wells Middle School
Devon Pickett-Hammel, Reva Bland, Denise Coello

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Makerbot Academy – $11,500
Makerbot 3D printer/Makerware software. This multicampus grant for Dekaney, Spring, Westfield and Wunsche High Schools, provides the schools with the latest technology available in a 3D printer. With the focus on Engineering and STEM Pathways, this innovative technology will stimulate students to create and develop projects in Architecture, Drafting, Digital Electronics or Robotics.

Wunsche, Dekaney, Spring, Westfield High Schools
Tiara Woods, Justin Jackson, Tobin Giruad, Chris Igwe, Joseph Malchar

2012-2013 Grants

Economics/Government in Your World – $2,850

Students will use video cameras to create digital media for their Government and Economics courses to teach others about important concepts.

Wunsche Sr. High School
Dana Tabor

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Bring Your “A” Game – $1,300

One of the major complaints of employers is that the current generation of employees has no work ethic.  Simply put, many students have never been taught the importance of integrity and work ethics.  This engaging curriculum addresses the 7 “A’s” of work ethics (attitude, attendance, acceptance, accountability, ambition, appearance, appreciation.

Wunsche Sr. High School
Jill Tackett

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A Healthy Dose of the Basics – $3,950

This will introduce additional opportunities for all students in the medical pathways at Carl Wunsche Sr. High School to read books that give true insights into the field of health care, culminating in better comprehension, as well as analytical and critical thinking for all students.

Wunsche Sr. High School
D’hania Miller, Debbie Forrest, Jill Tackett, Olga Vega, Lisa Cranford, Anita Walther

 

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AP Math Lab – $4,900

The goal of this initiative is to create a technologically enriched learning environment for AP mathematic students.  The endeavor supports STEM based research on success in mathematics and post graduation education.

Dekaney High School
Kevin Moore, Neil Jody, Lauren Cassell, Cynthia Worley

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Literacy + Technology = Success:  eReaders in the Library! – $5,500

This is a pilot project to test the use of the Nook Color in the library to promote pleasure reading as well as curriculum-related literacy in classrooms.  The eReaders in this project will be used to test the viability of the devices to enhance the literacy skills of ESL students, to test policy and procedures for checking the devices out to students for use in classrooms, and to promote pleasure reading of magazines in the library.

Spring High School
Katie Van Slightenhorst, Melissa Williamson

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The Young Writer Grant – $800

This project involves discovering new writing techniques.  Our goal is to improve STAAR results and student performance in the classroom.

Bammel Middle School
Alicia Robinson, Talia Presley

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I-Gig Science – $7,300

Beneke Elementary is adding an extension lab to Beneke’s Nutty Nature Outdoor Discovery Learning Center.  The I-Gig Science Indoor Discovery Lab will connect technology and science to engage students with hands-on experience that promotes higher level thinking skills and technological experiences necessary for success in higher endeavors.  The students will also continue participating in hands-on experiences which will combine technology with science through different lab stations such as a butterfly habitat, lady bug habitat, earth worm farm, fresh water aquarium, indoor greenhouse and other activities to increase science awareness.

Beneke Elementary School
Laura Zambrano, Liliana Senter, Kimberly Keto, Jennifer Rudolphy

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The Latino Family Literacy Project—Helping Families to Help Their Children Read – $3,400

We plan to assist parents in providing the skills needed to develop a family reading program that emphasizes the importance of reading in the home and how it will help them to assist their children in becoming successful in the school environment.  The program will also be utilized to assist our bilingual parents in developing English skills so that they can also become proficient in the English language.

Ponderosa Elementary School
Jesus Garcia, Vanessa Olmeda, Teresa Hernandez, Karina Cazares, Ana Martinez, Fernando Cifuentes

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Interactive Statistics – $975

The goal of this initiative is to create a technology-enriched environment to process and interpret concrete data collection methods for AP Statistics.  This endeavor supports both STEM-based and AP research on success in statistics and post graduate education.

Dekaney High School
Kevin Moore

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The Book Club – $16,500

A book club for Response to Intervention, Tier 2 students utilizing the Successful Reader Program.  The Successful Reader program exposes students to literature; builds experiences, vocabulary and comprehension.

Jenkins and Anderson Elementary Schools
Joy McGarry, Tweaka Dilek

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MacGamut 6 Project – $650

To provide the AP Music Theory students with an individualized, personalized curriculum for the aural training required for the AP Music Theory Test.

Dekaney High School
Benjamin Clark

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Technology is for ALL of US – $5,200

The Technology is for ALL of US Grant is going to be a way to get technology at the fingertips of our Pre-K students at Heritage Elementary.  The Technology is for ALL of US tablet TeachSmart Learning System programs will get the students motivated to learn by offering engaging lessons and educational games catered to each student’s abilities.

Heritage Elementary School
Jennifer Goodson, Marilen Martinez

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Sights and Sounds of Reading:  Using WhisperPhones to Engage Readers – $800

Whisper Phones are acoustical voice-feedback handsets that will enable learners to focus and hear the sounds that make up words more clearly.  Whisper Phones will be used during “reading to self” periods and during writers’ workshops when students proofread their writing.  The Whisper Phone duets will be used during the “buddy reading” portion of literacy stations.  Whisper Phones keep all students engaged and are highly beneficial in assisting auditory learners become fully engaged.

Heritage Elementary School
Susan Langlois, Geneva Floyd, Pattie Johnson, Irasema O’Sullivan, Amber Wilkins, Kim To, Carmen Sidel, Shandrea Silmon, Sally Falkner, Nohra Torres, Luz Velasquez, Regan Taylor

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Heritage Go Green Group – $2,250

The Go Green Group will further the efforts of the nationally recognized Heritage Recycling program by continuing the study of renewable and nonrenewable resources and their effects on our environment.  A group of dedicated students who have previously demonstrated an interest and dedication to the “green” cause will commit themselves to the Go Green Group after school program, where they can expect to extend their learning and understanding of the “green” cause.  The Go Green Group is designed to meet the learning goals of students having “Logical/ Mathematical” interest and intelligence as well as those with “Naturalist” interests and Intelligence (Howard Gardner, Multiple Intelligences) and whose interest and talent fall outside of music clubs, sports clubs, word clubs and book clubs.

Heritage Elementary School
Mary Henderson, Susan Langlois

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Composing Across the Campus – $10,000

Composing Across the Campus is a collaborative effort between Bammel Middle School and its feeder schools to compose and perform a student created composition of music.  Composing Across the Campus will succeed by motivating students to work together through online “cloud” resources, Web 2.0 applications, and multimedia technology.  This project will successfully apply music to mathematics and instructional technology.

Bammel Middle School; Eickenroht, Ponderosa, Meyer elementary schools
Joe Clark, Kristen Sillyman, Kim Gonzales, Vicki Wilkins Herzog, Charlotte Hatley

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Hands on Increases the Pulse of Success – $5,000

The purpose of this grant proposal is to provide an increase in student comprehension of the cardiovascular and respiratory systems with a focus on the electrical conduction system.  Through hands on experience, students will be more successful in passing summative assessments and industry certifications.

Wunsche Sr. High School
Lisa Cranford, D’Hania Miller, Jill Tackett

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Tomorrow’s Fathers – $4500

Tomorrow’s Fathers will support male teen parents in job preparation and job placement leading to successful high school graduation and college enrollment.  Tomorrow’s Fathers students will gain exposure to the professional community supported by knowledge that leads to access and growth.

Wunsche Sr. High School
Albertine Teresa Walton, Chris Daniel, Arlinda Turner

2011-2012 Grants

On the Job – $2,700

Students in grades 4 and 5 will utilize their Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and humanities knowledge by working in job centers including the school store, weather center, nutrition depot, research and development center, office administration, ambassadors, zoo, garden and recreation station.  Students will experience the application and interview process as well as research job requirements, employment practices and skills needed.  Students will analyze each job task to determine the most effective and efficient way of completing the task and will present that information in a proposal.

Ponderosa Elementary
Jennifer Meehan, Donna Riojas, Thad Riggins, Debbie Graham, Karol Cargill

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Mathletics Fit Club:  “No Sweat” for Classroom Teachers – $3,000

The Clark Cat Family will enhance their Mathematics and other core content area skills through physical activities during classroom instruction, physical education class, and recess time.  Utilizing the Mathletics Fit Club program, all students (Grades Pre Kindergarten through Second Grade) will participate in fun physical education activities.  These activities can be held both indoor and outdoor to support Mathematics concepts.

Clark Primary
Linsey Tipton, Lucy Ashcroft, Candace Welch, Sherrille Smith, Yolanda Bryant, Lakisha Williams

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STEMing for the Future – $5,000

Northgate Crossing Elementary will enhance student’s knowledge of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) related careers, by offering hands-on “STEM Learning Nights,” once a month from January 2012 through April 2012.  They will discover the many options of careers that are not as well known within the elementary grades.  Students will explore as well as be engaged and motivated to learn more about these careers and what they involve.

Northgate Crossing Elementary
Micah Gonzales, Rosa Nagaraj, Kristi Brown

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Parenting “Two-Gether” – Teen Parent Couple’s Project – $1,100

The project is designed to facilitate healthy co-parenting relationships between parenting teens.  The goal is to help them learn skills to work together as a team to raise their child.  Children tend to do better and be happier when they have the love and support of both parents even if it’s from two different households.

Westfield High School
Arlinda Turner, Christopher Paul

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iLearn with iPad – $4,500

Since technology is such a large part of society, students in Life Skills and Structured Learning classrooms need to learn lifelong, functional skills such as use of technology, accessing information, and communication in addition to basic skills in reading, math, writing and science.  This opportunity will provide a life-changing tool to give students who otherwise wouldn’t be independent, the first steps toward the ability to live functionally and successfully and contribute to modern society.

Jenkins Elementary
Christine Grant, Teresa Caronna

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Marshall’s EcoPond:  Engage Me! – $5,500

Authentic student engagement is an integral part of ensuring that students acquire the knowledge they need to become successful adults.  Having a hands-on, live pond ecosystem that is accessible to all students will give them the opportunity to compare and contrast living and non-living things, investigate the life cycle of plants and animals within this ecosystem and observe and collect data on how factors of the environment affect an ecosystem.

Marshall Elementary
Heather Spencer, Jamie Merillat, Joanna Brennan

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In-House Field Trip Experience – $1,100

We want to provide our 5^th Grade students with an “In-House Science Field Trip” experience that combines science with creativity to enhance learning.  The program addresses different learning styles and encompasses 3 days.  It includes presentations and hands-on discoveries of materials for endangered animals, tropical rainforests and a separate lab station activity for each class.

Cooper Elementary
Robert Silvy, Leticia Gonzalez

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Beneke’s “Nutty Nature” Outdoor Discovery Learning Center – $1,500

Beneke Elementary is utilizing its nature trail to create an outdoor classroom habitat where discovery learning and science content can be taught.  Students can participate in a variety of hands-on activities such as an archaeological dig, desert habitat, butterfly garden, vegetable garden and a variety of other grade level appropriate activities.

Beneke Elementary
Jennifer Rudolphy, Liliana Senter, Adolfo Sanchez, Laura Zambrano, Monica Hernandez, Kimberlee Mascaritola, Emilie Heath, Trang Lequang, Angela Roberts, Carol Wegrich, Susan Derkowski

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Looking to Write:  An Art & Writing Experience – $2,325

Fourth grade students will take a museum field trip where they will learn how to use artwork to improve writing skills.  Skills learned will be taken from SISD curriculum, TEKS and STAAR expectations.

All Elementary Schools
Rick Ghinelli, Dianne Brazell

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Reynolds Reading Rendezvous – $5,450

The Reynolds Reading Rendezvous is planned as a collaborative effort between Reynolds Elementary staff, community volunteers and businesses in the area.  The Reynolds Reading Rendezvous is planned to be a motivational and engaging program to reach struggling readers and provide opportunities to maintain and improve reading skills.

Reynolds Elementary School
Dorathea Wiederhold, Denise Neskorik, Linda Burgess, Donna Akins, Nicole Sever

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Apple iPad Mobile Learning Lab – $5,100

The Apple iPad Mobile Learning Lab will provide an opportunity for students to engage in hands-on problem solving situations, develop amazing projects, and allow teachers to implement a rich digital learning environment.  In a world where technology moves on an exponential scale, students will take learning to the next level through the iPad experience.

Reynolds Elementary School
Brian Shillingburg

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A Bird’s Eye View – $5,000

Authentic student engagement and discovery is an integral part of ensuring that students acquire the knowledge they need to become successful adults.  Having hands-on, real world experiences, such as building/designing birdhouses and observing and maintaining proper food quantities can be a wonderful way for children to learn about nature and stay engaged at the same time.

Marshall Elementary School
Kristina Havemann, Kelly Green, Jamie Merillat

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iKids + iPads = IDEAL – $5,000

Our desire is to launch children’s voracious learning appetites into a frenzy using the “magic touch” of the iPad 2.  iPad applications enable students to attain higher academic achievement through a totally hands-on engaged approach emphasizing rigor and relevance.

Meyer Elementary School
Sarah Bennett Duncan, Jennifer Price

2010-2011 Grants

Anderson Museum – $2,700

A simple hallway will be transformed into an ever-changing art museum that can be used by students, teachers, parents and community members.  Local artists will also be invited to display their creations.   Visitors will view art, study genres, experience a historical perspective through timelines of the art displayed as well as maps showing where the artist lives/lived and where the art is currently housed.

Anderson Elementary School
Gwendolyn Wright, Amy Bjork, Derrick Gossett, Heather Spencer

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Going Canyon Crazy – $6,650

Earth Science will come alive for students at five Spring elementaries as their schools participate in Going Canyon Crazy.  A giant inflatable model of a canyon will transport our students on a virtual field trip they will never forget, all without getting on a bus!!

Eickenroht, Hoyland, Beneke, Major and Booker elementaries
Stephanie Sheffield, Lana Adams, Laura Zambrano, Marilyn Dickinson, Kristen Reich

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Olympians’ Quest – $1,310

Fifth grade students will arrive to find their hallway transformed into a Greek façade.  They will be assigned to a “house” where they will complete daily quests related to the exciting adventure into the world of Greek mythology.

Eickenroht Elementary School
Stephanie Sheffield, Kelly Hamilton-McMahon, Mandy Fuchs, Robbie Green

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Ready! Set! Read! – $2,975

The Ready! Set! Read! Project is a unique opportunity for families with pre-kindergarten students to learn early literacy skills that will encourage their children to succeed academically.  This project will not only share quality literature, but will also teach families ways to build on their children’s existing knowledge, strengths and interests while developing reading strategies that can be used at home.

Hoyland Elementary School
Terra Almogabar-Lozano, Ann Avila

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The Greenhouse Project – $5,000

The Greenhouse Project will have an impact on student learning due to integrated experiences with mathematics, science and writing.  Emphasis will be focused on questioning and problem solving through a unique outdoor experience while allowing students to gain conceptual knowledge in a science environment.  Students will also take responsibility for caring for the environment in which they will be working.

Lewis Elementary School
Heriberto Rodriguez, Michelle Elmore, Antoine Turner, Aisha Holmes, Miriam Pinotti, Alex Javoin

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How Do Sports Measure Up? – $1,975

Sports is an area in which most children can relate and be actively engaged.  Our students will explore the elements of math and science in a sports focused adventure camp academy week that will also include high school coaches and athletes as guest speakers.

Ponderosa Elementary School
Donna Riojas, Kayle Landry, Thad Riggins, Lori Culberson, Dr. Fred Walker, Brendell Reece, Deborah Graham

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Capturing the Nation: Through Traveling Trunks – $4,950

Students will be exposed to the cultural diversity and rich history of four regions of the United States: north east, south east, southern and western.  The research team will gain a first-hand look of the richness our country while developing Traveling Trunks containing artifacts, photos and other items necessary to bring the culture of the area “Alive”.

Roberson Middle School
Carol Thue, Susan Gregurek

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The Statistics of Living the Vision 2015 – $4,725

Fatal Vision Goggles will introduce students to statistical analysis of real world data regarding the statistics of underage drinking and driving while intoxicated. Use of the Fatal Vision Goggles, in the AP statistics classroom, will also increase the rigor of the AP Statistics course while preparing students for the AP Statistics exam through hands-on laboratory instruction and application of statistical analysis via scientific methods.

Spring, Westfield, Wunsche high schools
Robert Hanchett, Erik Hedstrom, Bob DeFazio

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Capturing Minds, Capturing Language –  $3,600

The use of video cameras will aid in Project Based Learning strategies and activities by Language Other Than English (LOTE) teachers.  This will enable students to express themselves in the target language while acquiring the necessary skills to master the content.  Audio visual production of original meaningful first person materials will engage approximately 600 Spanish, French and Latin digital era student and make their learning experience more objective, visual and realistic.

Carl Wunsche Sr. High School
Margarita Serrano, Claudia Lara, Olga Rosino, Xavi Salat-Foix

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GREEN – Growing Resources for Environmental and Educational Needs – $10,000

 GREEN (Growing Resources for Environmental and Educational Needs) Learning Centers will enhance a new understanding, awareness and acceptance of environmental science within Spring ISD and the surrounding community.  GREEN Learning Centers will be conveniently located at each of the four high school campuses and will serve as a resource center for educational opportunities for learners of all ages through field experiences, innovative community workshops and a summer environmental science camp.  Creative programs such as Upside-Down or Right Side Up and Bridging the Gap will target elementary and middle school students at the center. Monthly community outreach workshops will target 1,000 of our community members.

Carl Wunsche Sr., Dekaney, Spring and Westfield high schools
Jessica Graham, Carling Ludwig, Demond Spiller, Jane Hartensteiner, Courtney Elmore, Erin Walker, James Kimmey, Tatiana Richards, Charles James

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Fashion Recycled – $975

Fashion Design students will design real fashion pieces and complete hands-on projects using recycled materials.  The students will also develop a prototype lesson for the creation of clothing pieces using recycled materials, methods for researching how different materials are recycled and the impact on the environment.  This project will assist the 75 participants in writing and critical thinking skills, as well as build their personal portfolios.

Dekaney High School
Erin Mahaffey

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Butterfly Habitat:  Experiencing Butterflies Fluttering By – $4,950

Kindergarten, first, fourth and fifth grade students will use scientific inquiry methods and actively participate in outdoor investigations using direct interaction within a butterfly habitat.  Students will complete investigations using their field guide created throughout the year to complete grade specific projects demonstrating their understanding of the life cycles, plant species and interdependence that occurs within the natural habitat.  Funding includes the butterfly pavilion, to be housed at Winship Elementary, as well as plants, birdfeeders, books, and student journals.

Winship Elementary
Crystal Taylor, Amanda Camacho, Donna Gill, Charles Barnhouse

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“Kindle” the Reading Flame – $64,530

Adding eReaders to the reading program will allow students to experience their text using technology that allows them not only to read their assigned reading, but also allows struggling readers the ability to have text-to-speech features.  In addition, there are special features that are especially useful for Special Education and Dyslexia programs as developed in conjunction with the student’s Speech and Language Pathologists.  Bilingual Education would be assisted by availability of books in Spanish.  Kindle is the approved vendor for SISD. This project will provide 10 eReaders and 10 eBooks for all 27 elementary schools.

Jenkins Elementary on behalf of all Spring ISD elementary schools
Teresa Caronna, Christine Grant

2009-2010 Grants

USING LEGO MINDSTORMS ROBOTICS IN OUR DIGITAL ENGINEERING CLASS – $10,000

The grant will provide students the opportunity to combine science, technology, engineering, and mathematics education through the use of robotics in an engaging, hands-on environment.  The Lego Mindstorms Robotics kits are an important extension of our digital engineering course.  The students will engage in a twelve week section on robotics culminating in a three week final project where they will design, build and program a robot to perform a specific task.

Spring, Westfield, Dekaney high schools
Ken Mosley, Janae Strickland, Archie Wright

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INVENTOR’S CLUB – $700

The goal of this project is to foster the development of problem solving and critical thinking skills by allowing the students to learn about inventors and the invention process.  Students will have the opportunity to follow the same steps and procedures that an inventor would follow in developing an invention.

McNabb Elementary                                         
Paulina Washington, Kristin Wright, Eboni Taylor

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ART CARS AND KIDDOS! – $925

Art students at Dueitt Middle School will create an art car.  Students and their parents will participate with their art car in the oldest and largest art car parade in the world…The Houston Art Car Parade.  We have a unique opportunity because The Knights of Columbus have offered a Chevrolet Camaro convertible for the students to transform.  (The Knights of Columbus will retain title to the vehicle and will take care of auto insurance).

Dueitt Middle School
Sandra Newton

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MAKING IT “CONCRETE” – $3,000

A 20×20 concrete game board will be created on the Ponderosa playground that can be used by teachers to teach and reinforce skills being taught in the classroom and provide students with an area in which they can utilize for creative physical play.

Ponderosa Elementary School
Deborah Graham, Donna Riojas, Thad Riggins, Lori Culberson, Gail Tate, Vanessa Olmeda, Kayle Landry

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SOLAR POWERED POND – $3,600

A self sufficient solar powered pond will be constructed.  The pond will be available to all students, PK-5, and teachers as a teaching tool and reference point for information retrieval.

Anderson Elementary School
Eric Moons

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AROUND THE WORLD IN 7 DAYS – $1,760

The 2^nd grade students will participate in a research-based unit of an assigned continent.  Each classroom will become a “living museum” to display what they have learned about the culture, food, clothing, weather, landmarks and landforms of the land.

McNabb Elementary School
Diana Saylak, Kamerin Koepke, Sarah Cue, Toscia Arvie, Marcela Serrano, Christina Landrum, Isreal Olmos

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5TH GRADE SCIENCE ACADEMY – $3,400

The concept of a Science Academy is brought to Meyer Elementary with the assistance of Westfield and Wunsche High School students along with 8^th grade students from Dr. Edward Roberson Middle School.  The middle and high school students will mentor Meyer Elementary students to help them break up Earth Science objectives, which students continuously struggle with.  Science learning will be enhanced through peer interaction and school partnerships with multiple labs, which emphasize critical Earth Science TEKS.

Dr. Edward Roberson Middle School and Meyer Elementary School
Carol Thue, Stacey Jurecka, Claudia Zimmer, Soledad Sanchez, Karen Dyer, Jennifer Millington, Michelle Allen

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TEXAS HISTORY, A THEATRICAL EXPERIENCE – $2,800

The Razorback Theater at Dr. Edward Roberson Middle School will take 4^th and 7^th grades students back in time, with the production of “Swept Back to a Texas Future: An Original Historical Musical”, written by Peggy Purser Freeman.  Through this multi-sensory experience the whole child will be engaged in what it has taken for Texas to become what we are today.

Dr. Edward Roberson Middle School and All Elementary Schools
Carol Thue, Roy Brooks, Heather Cleavelin, Jason Schermerhorn, Laura Kress, Jim DeRouen

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MAKING CONNECTIONS – $1,460

Our parents are receptive to parent meetings that are organized in a hands-on/manipulative based setting.  This grant seeks funding for The Parent Connection for Singapore Math meetings and the Fred Jones Tools for Teaching PARENT EDITION meetings.  Each of these series of sessions will provide parents with opportunities to interact, manipulate, and discuss information in an informal way with teachers and other adults.

Burchett Elementary School
Joan Harding, Cathy Loflin, Stefanie Mouton, Matthew Duncan

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GIRL POWER CLUB (INVOLVING SCHOOL PERSONNEL, PARENTS, AND THE COMMUNITY) – $650

Girl Power is an educational, skill building and creative group designed to introduce girls to concepts and skills that promote a positive self image.  The group activities raise self esteem, self worth and increase abilities to cope with the upcoming teen challenge.

Reynolds Elementary School
Stephanie Baker, Seantia King, Kellie Rosebush, Melissa Bruns, Diane Schuh

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SPEAK UP! – $810

Bilingual students will have many opportunities     to Speak Up! As they participate in a series of fun after school activities aimed at improving their social English and creating lasting relationships with students outside the bilingual community.  Students will use their oral language to create projects, participate in reader’s theater, play board games and much more.

Beneke Elementary School
Stephanie Sheffield, Lisa Erickson, Laura Zambrano

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CLARK CATS SCIENCE EXPO “BRINGING SCIENCE BACK TO THE CLASSROOM” – $1,025

Students at Clark Primary will embark on a quest for new scientific knowledge through the Clark Cats First Annual Science Expo “Bringing Science Back To the Classroom!”  Utilizing the Scientific Method, all students (Grades Pre-K through 2^nd Grade) will create, conduct, and display a scientific research project at the expo which will be judged by panelists to determine the Clark Cats Science Expo Scientist of the Year Award. The expo will be open during the school day for all students to discover and in the evening hours for parents to experience as well.

Clark Primary
Linsey Tipton, Tasha James, Nan Kieswetter, Kenneth Leach

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Origin Fine Arts Honor Society – $3,500

The Origin Fine Arts Honor Society is designed to recognize students for their academic and artistic achievements, reward them for their accomplishments and service activities, inspire campus wide leadership, and promote academic and artistic achievement.  Origin also aims to provide opportunities for members of the Westfield High School community to express their creativity and participate in the arts, attend quality cultural events, and gather together to build a strong sense of community.

Westfield High School
Nolan Loyde, Shae Nguyen

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The Camera Never Lies – $1,000

This student –directed project will develop a prototype hands-on enrichment lesson in which groups of students enrolled in the criminal justice classes will create crime scenes, write the scenarios and film them.  Students will then exchange videos and analyze the crime scenes using the procedures learned in class.  Evidence created will be shared with chemistry students for chemical analysis practice.  Digital videos will be stored on the district’s network for use by criminal justice students throughout the district.  The lesson plan will be shared with criminal justice teachers for use in their classes.

Dekaney High School
Aisha Taylor, Patsy McLaughlin

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Karaoke in the Classroom – $5,000

The project will provide struggling sixth and seventh grade students the opportunity to use karaoke in the classroom to develop and enhance reading behaviors, such as fluency and comprehension, and improve their attitude toward reading.  Using PEAK strategies and gaming, Karaoke in the Classroom will increase the students’ motivation and fluency, therefore, making them better readers resulting in improvement in their overall reading achievement.

Twin Creeks Middle School
Christine Hurley, Steffanie Dean

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The Jazz Club – $10,000

Jazz is the only truly American art form.  The “Jazz Club” will teach jazz history and culture as it relates to American history, through correct performance practice of solos, combos and big band charts.  Members of the “Jazz Club” will be made up of Spring ISD students grades 7-12.

Spring HS (to include all middle and high schools)
Joe Clark, Christopher Gonzales, Nick Gonzales, Geoff McInturf

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Math Pals: Understanding Problem Solving through Cross Grade Level Math Pen Pals – $2,975

First and forth grade students will discuss, work through and solve math problems using various problem solving strategies.  The students will create a math problems for the math pals class to solve and exchange strategies used.

Winship Elementary
Lisa Twomey, Khechara Bradford, Amanda Camacho

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G.E.A.R.S. (Getting Excited About Robotics) – $4,150

G.E.A.R.S. or Getting Excited About Robotics at Smith Elementary is an original teacher-made robotics club designed to further the knowledge and confidence in science, technology, engineering, math and cooperative learning.  The students will create and program their own original projects using the scientific method, critical thinking and problem solving.

Smith Elementary
Nancy Gealow, Terry Genseal

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Essence of Dekaney – $475

A daily routine, such as meal preparation, applies to the lives of people with and without disabilities.  At Dekaney High School, students with moderate to severe exceptionalities will demonstrate their abilities to prepare nutritionally balanced meals via digital cookbook.  Each cooking segment consists of step-by-step task demonstrations, scientific explanations, and final product presentations.  This DVD compilation will be a must-have for students who desire to live a healthy lifestyle.

Dekaney High School
Angela Rocque, Carolyn Ballesty, Kenneth Horowitz, Carolyn Mayer

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Mobile Family Literacy Project – $550

The Mobile Family Literacy Project will promote the importance of parental involvement and literacy support at home.  During the fall semester, teachers and administrators from Salyers Elementary will take books to area apartment community centers and work with students and their parents.  This project will build parent/student relationships through reading activities that build language development and reading comprehension in our students.

Salyers Elementary School
De’Monica Cooper

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Poetry Power-Enhancing Language Acquisition – $3,500

Poetry Power-Enhancing Language Acquisition will introduce students to poetry and poets and allow them to manipulate the language and create their own works of poetry.  Poetry allows students to freely express their thoughts and experiences in a non-threatening format.  It is enjoyable, creative, and fosters improvement in listening, speaking, reading and writing.

Salyers Elementary School
Shirley Martin, Kimberly Rodriguez, Marissa Gonzales

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Students Take Action Review (STAR Guides) – $875

Our 5^th level students work in science content and science lab all year.  They use their science journals to record data, vocabulary words, content information and study notes for tests.  The “best” of the student notes will be selected, autographed, copied and bound into student study guides for each 5^th grade student.  All students will want to be “published” in their very own guide.

Burchett Elementary School
Joan Harding, Brandi Franks, Michelle Ford, Delia Rivera, Jacquie Edgerson

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Discovery Dome – $13,850

The Bammel and Jenkins Elementary families will enhance learning experiences in Earth Science as they observe a starry-night view.  The portable planetarium discovery dome is a great vehicle for teaching and learning about space in a unique and realistic way.  Students will be immersed, engaged and motivated to learn more about our own Solar System.

Bammel and Jenkins elementary schools
Marta Mixa, Cherry Alarid, Christine Grant

2008-2009 Grants

RACING TO FILL THE GAPS – $3,875

This simulated racing project will allow students to use higher level science and math skills and use measurement tools as they work in teams to apply knowledge to a real world learning experience.  The Leadership Team will engage teachers in team building and cross-curricular activities while focusing on the use of science processing skills.  The racing theme will provide the motivation and interest for parents, students, and staff to participate in numerous activities planning for the 2009-2010 school year.

Bammel Elementary School

Michelle Braaten, Cherry Alarid

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LITTLE LEARNERS DO MEANINGFUL MATH – $7,625

Little Learners Do Meaningful Math will provide Pre-K teachers with grade appropriate professional development which will lead to increased use of higher level questioning strategies in the math classroom.  It will also equip teachers with the materials they need to create high-quality math games to make math and center time more meaningful for children, and help teachers meet the more rigorous expectations of the new TEA Prekindergarten Guidelines, thus preparing them for kindergarten.

Beneke, Booker, Bammel, Hoyland elementary schools

Stephanie Sheffield, Gidget Belinoski, Cherry Alarid, Lana Adams

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NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC “GLOBAL AWARENESS” PROJECT – $750

The Global Awareness project is a National Geographic-based initiative to get second grade students passionate about science and social studies.  The project combines the engaging literature and award winning photography of the magazine with the websites plethora of educational activities and technological advances.  Parental involvement along with student driven activities will ensure and gauge the success of the project while developing globally responsible students.

Booker Elementary School

Lakisha Williams, Rebekah Houghton, Leticia Orozco, LaDonna Martin, Amy Wadsworth

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SCRAP-IT! – $1,850

The Scrap-It! Project is a method for students, teachers and parents to work together to build confidence in the child and provide on-going learning support for each primary student.  Students, parents and teachers build an individualized school-year scrapbook at four designated school gatherings.  The information that is assembled in the scrapbook by the child and parent(s) will come from the students’ classroom portfolio for each nine-week period.

Burchett Elementary School

Joan Harding, Shari Bartlett, Karen Carson

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SEEING THROUGH ART:  MURAL PROJECT – $1,500

The students at Burchett Elementary will learn to appreciate other people through the study of art and culture as well as the design and creation of a community mural.

Burchett Elementary School

Sarah Harper Pope, Linda Sommer

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CAMP H.E.A.R. (HERITAGE ELEMENTARY’S AWESOME READERS) – $1,500

This grant measures the effects of instructional methods on children’s motivation for literacy.  This grant’s goal is to motivate readers and help struggling readers with strategies to help them enjoy reading through a hand-on camp environment.

Heritage Elementary School

Lydia Davis, Patrina Johnson, Phyllis Primes, Estella Randle, Martha Rendon, Ursula Saulsberry, Mercedes Serrano, Misty Thomas

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COLOR MY WORLD – $350

Starting at an early age, we will get students excited about science through fun, hands-on experiments, while learning about color.

Heritage Elementary School

Shannon Krueger, Bernice Norman, Marilen Martinez

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OUTDOOR SCIENCE CLASSROOM – $4,500

Outdoor Classrooms provide students with access to a hands-on learning environment.  The Outdoor Science Classroom at Heritage Elementary School will include gardens, bird house, and a weather station.  Students will have the opportunity to experience Science in hands-on way and increase their knowledge of living and non-living systems.

Heritage Elementary School
Elizabeth Craig, Lydia Davis, Patrina Johnson, Estella Randle, Mlartha Rendon, Mercedes Serrano, Misty Thomas, Neelam Singh

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2007-2008 Grants

ADJUSTABLE NUMBER LINES – $1,225

Adjustable number lines will provide hands-on manipulative for use in kindergarten through fifth grade with Tier 1 through Tier 4 students.  Adjustable number lines will integrate mathematics, science, and social studies.

Anderson Elementary
Michelle Cottle, Sally Rush, Vera Jacks, Lynne Shoop

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AUTHOR KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE – $2,175

Students will be provided an opportunity to be successful “authors,” by creating their very own hard bound published book with science theme which will be displayed at a Family Night in May.

McNabb Elementary School
Leslie White, Susan Vyskocil, Nancy Goss, Lynn Musi, Marilyn Denison

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NIGHT AT THE SCIENCE MUSEUM – $3,650

Fifth grade students will investigate hands-on, Earth Science activities at a lock-in and will design instructional materials that will be utilized by all Reynolds teachers during a science rotation day and will be displayed during the Reynolds Night at the Science Museum event.

Reynolds Elementary School
Jeffrey Post, Kristen Reich, Letty Rodriguez, Greg Sever, Catherine Bondurant, Kelli Schmidt

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LONGHORN FAMILY – $615

Staff members and parents will participate in a book study to help them effectively talk to students and learn methods to improve students’ academics and behavior.  Parents will also be provided a monthly newsletter regarding students’ academics and behavior.

Lewis Elementary School
Rebecca Perez Rangel, Yvonne Roach, Tanya Fujimoto, Shannon Treadville, Erica Jones-Payne, Danielle Rockenbaugh, Pamela Fairchild, Gaila Lister, Lakeisha Fobbs

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WORLD MUSIC DRUMMING – $4,100

The World Music Drumming program is designed to bring the joy and excitement of music participation to students in a culturally diverse environment while building communication, listening, discipline, and other skills that will better their academic and social environments.

Heritage Elementary School
Cory Burton, Barbara Neyman, DeMonica Cooper, Amy Klein, Velma Moss, Leticia Herrera

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FLASHMASTER MATH FACTS PROGRAM: INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGY INTO MATH – $1,075

The FlashMaster (hand-held digital devices) will be used to develop computational math fact mastery and fluency amongst fourth level students and allow practice and assessment of facts.

Ponderosa Elementary
LeKesha Malveaux, Michelle Starr, Donna Riojas

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BENEKE AND THOMPSON REACH FOR NEW HEIGHTS IN MEASUREMENT – $7,850

Beneke and Thompson will team up to attack the study of measurement on three fronts: teacher education, parent involvement and school wide projects that will integrate math and science.

Beneke and Thompson Elementary Schools
Stephanie Sheffield, Gidget Belinoski, Lana Adams

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JOURNALISM CLUB – $825

The journalism club will motivate student interest in writing, editing, and publishing a student newsletter throughout the school year.  The club will provide a forum for students interested in pursuing a journalism career as well as providing additional communication tools for informing students, parents, and staff of current events.

Bammel Middle School
Barbara Still, Tiesha Lamb

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PROJECT RAP STAR – $3,250

Project Rap Star will motivate 7^th grade Language Arts students to improve their writing performance by allowing them to create original rap lyrics and complete research papers on artists who have influenced them.  This project will also involve students from 6^th-8^th grades in using technology to complete a student-produced CD of original rap music, culminating in a campus talent show featuring those works.

Bammel Middle School
Roy Fletcher, Ronette Kerr, Gary Juarez, Neil Russell, Tauna Fink, Melissa Cox

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TIME TRAVELER: VISITING COLONIAL AMERICA – $500

The Electronic Field Trip program will provide 8^th grade students an interactive online field trip experience to enrich and enliven their study of U.S. history.

Bammel Middle School
Mary Jones, Evangeline Welch, Carol Wyatt, Patsy McLaughlin

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GEOCACHE CAMPUS QUEST (GEOQUEST) – $1,850

Science, math, social studies and technical skills will be utilized in a take-off of a popular online game, geocaching.  Students will develop and/or improve their skills in charting geographical coordinates, graphing of trails and creation of maps.

Bammel Middle School
Marnie Bucklew, Rita Kneisley

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CSI: DEKANEY – $2,650

CSI: Dekaney is a unique afterschool program that offers at-risk 10^th grade students a real world approach to science and math learning.  Students will act as a Crime Scene Investigator who must employ science and math principles, tools, and methodology to solve four fictional criminal cases.  Using evidence they collect from the crime scene, students will perform mathematical calculations and scientific experiments to build a case against a guilty perpetrator.

Dekaney High School
Kim Downey, Sheri Rich, Sharon Bailey

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WALK TO SUCCESS – $5,000

Walk to Success will incorporate physical fitness by the use of pedometers in all academic/non academic classrooms.

Bailey Middle School
Veronica Santacoloma, Jade Lopez, Ric Lancaster

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S.S.C. (SUPER SCIENCE CATS) – $1,050

First and second graders will learn about science processing while using language, math, writing and critical thinking skills in fun hands-on science experiments.

Clark Primary Elementary School
Nan Kiesewetter

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THE CHARACTRICS CLUB – $2,125

Charactrics Club is designed to encourage positive social competencies and improve reading skills through the use of dramatic skits and readers’ theater.

Clark Intermediate School
Beth Lopez, Stephanie Mizelle, Kathy Rickey

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LITERACY THROUGH AMERICAN SIGN LANGUAGE – $3,275

American Sign Language is one of the many strategies that can be used to engage the young learner in developing early literacy skills.  The use of sign language in a classroom puts reading “in the hands” of children.

Anderson Elementary School
Sharon Stryjewski, Heather Crawford

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FALLING FOR FISH!  HOOK LINE AND SINKER – $5,000

The FISH!  Philosophy creates an atmosphere of excited engagement in classrooms that energizes students and teachers to be academically and socially successful.  It isn’t something we do to kids, it is something we create with them as partners.

Beneke Elementary School
Mary Karnick, Jennifer Rudolphy, Laura Zambrano, Christine Sanchez, Tamiria Martin, Stephanie Sheffield

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THE BOOKER ELEMENTARY NETWORK FOR GUIDANCE, ADVANCEMENT AND LITERACY: THE B.E.N.G.A.L. PROGRAM – $1,950

The B.E.N.G.A.L. Program is a new and innovative program that will allow students in 5^th and Kindergarten to work closely together to strengthen reading and thinking skills.

Booker Elementary School
Susan Carrizales Langlois

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PICTURE THIS! – $3,000

Picture a classroom full of photographers using cameras to capture their interest and make learning memorable and meaningful.  Application to be used in art, math, science and language arts.

Burchett Elementary School
Sarah Harper, Lisa Lackey, Cathy Loflin

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STARS (STUDENTS TOGETHER ARE READING SERIOUSLY) – $1,000

The STARS Club is an after school TEKS based reading and discussion program that targets underachieving readers, but all students wanting to read are invited.  The program reaches students through books that are relevant to their lives and encourages book discussion with their peers.

Heritage Elementary School
Phyllis Primes

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COMMUNITY OF ENGAGED READERS (COER) – $10,000

Lewis and Thompson Elementary, currently dual language schools, will create and customize a program (COER) in which parents can help break language and cultural barriers by facilitating second language acquisition.  The COER organization will utilize monthly literacy meetings, cross cultural parent communication and literacy kits to help bridge the language gap.

Lewis and Thompson Elementary Schools
Eduardo Aponte, Simret Cooke, Marelys Acosta, Maria Sanders, Heriberto Rodriguez, Esmeralda Majors

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GINGER MCNABB ELEMENTARY TRACK & FITNESS PARK – $5,000

A ½ mile crushed granite track, with eight different workout stations, will be built at McNabb Elementary.  Each post will provide a different tool; such as, push up and pull up bars, multi strength bars, s-shaped jump bars, sit-up benches, and parallel bars.  These activities will greatly benefit the need for students to develop a healthful lifestyle, as well as offer staff members the opportunity to participate in such activities, thereby leading by example.

McNabb Elementary School
Krissy Wallace

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 NEARLY NASA SPACE CAMP –  $4,325

The goal of this project is for students to experience space, science and space related math to a fuller extent than can be provided during the regular school year.  Students will participate in student centered activities that allow them hands on opportunities to discover and explore space using math and science combined.  They will have opportunities to work collaboratively to solve problems experienced by astronauts.

McNabb and Smith Elementary Schools
Nancy Gealow, Kimberly Bash, Jennifer Pfannstiel, Jody Loguin

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RESPONDERS: LEARNING AND LEADING THROUGH LIFE SAVING – $10,000

Our goal is to encourage and empower Spring ISD community, staff and students to provide valuable life-saving skills and services for every campus.  We plan to achieve this goal by creating an area training center at Carl Wunsche Sr. H.S. that will provide to community members and Spring ISD staff and students low cost classes for initial certification and renewal in Baby Sitting, CPR, AED, First Aid and ACLS (Advanced Cardiac Life Support).

Carl Wunsche Sr. High School
Michael Pharris, Susan Rhodes, Susan Haase

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TAKS TV – $2,850

TAKS TV will provide students with multiple practice opportunities to review TAKS objectives via student-teacher produced tutorials.  The tutorials will be recorded on DVD and made available for student checkout.  This will enable students who need help with particular objectives to receive tutorials at home.

Westfield High School
Esther Dolphus, Lakeasia Hammond, Stacy DeRuso

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ABSTINENCE AWARENESS WEEK  – $5,700

The project goal is to educate and increase the awareness of students in Spring ISD high schools regarding the benefits of sexual abstinence.

Westfield, Spring, Dekaney, Carl Wunsche Sr. high schools
Arlinda Turner, Carol Briggs, Theresa Lechel, Staci Kuhlenschmidt, Tonya Richardson, Kay Hall, Linda Hamling, Jennifer Conroy, Alyson Demouy

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FITNESS TOWARDS SUCCESS: TAKE THE HILL – $10,000

Implementation of a plyo-metric running hill will benefit students and faculty from Westfield High School, Bammel Middle School and the Westfield Ninth Grade Center.  Access and use will benefit participants physically, emotionally, mentally and help improve their overall wellness.

Westfield High School, Westfield Ninth Grade Ctr. Bammel Middle SchoolChris Morgan, Corby Meekins, Richard Davis, Bill Braaten, Donald Davis

2006-2007 Grants

PROJECT SCIENCE – $10,000

Project Science will be an interactive grant which will allow students from two diverse schools to join together for Saturday Science encounters.  These encounters will be such that students will join together to experience the different diversities in both campuses on field trips to places where students have not had the opportunity to attend.

Link and Winship Elementary Schools
J.C. Harville, Berky Hernandez-Owolobi, Link & Winship 5^th Level Teams

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COOPER COWBOYS PUPPETEERS – $1,500

The “Cooper Cowboys Puppeteers” project will provide a creative venue for second language learners to entertain, practice oral reading, improve fluency, and enhance comprehension.

Cooper Elementary School
Sharon Leavins, Diane Shacklett, Edly Canizalez

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WEATHERBUG ACHIEVE – $5,000

WeatherBug Achieve is an online teaching tool that incorporates live weather and real world instruction to students across the Science, Math, Social Studies and ROTC curricula, with immediate feedback involving predictions, data collection and atmospheric relationships across the globe.  WeatherBug Achieve will enable Spring High teachers to provide all participating classrooms, grades 9-12, with live data to enhance learning, awareness, and TAKS achievement through technology.

Spring High School
Carol Sebo, Larry Wiers, Nancy Nichols, Captain James Boyer, Susie Simpson

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UNFOLDING MATHEMATICS WITH ORIGAMI – $400

This project will provide up to twenty-three teachers with the materials, training and modeling necessary to use origami in their classrooms to help children learn and understand geometric concepts and vocabulary.  It will be implemented in grades two through five and be used with students from Inclusion to Tier 4.

Beneke Elementary School
Stephanie Sheffield

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LEGO EDUCATION – $1,225

Previous instructional strategies have not had the desired impact on student learning.  This is an innovative project to engage students with hands-on materials as a means of exploring science concepts about simple machines and genetics.

Dueitt Middle School
Jo Ann Bilderback, Liz Troub

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BOBCAT CITY – $1,000

Bobcat City is designed to provide our students with the necessary tools that enable them to be productive members of a society as well as improve their academic and social skills.

Burchett Elementary School
Tricia Harvey, Cathy Loflin, Rajean Eddy, Laurie Watson, Joan Harding, Luz Garcia

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SHS CAPTURING KIDS’ HEARTS INITIATIVE – $4,650

A classroom management system that gives the teacher a systematic way to deal with respect within their classroom.  It is an innovative way to reach out and ensure that the students, as well as teachers, can foster respect in their learning environment.

Spring High School
Wendy Lucas, Shelby Vaught

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CENTERED ON MUSIC – $325

This grant is in two parts.  Part I is for materials to create three music centers.  Part 2 is for additional quantities of one of the center items (Cuisenaire Rods) for use in whole class instruction.

Jenkins Elementary School
Dorothy Patel

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C.A.R.T.T. FIRST (COMMUNICATION AND READING THROUGH TECHNOLOGY) FIRST – $7,400

C.A.R.T.T. First is a program that will provide alternative methods of communication and access to a variety of educational environments for students with severe disabilities to improve their functional skills to meet demands in school, home and community.

Beneke Elementary School, Bammel Middle School
Charlene Shafer, Tina Butzbach, Kim DeLoach, Shontel LeDoux, Nichole McDonald, Tiffany Bigelow, Lauren Fenner, Florence McKelvy-Guinn, Catherine Cathey

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LEARNING GARDEN – $2,300

The purpose of developing a Salyers Learning Garden is to increase academic performance in all grade levels by creating an outdoor classroom that will be used for scientific investigations.

Salyers Elementary School
Shirley Martin, Beth Archie, Ann Hammitt, Teresa Shields

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COOPERATIVE LEARNING RESOURCE KITS – $900

Instruct and implement cooperative learning strategies in social studies classroom.

Westfield High School
Susan Pelezo

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BEYOND THE CLASSROOM AND INTO THE HYPE – $1,300

This proposal is for a one day Dramatic Script Writing Workshop involving a maximum of 40 students, beginning with a pre-activity of viewing a professional play production.  The workshop will be conducted by an Alley Theatre Educational Outreach presenter and geared towards high school students, giving them the background knowledge, tools and inspiration to write their own individual original one act plays.

Westfield High School
LuAnn Underwood, Jennifer Richardson, Cathy O’Bryan

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A MULTICULTURAL JOURNEY – $650

Learning in the classroom in 2006 is a unique journey.  Each student comes with specific strengths and weaknesses.  Each student also comes with specific traditions and cultural influences that affects this journey.  Our goal is to create an academic environment that emphasizes cooperative strategies and learning.  To do this, we need to understand each others backgrounds and differences.  This project is a multicultural journey.

Ponderosa Elementary School
Alice Marie Blessing, Kayle Landry, Michelle Starr

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C.A.T.S. CORPS CLUB II – $1,500

Initially, the C.A.T.S. Club was designed to increase student involvement in Burchett’s community which would result in raising targeted students’ self esteem as well as increasing their academic and social skills. After evaluating this positive results and popularity, the clubs are being revised to include a wider audience of students and vary the type of clubs to enhance academics and character education.

Burchett Elementary School
Laurie Watson, Rajean Eddy, Joan Harding

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PEERS HELPING PEERS – $1,000

Eighth Grade students will be trained to become mentors to sixth grade at-risk students.  Mentors will check-in with their groups on a weekly basis.  This will provide additional support for at-risk students.

Bailey Middle School
Alice Hebert

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ADULT ESL CLASSES – $2,250

An adult ESL class at Clark Intermediate School will provide parents of LEP students with the opportunity to become proficient English speakers.

Clark Intermediate School
Atiya Nash, Johanna Dawson

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BUILDING FLUENCY BUILDS READER ENTHUSIASM –$3,700

Eighth grade students are required to take reading improvement if they do not pass the seventh grade reading TAKS test.  Reading struggles in middle school are complicated by the lack of interest in reading for pleasure and by student reluctance even when they have opportunities to self-select books to read.  This grant will help students in eighth grade reading improvement experience joyful and meaningful reading opportunities which we believe will foster their interest in reading and improve their overall reading ability.  These gains will have an impact on student TAKS scores and make their transition to high school more successful.

Dueitt and Twin Creeks Middle Schools
Kathleen Parker, Liz Hayes, Lenida Gonzalez

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AUDIOBOOKS TO THE RESCUE: ENTICING RELUCTANT READERS TO READ – $3,700

This grant will fund a pilot program to introduce audiobooks to Bammel Middle School students through the Media Center (Library) as a means of encouraging reluctant readers to become avid readers and to therefore, increase their use of the media center.  It will allow the Teen Advisory Board to take more of a leadership role in the Media Center, and it will provide the Media Specialists (Librarians) a means of evaluating the most useful audiobook format for middle school students.

Bammel Middle School
Patsy McLaughlin, Katie Van Sligtenhorst

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CHECK IT OUT!  – $3,075

This grant will provide books for a special education department library, with accompanying activities, that can be used in the home to reinforce students’ (reluctant and poor readers) reading and lifeskills.  These home-based/home-focused activities will also promote parent involvement.  The grant will also provide training for parents in using the books and in working with their special needs children.  Classroom teachers will develop activities to accompany the books.

Bammel Middle School
Maggie Saenz, Carolyn Ballesty, Kassandra Humphress

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READING RESCUE – $3,875

This grant will supply the materials necessary to develop a reading program with a home-school connection and culminate with a Reader’s Theater Production using all school participants.

Link Elementary School
Phyllis Primes, Gina Victoria, Frieayda Eakins, Sharon Parker-Jones, Kerri Kidder, Martha Palmer, Charlotte Thomas

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PICTURING WRITING: FOSTERING LITERACY THROUGH ART – $300

Picturing Writing Fostering Literacy through Art is an art-based program where the child, through the creation of their own art pieces, taking part in writer’s workshops, and studying quality children’s literature take part in the literacy process.

McNabb Elementary School
Diana Saylak

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I WANT TO KNOW/QUIERO SABER – $1,325

This project will provide families of special needs students an arena in which the entire family can participate in activities and informational sessions that focus on the needs of the special needs children and their families.  Topics of discussion will be selected by the parents via an “inquiry of needs.”  Sessions will be offered in English and a separate session will be provided for the Spanish speaking families as per the needs assessment, some of the needs vary by group.

Thompson Elementary School
Laura Wolf, Constanza Linares, Genia Ajlani, Heather Bird

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THE MEAN GREEN GROWING MACHINE – $2,300

Students will build and grow an indoor/outdoor and mobile garden.  The indoor garden will be fitted into a 1973 Volkswagen bus and then entered into the 2007 Art Car Parade.

Cooper Elementary School
Cynthia Lane, Claudia Zimmer

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ENGLISH IMMERSION THROUGH IMAGING – $700

This project will engage LEP students in language acquisition activities that tap into aural, visual and kinesthetic modalities.  Utilizing both hemispheres of the brain through the creation of visual images and analysis of the same to ensure rapid and meaningful language acquisition.

Bailey Middle School
Katherine Powell, Juanita Acevedo

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MAIL CALL – $1,475

The Mail Call program at Jenkins Elementary will revive the lost art of letter writing.  This revival will encourage students to willingly engage in writing activities via handwritten letters.  The results of the program will include improved writing scores, an increase in communication, and the construction of positive relationships between students, their peers and the staff.  

Jenkins Elementary School
Gina Lemm, Sarah O’Donnell, Katy Humberson, R. Scott Allen, Angela Pate

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X MARKS THE SPOT! TREASURE CHEST PROGRAM – $1,450

This grant will provide activities to spark students’ interest in learning a new reading skill with lessons, projects, and activities that will continuously grow each time the treasure chest is used.  Students will stay engaged and motivated when learning targeted reading skills.

Hirsch Elementary School
Melissa Dean, Dianna Estep, Rachel Wall, Karen Heis

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MOVEMENT AND SENSES – $3,350

This project incorporates movement and the senses to learn academic skills, language, social, and motor skills.  Teachers of Special Education classrooms and General Education classrooms collaborate to create a learning environment for students with disabilities, at risk students, and those students learning English as a second language.

Thompson Elementary School
Laura Wolf, Desire Lewis, Marelys Acosta, Shimona Eason, Chad Smith

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“SPRING” WEATHER STATION – $10,000

The Spring Weather Station Mission: real weather, real science, real location, and real learning.  The Weather Station makes core science content relevant to everyday life and energizes classroom instruction with the use of “real time” weather data.  A Met One Instruments Weather Station was donated to Thompson consisting of the capability for measuring relative humidity, temperature, wind speed and direction, and rainfall.  The station will be installed on the Thompson Elementary rooftop and will automatically update a file every fifteen minutes that is easily accessible by ALL teachers in Spring ISD.

Thompson, Link and  Lewis Elementary Schools
Eric Hirtriter, Susan Remmert, Lana Adams

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EDIBLE MATH – $2,500

This program will involve third, fourth and fifth grade students at Winship Elementary in how math is used in every day life, especially as it will relate to our Math TEKS.  Students will be involved in hands-on math lessons that will help them to truly understand the concept.

Winship Elementary School
Marilyn Dickinson, Deanna Wesner, Paula Rose, Melissa Telotte

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“E.Y.E.S. ON CAMPUS” (“EMPOWERING YOU ENSURES SAFETY” ON CAMPUS) – $5,000

Teachers, students and parents will receive information and training to promote the prevention of school violence.  The renowned program “Rachel’s Challenge” will bring awareness of discrimination not only to our students and staff, but will have a ripple effect on the community.  It will help identify negative social behavior and open pathways for increased self worth and mutual respect.

Bailey Middle School
Veronica Vijil, Kisha Goldvarg, Corinne Smith

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CHALLENGE DAY – $7,000

This grant will foster an environment where children feel celebrated, loved and safe.  The Challenge Day Program is designed to break barriers that lead to feelings of isolation which leads to bullying and violence.  Challenge Day will cultivate an environment of community and increase student success in all areas of life.

Dekaney High School
Chiante Deal, Kristine Salinas, Melanie Bailey

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FOCUSED ON LEARNING 24/7 – $2,300

This grant is a systemic effective structure that guides classroom visits with immediate feedback, coaching and reflection by teachers and administrators through an online software system.  Classroom Walk-Through with Reflections will result in increased student achievement.  This system will enable Andy Dekaney High School teachers and administrators to collect quantitative data provided in reports by grade, content, teacher, and department to ensure that each student is guaranteed a TEKS-based, grade appropriate curriculum and learns it.

Dekaney High School
Regina Owens, Kristine Salinas

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POCKET TRANSLATOR MODIFICATION FOR ESL STUDENTS – $1,425

Pocket translators would be used by current ESL students as a tool to assist in the acquisition of lesson material in all content areas.  They would have access to the translator during that school year for use in all classes to assist with understanding the course-specific vocabulary.

Spring High School
Gail Podaridis, Sue Nelson

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MULTILEVEL INTERACTION WITH TI SMARTVIEW – $4,900

TI Smartview is an emulator software specifically designed to project the Texas Instruments graphing calculator for improved student viewing and interaction.  Keystroke scripts are a unique display feature to direct the student in proper and more analytical calculator usage.  The use of the software in the classroom allows the delivery and discovery of mathematical information, and classroom discussion of applications in a reasonable, understandable and multi representational manner.

Spring High School
Debra Beeman, Susie Simpson, Tina Patterson

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SOUNDS OF LEARNING – $1,100

This project is designed to educate teen parents on the benefits of music in brain/child development and sharing music with their children.

Spring, Westfield, Dekaney High; Westfield 9^th Gr. Ctr; Carl Wunsche Sr. High
Arlinda Turner, Kay Hall, Carol Briggs, Kathryn Craig

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SPRING COMMUNITY BOOK FEST: BEE…A READER! – $10,000

Spring ISD Librarians will coordinate this community-wide effort to promote reading among students in grades K-12.  For one day, students, authors, parents, SISD staff and other interested community members will join together in a celebration of reading and writing.  With their TAKS scores, our students have demonstrated that they have mastered the basic skills of reading.  This project will be one more of the many efforts that librarians make daily to instill the joy of reading into our students.

All SISD Campuses
Patsy McLaughlin, Katie Van Sligtenhorst, Deborah Wise, Diane Shamloo, Attis Danford, Michelle Ward, Debbie McKamie, Dana Deem, Judy Northrup, Merrillee Laudone, Shirley Dulworth, Mary Sneed, Esmeralda Majors, Jane Robertson, Lynn Musi, Fran Jackson, Julie Martin, Kim Crites, Melanie Cage, Jamey Ullrich, Hillary Volkmann, Brenda Bayer, Margaret Zirkle, Carole Barr, Donna Sue Best, Pat Phythian, Charlotte Ballard, Patty Eskew, Jeannie Lawson, Ron Brown, Carolyn Pearl, Marcia Lester, Stephanie Hold, Joni Scheller

2005-2006 Grants

COLLEGE QUEST – $1,800

College Quest will encourage the pursuit of higher education.  This project will educate them on college admissions through a step by step process.  Through campus college tours this program will make college a reality for our students who may not understand or have had prior exposure to the college environment.  We will target 160-240 students and provide them with college readiness information ranging from financial aid, the college application process, essays, college testing, what role the 9^th grade year has in all this, and what to look for in a college visit.

Westfield Ninth Grade Center
Eric Wietstruck, Linda Chouinard, Juan Cooper, Chiante Deal, Mickey Musick, Roxane Farrar

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SAVE THE DRAMA – $3,750

Dueitt and Twin Creeks will combine resources to hold an elementary mini-drama camp during the week of June 5^th of 2006.  The mini-drama camp would aid in recruiting students for the secondary theatre programs and expose elementary students to theatre arts.

Dueitt Middle School, Twin Creeks Middle School
Crystal Hart-Majors, Chandra Johnson-Pearson

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5^th GRADE SCI-FI PROJECT – $1,300

The goal of this project is to increase parents’ involvement in their children’s science education and to improve Science TAKS scores in the 5^th grade.  The project will provide three take-home labs for every 5^th grade student to encourage family involvement; provide a Saturday for parents and students to compete in a Meyer Science Olympics; provide after-school science tutorials for students that struggle with science concepts (sessions would include community guests from science related fields in the current area of study).

Meyer Elementary School
Sandi Rocquin, Jason Martin, Jennifer Torczynski, Cristina Arndt, Kristi Barnett, Teri Constable

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EQUIPPING THE OUTDOOR MATH LAB – $300

Equipping the Outdoor Math Lab is a project that compliments traditional instruction by reaching students who do not learn best in a traditional classroom setting.  Emphasis will be on retention of mathematical concepts that correlate to TAKS objective one (Number, Operation and Quantitative Reasoning).

Thompson Elementary School
Lana Adams

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COUGARS PAWS (PREPARE, ACHIEVE, WONDER & SUCCEED) TO READ IN SCIENCE – $1,000

Cougars PAWS to Read in Science will build a content-area library for the 8^th grade science classroom.  Through the reading of books and magazine articles that supplement the science curriculum, all students will have the opportunity to read, learn and think more critically about science and its impact in everyday life.  Utilizing related-reading assignments each six weeks will support rigor and relevance in the science classroom.  Additionally, students will build self-confidence and awareness in science as they prepare for this new area of TAKS testing.

Claughton Middle School
Donna Pikus

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BURCHETT BUDDIES – $3,275

Burchett Buddies is a “math club” that will allow students to get to know some of their classmates better, and work on math challenges and skills in a non-threatening environment.  Our buddies will begin with fourth and fifth graders meeting once a week to play some math games, practice their math skills and learn some strategies for teaching younger students these same things.

Burchett Elementary School
Michelle Mechler, Cathy Loflin, Marie Blair, Brandi Franks

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PLAY IT AGAIN, SAM! – $1,675

This grant will allow  ESL students to take home a content area book with an audio tape of the book and comprehension questions included on the tape will give students an opportunity to listen, think and read about the content areas at home.  This powerful reinforcement at home acts as the discussion and story time the parents could give their children and will give students an edge they would not have had without the home support.

Thompson Elementary School
Susan Carrizales

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C.A.T.S. Corps Clubs – $2,750

This initiative is designed to create a springboard for student involvement at Burchett Elementary which will help the participating students understand the importance of relationships within a community.  It will improve their self esteem this improving their academic and social skills.

Burchett Elementary School
Laurie Watson, Jahnette Harrell, Joan Harding

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READING RODEO AT THE OK CORRAL – $3,025

This program will establish a daily, voluntary morning reading program at Lewis Elementary.  It will be interactive with teachers and students, providing opportunities for personal reading time and academic growth in  younger students.

Lewis Elementary School
Susan Carrizales

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CAMP WINSHIP (COMPREHENSION AND MATH PROBLEMS) – $3,700

CAMP Winship (Comprehension and Math Problems) is an intensive week long study for first graders which will encompass all subject areas.  Through this “camping” experience students are afforded the opportunity to extend previous knowledge and skills in a new situation to master first level TEKS. Through this outdoor nature experience students will make real life connections between the classroom and the real world.

Winship Elementary School
Laura Gist, Amanda Jackson, Jennifer Meehan, Daicia Lahmeyer, Allison Kiker,Tiffany Geminden, Alicia Fikes, Jamie Page

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LONGHORN LEADERS: MAKING THE VISION A REALITY – $1,450

Campus-based leadership development project that will impact student achievement by laying the foundation for excellence by developing a clear mission and vision, discipline management plan, and a systematic approach to campus data analysis.

Lewis Elementary School
Barbara Jones

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THE CMS EXCHANGE CLUB – $1,975 

The CMS Exchange Club is an intergenerational Lunch and After School program for 50 sixth grade at-risk students providing both literacy and mentor opportunities.  Teens and adult volunteers share structured opportunities designed to address the achievement gap and the generation gap. Because each generation is recognized as an integral part of our community, teens and adult volunteers’ efforts will strengthen our communities and enhance the safety of our school.

Claughton Middle School
Joy Casteel, Hayden Solomon, Sharon Geiger, Donna Pikus, Delic Loyde

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LONGHORNS LASSOING LEADERSHIP – $3,350

A 5^th grade summer leadership camp, including academics and artistic activities, that will promote a more productive and positive climate at Donna C. Lewis Elementary.

Lewis Elementary School
Beverly Keck, Kirsten Tulsian, Barbara Homer, Danielle Rockenbaugh, Yvonne Roach, Sharron Dickerson, Gidget Belinoski

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TAKS TV – $1,825

Through development of multimedia productions teaching TAKS strategies, students will also learn skills associated with multimedia production, which they may then choose to pursue further through study at the technology academy.

Westfield 9^th Grade Center
Karla Koop, Glenda Vidal, Sheri Rich

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AMERICAN TAPESTRY – $1,425

Utilizing their knowledge of writing and math skills, students will create a piece of writing based on their conversations with family and/or community members.  The culminating project will be a publication of students’ writing in a campus “tapestry,”- a historical picture of American life-created by the hands and imaginations of Claughton students that will hang in the main hall of the campus.

Claughton Middle School
Delic Loyde, Donna Pikus

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NAVIGATING THE FUTURE – $7225

The TI-Navigator32 system combines the power of a graphing calculator capability with wireless classroom networking.  By implementing this system in the four core classes of our freshman family we will be able to receive real-time student feedback and instantly assess understanding.  Student progress can be monitored at any point to ensure each is on track and on task.  This system engages every student and fosters a collaborative learning environment.

Spring High School
Janet Wilson, Rebecca Arocha, Suzanne Tyson, Brittany McNabb

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THE ROAD TO GREAT EXPECTATIONS – $5,000

Great Expectations is a professional development program that provides all staff with the skills needed to create harmony and excitement within the school atmosphere which are elements that are basic for inspiring students to pursue academic excellence.

McNabb Elementary School
Marilyn Denison
Bailey Middle School
Veronica Vijil

C.A.T.S. CORPS CLUBS – $2,750

This initiative is designed to create a springboard for student involvement at Burchett Elementary which will help the participating students understand the importance of relationships within a community.  It will improve their self esteem this improving their academic and social skills.

Burchett Elementary School
Laurie Watson, Jahnette Harrell, Joan Harding

2004-2005 Grants

SISD PROJECT CREDIT RECOVERY FOR 9^TH GRADERS – $5,750

Credit recovery is targeted for economically disadvantaged students who are at risk of being retained in the ninth grade.  Students in the program will be reclassified as ninth graders next school year unless they successfully complete the credit deficiency in Algebra 1, English 1, or TPC.  Our goal is to prevent them from dropping out of school and to provide them an opportunity to regain credit, earn sophomore classification and complete high school successfully in four years.  Our goal is to target IPC-A and Algebra I-A.

Westfield 9^th Grade Center
Julie Guillory, Linda Chouinard, Kendra Davis

Spring High School
Gloria Marshall, Kaye Jordan, Craig McClure, Judy Jones

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PARTNER POWER PACK – $2,650

The project will provide opportunities for 50 at-risk students to work with community volunteers utilizing a system of easily accessible and user friendly math and reading activities targeted to the TEKS for each grade level.  The engaging, hands-on activities will be used one-on-one or in small group settings.  All activities will be designed to accelerate struggling learners and promote critical thinking.

Winship Elementary School
Lisa Hayes, Melissa Dean

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PICTURE PERFECT PATTERNS – $950

This project will enable third graders to create colorful, realistic books about patterns for the kindergarten and first grade classes to use.  The older students will photograph repeating and growth patterns around the Beneke campus.  They will work collaboratively to choose the photos to include in their books, write a simple text to accompany the photographs and once the books are finished, present them to the kindergarten and first grade classes.  As they discover and document patterns, they will explore the patterns mathematically using T charts, graphs and writing simple algebraic formulas.

Beneke Elementary School
Stephanie Sheffield, Christine Sanchez, Emily Diaz, Jessica Clover, Emilie Heath, Maggie Lopez

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TREEMENDOUS SCIENCE SAFARI – $1,000

Students will become ecologists as they explore the life that is found in the Beneke Nature Area.  Students will adopt a tree and gather data from the area around their tree in their science notebook.  Using the data they have collected, students will design an experiment to answer a question that relates to the ecosystem of their tree.  Once all data has been analyzed and experiment completed, students will chronicle their journey in a power point presentation and present at a scientific convention.

Beneke Elementary School
Jennifer Rudolphy

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OUTDOOR MATH LAB – $3,405

Link, Bammel, and Salyers Elementary schools are endeavoring, through the collaborative efforts of the project leaders, to implement an Outdoor Math Lab.  The lab is an innovative instructional strategy that will promote body/kinesthetic learning in mathematics.

Link Elementary School
Jahnette Harrell

Salyers Elementary School
Leticia Grounds

Bammel Elementary School
Cherry Alarid

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KICK IT UP! – $5,000

Kick It Up! Is a soccer program which incorporates and requires passing grades and/or TAKS tutorial attendance.  The goal is to get students who may not be involved in any other activities to participate and achieve on the soccer field and in the classroom.  Students will be required to attend at least on tutorial session a week in order to be allowed to practice or play in the games.  Bammel, Claughton, and Wells will compete against one another, creating school pride and a sense of belonging.  Improved academic performance and attendance are two main goals of this project.

Claughton Middle School
Sharon Geiger, Delic Loyde

Wells Middle School
Elaine Sam

Bammel Middle School
Veronica Vijil

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COUGAR FAMILY DIALOGUE NIGHTS – $2,275

Student-led discussion groups with people of different ages and backgrounds will gather to exchange thoughts and feelings.  Over forty Claughton Middle School students of all grade levels have pledged to become Peer Mediators.  To bring parents and concerned adults back to school, Peer Mediators will begin an innovative community outreach, Family Dialogue Nights, (FDN).

Claughton Middle School
Joy Davis Casteel, Mary Jones, Deborah Price

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MASTERING SKILLS THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE – $2,250

The project is designed to facilitate healthy relationship building.  Teen Parents will be guided through a self-discovery process to help them understand how their relationship to self and others impact their lives, their children’s lives and society.

Wunsche Career Campus
Arlinda Turner, Kay Hall

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READING PENS – $2,800

The purpose of this project is to provide Reading Pens to special education students for use in general education settings and the resource room.  The pens are hand held scanners that will read out loud words and sentences.  The goal of this project is to increase student’s academic performance while promoting student independence.

Jenkins Elementary School
Paula Dittrich, Gina Lemm, Sandi Barnes

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KINDER “GARDEN” – $1,380

Approximately 150 kindergarten students (eight classes) will collaborate with their teachers and parent volunteers to plant, observe, and maintain a “Kinder-Garden”.  These students will become little scientists.  They will collect and observe information that pertains to raising a garden.  Photo diary will be kept by each class to document participation, progress, and objectives.

Smith Elementary School
Missy Waibel, ArRhonda Bowie, Stephanie Fleissner, Isabelle Bowker, Michelle Oliver, Cyleen Davis, Kati Tanner, Holly Evans

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NO GENDER LEFT BEHIND – $800

Male reading and writing TAKS scores drop drastically during middle school and high school compared to their female counterparts.  This is mostly due to a lack of interest in books and other reading materials males must read and write about.  This grant will help 8^th grade male students in a Reading Improvement class begin to enjoy reading and writing about topics of interest to them.  The joy will follow them to high school and help with grades and TAKS scores.

Dueitt Middle School
Kathleen Parker

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FIRST LEGO LEAGUE – $1,280

FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) is a non-profit organization which combines science, math, engineering and technology for kids.  The FIRST Robotics Competition is one in which teams of students design, assemble, and test a robot capable of performing a specified task.  FIRST challenges teams to solve common problems in a six week timeframe, using a standard “kit of parts” and a common set of rules.  We will to establish two Lego Robotics Teams at BMS to compete in the FIRST Lego League Competition of Fall 2005 in Houston.

Bammel Middle School
Tina Clark, Scott Stanko

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WESTFIELD FITNESS TRAIL – $5,000

The Westfield Fitness Trail System is a ten station fitness system to be installed along a proposed fitness trail.  This sequence of stations will be utilized by Westfield Physical Education and athletic classes, as well as by Westfield staff and by the community at large.  These stations will build health related fitness aspects.

Westfield High School
Susan Smith

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SURVIVOR WELLS – $2,200

Thirty incoming, at-risk, sixth grade students will work and compete in groups on cross-curricular projects.  Monitoring of these same students through their seventh and eighth grade years will show an improvement in their academic performance, enthusiasm and confidence.

Wells Middle School
Delrose Morgan, Stephanie Stahl, Laura Kress, Lisa Lucario, Bristol Arnold, Ian Ackerman

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SATURDAY C.A.M.P. (CONTROLLING ANGER MEANS PROGRESS) –  $4,800

Twin Creeks and Dueitt Middle Schools are collaborating to provide 120 students with anger management training to reduce the number of referrals related to respect and decrease missed instructional time due to disciplinary assignments.  Students that commit offenses related to respect typically receive disciplinary consequences that remove them from the classroom which often impacts academic performance.  Saturday C.A.M.P. is a proactive approach designed to keep students in class by teaching more appropriate ways to handle their anger.  Students will be selected to participate in Saturday C.A.M.P.  through a coordinated campus referral process.

Twin Creeks and Dueitt middle schools
Kirsten Omelan, Jeremy Hubbard

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NONFICTION BOOK TUBS IN ACTION – $5,000

Nonfiction Book Tubs in Action would give our kindergarten (bilingual included), first grade students, and at risk students of AIT (Academic Intervention Teacher) a meaningful opportunity to experience nonfiction reading.

Smith Elementary School
Missy Waibel, Michelle Oliver, Stephanie Fleissner, Isabel Bowker, Rikki Rawlinson, & Julie Brand

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HOW’S THE WEATHER OUT THERE? – $3,000

“How’s the Weather Out There?” is a unique opportunity in which children apply scientific knowledge in a real world setting.  Students become meteorologists by using a school weather station to ready weather instruments, record daily data, and make predictions on what may come.  The project gives students an opportunity to take science beyond textbooks and the classroom.

Hirsch Elementary School, Bammel Elementary School, Smith Elementary School, Clark Intermediate
Clinton Dulworth, Tracey Harros, Nancy Gealow, Traci Templeton

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WRITE NOW! – $4,220

Is a concentrated effort to raise the rigor and relevance levels in their writing curriculum through an innovative style of teacher and student development called, Rap, Rhythm, & Rhyme: Rebuilding the Foundation of Writing presented by Erik Cork.

Link Elementary School
Berky Hernandez, Jahnette Harrell

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THE READING SUMMIT – $600

The Reading Summit brings boys and girls together to engage in relevant discussion concerning the social issues raised by the author and those facing our students, and provides real life application through community service projects.  We will foster a great appreciation for literature while empowering students with their individual experience, and promoting the power of literature to change us.

Clark Intermediate
Joselyn Lundy, Stephanie Mizelle

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2003-2004 Grants

BAMMEL F.E.S.T.: FAMILIES EXPLORING SCIENCE TOGETHER – $3,500

Teachers, students and families exploring science together through specific tools.  Professional Development will be organized around the same theme with the teachers sharing documentation of activities using specific science tools.  Documentation will include power points, photos, and displays.  Increased use of science tools in weekly lessons will develop knowledge of and demonstrate an understanding of the use of these tools.  Cross grade level buddies will enhance the learning process and support an environment of mutual respect.  Families will share in this experience as they attend Bammel-F.E.S.T., an evening of science activities incorporating math and language arts.

Bammel Elementary
Staci Callahan, Tracey Harros, Cherry Alarid, Linda Kenjura

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THROUGH BOOKS WE CAN SOLVE ANYTHING — $4,250

Will provide teachers books with real world situations to incorporate Reading, Science, and Social Studies into teaching problem solving skills to students during Math.

Clark Primary Elementary
Jo Lynn Contello, Jessica Estillette

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PARTNERS (PARENTS ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY TO NURTURE, EDUCATE AND RAISE SUCCESSFUL STUDENTS) – $1,850

Will promote parent participation and accountability in the education of their child.  The focus is to involve parents in their child’s learning, especially our economically disadvantaged (29.1%) and ESL population (11.1%).  Each child will take home kits dealing with the math/literature connection.  Each kit will include a variety of activities, some which can be kept at home permanently for continued use to reinforce specific skills found in the TEKS.  Directions will be provided in Spanish to meet the needs of our ESL population.

Ponderosa Elementary
Pam Anderson, Gayle Bull, Marla Escobedo, Cemira Johnston, Gail Tate

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PADRES COMO MAESTROS (PARENTS AS TEACHERS) – $1,000

Will provide training, to parents, on reading and writing strategies that correlate with the TEKS (Texas Essentials Knowledge and Skills) objectives.  Parents will be asked to attend training seminars once per month, January thru April, to prepare for tutoring their children at home.  In addition, parents will be provided with material resources, mini lessons, and a measuring tool to report student progress.  The teacher will foster parent participation to help increase TAKS passing rate of students participating in the program.

Salyers Elementary
Myriam Khan

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BRIDGE TO UNDERSTANDING – A PARENT/TEACHER PARTNERSHIP – $700

Will form a stronger parent-teacher partnership by improving the communication skills of our foreign-born parents who are uncomfortable with their ability to communicate with their children’s teachers and administrators.  Often, the school is put in an adversarial position because parents are unable to understand the mandates inherent in meeting their children’s academic needs and standards.  Proper communication between parents and staff can only enhance Wells Middle School students’ performance.

Wells Middle
Carol Brown, Barbara Fuentes, Virginia Manriquez, Judy Baker

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PROJECT CREDIT RECOVERY – $3,800

Will target economically disadvantaged students who are at-risk of being retained in the ninth grade center.  Students in the program will be re-classified as ninth graders next school year unless they successfully complete the credit deficiency in Algebra I, English I, or IPC.  Our goal is to prevent them from dropping out of school and to provide them an opportunity to regain credit, earn sophomore classification, and complete high school successfully in four years.

Westfield Ninth Grade Center
Julie Guillory, Carrie Ferguson, Linda Chouinard, Kendra Davis, Mickey Musick, Kimberly Rose

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HABLA (HELPING ACADEMICS BUILD LANGUAGE ABILITY) – $650

Will facilitate the relationship between teachers and Spanish-speaking parents, by training faculty to speak situational Spanish.  This would facilitate student success by building a partnership among students, parents, teachers, and staff, since twenty-nine percent of the 1,410 WHS9GC students are Hispanic.

Westfield Ninth Grade Center
Janet Diaz, Stacey Courville

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GREAT EXPECTATIONS (AN AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR SPANISH SPEAKING STUDENTS AND ESOL NATIVE SPANISH SPEAKERS NOT ENROLLED IN AP SPANISH) – $1,200

Will implement an after school tutorial program at Westfield High School that will successfully prepare native Spanish speaking students not enrolled in AP Spanish for the AP Spanish Language Exam given the first week in May, 2004.  The target group will be Spanish speaking students and ESOL native Spanish speakers who have attended public school in their native countries.  Maximum class size is 50.  Students will attend specialized tutorials 3 days per week for 50 minutes each day beginning March, 2004.  It will afford success to an otherwise overlooked student population and encourage them to pursue higher education.

Westfield High School
Nancy Hinson

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S.T.A.R. (STUDENT TEAMS ACHIEVE RESULTS) – $1,300

Will teach students, using a team approach, to create products and market them.  Using this team approach, students will be given an opportunity to demonstrate skills they have acquired in character education and in their academic classes.

Wunsche School
Carla Bagley, Terri Newbolt, Julie Wilson, Ann Zillmer

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BOOKS ON ALL TRAITS (BOAT) PROJECT – $3,000

The Hirsch Elementary Books On All Traits (BOAT) Project would launch all students at Hirsch Elementary into a better understanding of the Six Traits of Writing.  The Six Traits of Writing are voice, ideas, word choice, organization, sentence fluency and conventions.  The BOAT project would give teachers easy access to picture books and lessons to use when teaching each trait in the Six Traits of Writing.

Hirsch Elementary
Sharon Alexander, Lynn Musi, Rebecca Phillips

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DIGITAL PORTFOLIOS – $1,000

A digital portfolio is a form of communication.  It allows the students to highlight assignments and projects that are meaningful to them.  The students will learn to use various technology tools to create a digital medium.  The students will be expected to take responsibility for the choices of work presented in their portfolios.

Wunsche
Carol Briggs

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HIP HISTORY PROJECT – A TALK SHOW ABOUT HISTORY CONCEPT –  $2,575

The Hip History Project is a videotaped talk show designed to enhance learning in 8^th grade history classes.  This project will emphasize cooperative learning activities which will allow students to develop more critical thinking skills.  These skills will aid children to increase scores on the History CBA and TAKS Tests.  Also, this project will increase community involvement and will support multicultural activities.

Dueitt Middle School
Robert Thomas III, Susan Gregurek, Amy Swartz

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FINAL FOUR WRITING CAMP – $1,850

The fourth grade Final Four Writing Camp is proposed to increase the passing rate of all students in writing on the TAKS or SDAA tests.  The improved passing rate will be achieved by small group instruction on four Saturdays before the TAKS/SDAA writing test.  Instruction will include relays, competitions and team building activities.  Citizenship activities will include making large print calendars for a local nursing home.

Meyer Elementary
Jamie Bates, Nancy Goss, Sara Foley, Frances P. Jackson

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WRITING FROM WITHIN: A FAMILY AFFAIR – $450

We are constantly asking, “How can we help our students to become stronger writers?”  If we can teach parents the importance of writing and what we expect from student writers, parents can support their children and encourage them as they become better writers.  By meeting with faculty and staff members in a workshop setting, we can build relationships with our parents through writing.  Our students will benefit from these workshops and become stronger writers.

Jenkins Elementary
Debbie McIver, Scott Allen, D.D. Click, Jayanne Martin

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JENKINS TECHNOLOGY TEAM – $650

This grant would fund an after-school technology club where selected 4^th and 5^th graders would be taught technology skills such as use of a digital camera, videotaping, scanning and incorporating products into applications like Word, PowerPoint and Publisher.  After several sessions, parents would be invited to a showcase presentation.  The students would then serve as mentors to students while becoming available to assist teachers with technology projects.  Fifth grade students would be paired with new 4^th grade students in an “each one, teach one” model.

Jenkins Elementary
Mary Jones

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SISD COMMUNITY WELLNESS PROGRAM – $7,500

Not only are statistics showing that more children are becoming overweight, but one third of adults are also overweight or obese.  In a recent national study, parents reported the following as barriers from keeping their children from participating in physical activity: transportation problems, lack of opportunities in the area and expense.  The SISD Community Wellness Program is offering three hours a week of structured cardiovascular activity at four SISD elementary schools to students, parents and staff at no cost.

Salyers, Jenkins, Heritage and Ponderosa Elementary Schools
Tonya Vanden, Scott Allen, Sherry Koudelka, Alice Brimberry, Barbara Leland

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NINTH GRADE SUCCESS INITIATIVE – $4,400

The Ninth Grade Success Initiative targets all ninth grade students.  Despite our current transition efforts, a substantial number of ninth grade students are not being successful in their coursework.  Ninth graders who fail IPC, English I or Algebra I will continue to be classified as freshmen next year.  This greatly increases the chances that these students will drop out or have to participate in costly credit recovery programs.  TAKS success is also placed in jeopardy when students fall behind in their graduation plan.  The goal of the Ninth Grade Success Initiative is to be proactive in providing more effective transition to high school and to facilitate greater success in ninth grade classes.

Spring High School
Kaye Jordan, Craig McClure, Phil Eaton, Sue Krueger, Elaine Shasteen, Nelda White

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NINTH GRADE SUCCESS INITIATIVE – $4,400

The Ninth Grade Success Initiative targets all ninth grade students.  Despite our current transition efforts, a substantial number of ninth grade students are not being successful in their coursework.  Ninth graders who fail IPC, English I or Algebra I will continue to be classified as freshmen next year.  This greatly increases the chances that these students will drop out or have to participate in costly credit recovery programs.  TAKS success is also placed in jeopardy when students fall behind in their graduation plan.  The goal of the Ninth Grade Success Initiative is to be proactive in providing more effective transition to high school and to facilitate greater success in ninth grade classes.

Westfield 9^th Grade Center
Julie Guillory

2002-2003 Grants

“APPLE” OF MY EYE – $2,640

Provides parental experiences that shows lessons on problem solving, operations, reasoning and connecting the learning to “real” life mathematics; trains and models for parents the methods needed so they can teach their children mathematics; continues to build on the parental support while targeting additional parents that aren’t involved; ensures that the students, parents and staff members are working together to stay abreast of current mathematics reforms and continue the learning as we prepare our students for the more stringent TAKS test and to bridge the transition from primary to intermediate math strategies.

Bammel Elementary
Cherry Alarid, Cathy Loflin

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SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY THROUGH LITERATURE – $1,000

Promotes literacy while teaching and reinforcing good speech and language skills for the monolingual Spanish speaking elementary school-aged child.  This project would make available a small selection of Spanish books to be used in Speech-Language therapy and possibly allow a student to take a book home to be share with parents.

Bammel, Beneke, Link, Meyer, Oak Creek elementaries
Laura Wolf

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MATH KITS ON THE MOVE – $450

Provides parents with materials and instructions to enable them to help their children continue the development of math concepts presented at school and will increase student enthusiasm about math and strengthen their understanding of mathematical concepts and strategies.

Beneke Elementary
Sandra Yates, Stephanie Sheffield, Sandi Haynes, Linda McClosky

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STARS – SIT TOGETHER AND READ SUCCESSFULLY – $4,520

Invites parents and children to attend a library reading program and will allow children to hear, watch and participate in library activities similar to those provided by public libraries.  The main goal of the STARS program is to support the TEKS beyond the classroom and to encourage meaningful interaction between parents and students.

Heritage Elementary
Karen Poss, Maria Hartman, Debbie Magoulick, Lois Niezgoda

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BRAIN BUSTERS – $760

Provides a motivational and enjoyable means for improving student ability to recognize mathematical strategies and their effectiveness as they relate to the TEKS-based standards of underlying mathematical tools and processes.

Hirsch Elementary
Janet Dodd

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READ FOR SUCCESS – $2,070

Provides a means for at-risk students to develop reading skills to ensure success and the love of learning to read.

Hirsch Elementary
Marsha Warken

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SPACE DISCOVERY CLUB – $175

Encourages students to learn about space and the space program while using problem solving skills and inquiry based science experiments.

Hirsch Elementary
Gay Bowman, Nancy Gealow

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TAKE-HOME READERS FOR KINGERGARTEN – $1,100

Improves the school-home connection by giving parents materials to develop their child’s reading skills.  Parents will reinforce reading concepts, such as directionality of  printing, sight word knowledge and other reading decoding skills essential to the growing child.

Hirsch Elementary
Sharon Sparks, Debbie Lindberg, Amanda Newgard, Natalie Randazzo, Julie Manley

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MATH…THE STRONGEST LINK – $2,700

Targets students who scored between 60 and 79 on the 2001 TAAS Math test.  Students will experience greater success with specific mathematical objectives and problem-solving skills and more parents and community members will be actively involved in student learning.

Link Elementary
Jahnette Harrell, Laurie Watson

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DUAL LANGUAGE LITERATURE – $680

Encourages and empowers children in the Spring ISD bilingual fourth grade level program with literature that is dual language and facilitates the transition between the two languages of Spanish and English.

Meyer Elementary
Damaris Gaytan, Lenny Hardoin

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VIRTUAL LITERATURE CIRCLES – $4,840

Through videoconferencing, will allow gifted students to share ideas and connections they have made through reading and to meet TEKS language arts and technology objectives.

Meyer and Beneke elementaries
Sharon Alexander, Kathy Booth

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ARMADILLO ART TO GO – $5,000

Creates a life-long appreciation of art by introducing the students, along with their families, to famous artworks, artists, history, cultures, and art techniques through a variety of enriching and stimulating take-home activities.

Oak Creek Elementary
Susan Miller

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TRANSFORMING INSTRUCTION THROUGH TEACHER RENEWAL – $2,500

Improves student achievement by enhancing the quality of teachers and strengthening educational programs at Wells Middle School.  This will be accomplished by raising teachers’ levels of self-efficacy through collegial teams focusing on professional development and improved instructional applications.

Wells Middle School
Mary Charlotte Elliott, Laura Kress, Mike Keimig, Anne Urich, Rachel Zahn

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BEREAVEMENT GROUP – $360

Reaches out and helps our children/staff who have had to experience or are presently experiencing the loss of an immediately family member or loved one.

Westfield High School
Judy Keife, Linda Chouinard

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FRAMEWORKS – $11,500

Establishes an on-campus, teacher facilitated resource for our school communities so that participants can learn more about educating children and adults from different socio-economic levels.

Westfield and Spring high schools
Pam McCombs, Delic Loyde, Gregg Colschen, Karen Reich, Gloria Marshall

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AP-PREP CAMP FOR ENGLISH AND MATH – $10,000

Gives students who have not had the ability or opportunity to take AP Calculus or AP English to receive instruction specifically targeted to help them make a smooth transition into English IV AP or AP Calculus AB.

Westfield and Spring high schools
Rick Hedstrom, Donna Pikus, Kristen Shoemate, Sheryle Hardcastle

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TEEN PARENT SOCIAL SKILLS PROJECT – $4,780

Helps pregnant and parenting teens enrolled in the Spring ISD Teen Parenting Program to develop better social skills.  The term “social skills” implies the tools needed to interact successfully with others, whether at home, on the job, or in school.

Wunsche Career Campus
Arlinda Turner

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HOSPITALITY COLLEGE AND CAREER EXPLORATION WEEKEND – $3,050 

Introduces students to a career in the hospitality industry, which encompasses many facets of the world of travel and tourism.

Wunsche Career Campus
Lillie Hoover

2001 Grants

TAASATHON THURSDAYS – $650

Provide transportation for any at-risk student who is unable to be picked up by a parent which will allow them to stay after school for four Thursdays from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. for TAAS remediation.

Beneke Elementary
Shellie Liles

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ESL HOME READING PARTNERS – $5,000

Provides Non-English and Limited English Speakers-students and parents the ability to interact meaningfully as reading partners by providing books and audio tapes for use at home in both English and the students’ home language.

Heritage Elementary
Teresa Daniels, Barbara Salinas, Sharon Leavins

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SUCCESS PROGRAM – $5,000

Targets at-risk students who are having difficulty in the elementary classroom by providing ropes activities that will cover such topics as: communication skills, anger management, and increased problem solving skills to help the student gain a better understanding of the importance of proper classroom management.

Heritage Elementary
Rony Wayne Holt

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MAKING TAAS HAPPEN – $3,300

Targets third level math students’ ability to pass TAAS by providing specific skills training for second, third and fourth level math teachers, increase the second level teachers’ awareness of how skills are tested in third level, provide fourth level teachers with tutorial materials for third level students who didn’t master the third level math TAAS and provide training for parents on how to tutor students at home on specific TAAS objectives.  A workshop will be held for students, teachers (this includes a representative from each elementary school in the district) and parents to be introduced to skill activities that will be used in the classroom and at home.

Ponderosa Elementary
Cherry Alarid

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CREATING OPPORTUNITY – $3,000

Targets economically disadvantaged students.  Parents of students who are identified as not attending after school tutoring due to lack of transportation will be asked to come to school in person to review STARS contract and  complete the permission notice to attend after school tutoring. Parents will also be encouraged to participate in Parent Partner Education Classes.  This grant provides for 4 PPE leaders to be trained.  This will help give the parents skills they can use at home to reinforce what is being taught at school.

Ponderosa Elementary
Suzanne Thoele

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BRIDGING THE GAP IN TAAS 2001 – $1,800

Provide transportation for any at-risk student who is unable to be picked up by a parent which will allow them to stay after school for TAAS tutorials.  Grades targeted are 3,4,5.

Oak Creek Elementary
Eneldia Berlanga-Thames

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CATCH YOUR DREAMS – $500

The purpose of this grant is to help fifth grade students increase career awareness, to encourage career exploration, and to help students make the connection between the information and skills they learn in school and those necessary for success on the job.

Thompson Elementary
Susan Rhodes, Lana Adams, Cynthia Daniels, Delrose Morgan

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LIVING HISTORY – $4,000

The Living History Group will engage students studying history with an interesting and exciting way to learn history. Through the efforts of the Living History Group teachers will be able to enhance their regular history lessons by bringing costumed interpreters to the classroom.  The goal of this project is to increase student interest in history.

Twin Creeks MS
Brett Mills

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TECHNOLOGY OUTREACH PROGRAM 2 (TOP2) – $10,880 or 4 @ $2,720

To continue offering “Technology Nights” during after-school hours.  The focus for the 2000-2001 sessions will be on the use of the internet, digital cameras, scanners and other multi-media applications.  The sessions will once again be open to students, staff and community.

Bammel, Dueitt, Twin Creeks and Wells middle schools
Glenna Baskin, Karen James

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MICROSCOPE IMAGES FOR STUDENT AND TEACHER USE – $1,500

The purpose of this project is to help science classes when they do a microscope laboratory.  In this project a digital camera will be attached to a microscope so that pictures can be taken through the microscope.  These will be loaded into a PC and posted on the SISD website or recorded on a CD.  This project will allow teachers to show students what they will be looking for before they go to lab.  It will also allow for postlab discussion and assessment for the microscope lab.  The digital camera will allow teachers to take pictures for use in prelab for discussion involving setup, procedures, and safety issues.  These pictures can be viewed on a computer.  By using this procedure more time will be made available for instruction.

Spring High School and Westfield High School
Al Barr, Judy Haight

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WHS MENTOR – $3,000

This program would match selected Westfield High School students with adult volunteers who share their career interests.  Mentors and mentees would e-mail each other and meet in person at pre-determined campus meetings to help motivate students to achieve in school and learn about careers/technology.   The belief is that the Internet can be a powerful tool for facilitating substantive and meaningful connections between adults and young people if the relationships have adequate structure and support.  Many adults do not have the time to serve as traditional mentors, and young people who need mentors often do not have them.  This program seeks to provide a whole new group of volunteers who can make a positive difference in the lives of young people.

Westfield High School
Diane Laughter, Delic Loyde

2000 Grants

CAMERAS FOR KIDS:  LEARNING TO SEE WITH A CAMERA – $2,000

Students of art in middle school will be given the opportunity to use non-automatic 35mm cameras to create artworks through personal experiences and imagination while learning principles and elements of design, production and critique.  Cooperatively, the four campuses will conduct an art show to display the student work.

Bammel, Dueitt,Twin Creeks and Wells middle schools
Deborah Redman, Cathy Lovett, Pam Barnes, Randy Rankin

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FOCUS PLUS – $1,000

Addresses the needs of the at-risk student by providing a systematic program of social skills instruction for student and staff.  This allows for interactions that are consistent and supportive.  This system of leadership/social skills will enable students to gain self-control and become successful in the classroom.

Westfield HS
Lashelle Nix, Kimberly Emmert

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INDIVIDUALIZING PRIMARY LITERACY INSTRUCTIONS AS AN INTERVENTION FOR INCREASING STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AND REDUCING RISK OF FAILURE – $5,000

Implementing literacy stations that will provide students with opportunities to independently explore, experiment and reinforce learning that is meaningful, while the teacher works with individuals or small groups to meet the wide range of ability levels within a given classroom.

Hirsch Elementary
Sherry Koudelka, Dianna Estep, Linda McGee, Kitty Phillips

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IPC SUCCESS PROJECT – $1,100

Student success in Integrated Physics and Chemistry (IPC) classes will be increased by the separation of older students from the true freshmen allowing for the special needs of each group to be met.

Spring HS
Nancy Welch, Gina Lantz

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SIT FOR SAT – $3,500

Establishes an on-campus, teacher-facilitated library and study center that would serve as an outreach for all Westfield high school students preparing to take the SAT, ACT, and PSAT during their junior and senior years.

• Provides all Westfield HS students the opportunity to improve their SAT, ACT, PSAT verbal and math skills and scores through guided practice and instruction
• Increase number of students at Westfield taking these tests as a result of better preparation, knowledge, and test familiarity

Provide the needed resources/tutorial assistance to students from diverse or economically disadvantaged backgrounds to prepare for these exams.

Westfield HS
Donna Pikus, Delic Loyde

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TEACH THE PARENTS-REACH THE CHILDREN – $2,575

This project will provide enrichment activities in English for bilingual children whose parents will be attending ESL classes at Jenkins during the spring/fall semester of 2000.  Homework support will also be provided to each child who needs additional help from an English –speaking adult.

Jenkins Elementary
Karen Rincon

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USING STUDENT AGENDAS TO HELP STUDENTS DEVELOP VITAL SKILLS – $369

Students will make entries in the agendas in each academic classroom.  The agendas will be used to promote individual organizational skills while teaching time management and goal setting skills as well as building confidence, fostering character development and self-esteem through increased academic success. The agenda also provides a source for keeping parents informed about student’s long-range and short-term projects and assignments, thus allowing for a partnership to develop between students, parents and educators.

Westfield HS
Melissa Adams

1999 Grants

ANDERSON ACADEMICS FAIR – $650

At least 20 percent of the students and their parents are expected to  participate in this “discovery” project.  Students will research and develop a self-selected topic or question to be showcased in a  schoolwide “Academic Fair.”  Family project books will be available for checkout to give examples and suggestions.  Exhibits will be set up by grade level in the gym or cafeteria for viewing of the projects and students will receive ribbons for participation.

Anderson Elementary
Debbie Richardson

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CREATING GAMEROOMS TO IMPROVE TAAS SCORES – $1,000

Students who did not master TAAS in previous testing (targeting  special education students) will have an opportunity to participate in games for math and/or language arts during their recess time up to four times a week.  Special Ed teachers will design activities to reinforce TAAS objectives and students will be scheduled on a  voluntary basis according to their needs.  Special and regular ed  teachers will communicate about student progress.  Expected outcomes are that the number of students passing TAAS in each subject will increase by 15 percent and student grades will improve.

Link Elementary
Sharon Parker-Jones, Linda Squires-Weber, Delia Rivera

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TECHNOLOGY OUTREACH PROGRAM (TOP) – $5,000

Each middle school will offer two 2-hour sessions per month (March-May) for students, parents and community members to use     the multi-media lab under the guidance of two facilitators. One session will be after school, and one session will be in the evening.  Schools   will develop a schedule and sample lessons  for lab participants.

All middle school students, parents and community members
Marker Case, Carole Barr (BMS); Glenna Baskin, Michele Kronke (DMS); Tracy Thompson, Sharon Watkins (TCMS); Delic Loyde, Sara Catherine Howard (WMS)

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WESTSIDE TRANSITION TEAM – KEYS TO SUCCESS – $250

The project will enhance existing freshman transition efforts at Westfield HS.  Efforts to be addresssed will be a booklet with 9th grade policies, course descriptions, supplies, exemptions, and groups and clubs given to each feeder middle school for distribution to 600 students.  Expected outcome is increased awareness of 9th grade expectations by students and staff.  videotape of  9th grade courses, clubs, groups and organizations; calendar of events for major 9th grade courses, exemptions, supplies provided to 8th and 9th grade counselors.  Expected outcome is increased awareness of activities.  development of 50 binders for teachers to use with identified students during CLASP to help with notebook organization.  Expected outcome is 10% reduction in 9th grade failure rate.

Westfield HS
Linda Chouinard, Judy Keife, Julie J. Guillory

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WRANGLER READING KITS ROPING SOCIAL SKILLS – $2,310

The grant will provide novels, audio and video tapes and workbooks for teachers to use with adaptive behavior students to serve as a link between the written text and the reader’s experiences, providing topics for discussion involving social skills issues.  Topics of the novels relate to friendship, peer pressure, survival, prejudice, coping skills and survival.  The project will provide age-appropriate reading  material to maintain reading levels while students are not at their home school.  Expected outcomes are to see positive peer interaction, an increase in self-esteem, a decrease in disruptive behaviors, and improved time on task.

Wunsche
Kelle McClay-Rogers

1998 Grants

RELATING ANGULAR AND LINEAR VELOCITY IN PHYSICS AND PRECALCULUS – $1,000

To improve student’s ability in these classes to understand the relationship between the concepts of angular and linear velocity, enabling them to apply that knowledge to solve real world situations through data collection and analysis in a lab setting.  The goal is that at least 75% of students involved will score at least 80 on a unit test on angular and linear velocity.

Spring HS
Susie Simpson

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AT-HOME SUMMER READING PROGRAM – $3,000

To increase parent involvement with low-performing beginning readers to increase these students’ chances of reading on-grade by the end of the following school year.  The project involves one-to-one teacher contact with families during  the summer to provide guidance and materials to meet child’s needs and reaffirm parent’s role. The project will sustain reading in at-risk children over the summer to enable them to catch up to peers.

Salyers Elementary
Sharon Prisbylla

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STUDENT-LED CONFERENCE – $800

Some 8th graders will participate in student-led parent conferences to share their portfolios, accomplishments and goals.  Students become actively involved in the answer to “What have I learned in school?”.  They experience communication skills and parents become more involved through participation in the conference.

Dueitt Middle
Mary Lou Schouweiler
Michele Shampoe

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PATHS (“PARENTS AND TEACHERS HELPING STUDENTS”) – $3,740

A reading intervention project involving 40 parents of at-risk 2nd and 3rd graders to improve the reading grades of their children.  Parents will attend an instructional meeting with teachers and a debriefing session in groups of five to learn Guided Reading methods and share successes and concerns as they work with their children at home.  Parents will be assisted in choosing books from the Guided Reading lending library.

Meyer Elementary
Connie Carr, Maria Gamboa, Susan Horton

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SUCCESS CLUB (PART 2) – $375

To establish an American Technology Honor Society club within the Success Club.  Every Monday students will participate in Technology Day, using computer labs to completing homework and practice TAAS skills.  The Success Club will charter a chapter of the American Technology Honor Society.

Wells Middle
Delic Loyde, Carol Brown, CC Jackson, Elaine Sam

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MODIFICATIONS REFERENCE GUIDE – $1,000

This project will result in the development and dissemination of a teachers’ reference guide for modifying all subjects according to individual learning styles and leaning needs.  Every teacher will have an indexed manual including a variety of strategies to modify standard lessons to improve learning for all students.  A committee of 4 regular and 3 special education teachers will pair up to test and assess various modifications and compile the guide for use by all teachers.

Spring HS
Donna Grant

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STORY BOXES – $900

To develop a library of story boxes for loan to families and classroom teachers, particularly of visually impaired students.  The boxes contain print/braille books so that parents and children can read together.  They also contain objects that the stories are about in order for the children to understand the concepts in the story by holding, smelling or exploring the objects.

SISD
PreK-3 regular ed, and Special Education students who are visually impaired
Kelly Marts

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BATTLE OF THE BOOKS – $3,900

To extend a pilot campus-level competition and evalute the reading interests of fifth grade students to encourage and increase  recreational reading.  Twenty to 25% of fifth graders at each campus are selected for teams on the basis of a written quiz.  They participate in building competitions and all fifth graders attend the competition.  All fourth graders are invited to introduce them to the project for participation next year.  Sixty students will advance to a district bowl.  Fifth graders help revise the reading list for upcoming fourth graders to have available during the summer library program.

SISD
Delynne Cheyney, Cathy Williamson

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DEVELOPING A SYSTEM FOR SEEKING GRANTS:  A STARTER PROJECT FOR IMPROVING GRANT WRITING SKILLS – $2,000

To develop a committee of volunteers to research and compile a database on sources of funding, to help make connections with funders and write grants and to increase the number of grants submitted.  The database system will provide information on foundations, funding contacts and individuals for staff members or volunteers to access.  The database will be maintained on a computer available to volunteers or staff as needed.

SISD
Mary Ann Beseda
Jerre Lahmeyer

1997 Grants

Science/Literature Take Home Boxes – $1,000

Boxes of books about science and materials for science experiments will be developed and sent home with students to share with parents.  The project will stimulate an interest in science and literature through experimentation and exploration of science concepts, teaching children to learn to plan, record, apply, hypothesize, observe, experiment and verify.

Thompson Elementary
Sharron Dickerson, Deanna Dethlefsen

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LAB ACTIVITIES FOR HONORS ALGEBRA II – $900

Students will use a lab activity and computer/calculator technology as tools to guide them to a discovery of the function being studied, while strengthening the link between mathematics and science.  In a lab activity, students will solve problems by collecting data, graphing the data, identifying the algebraic function by the shape of the graph and using statistics to predict values of the function past the range of the data gathered.

Spring High
Susie Simpson

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SOCIAL SKILLS GROWTH THROUGH OUTDOOR STRUCTURED LEARNING – $2,115

Wunsche Adaptive Behavior students will be engaged in outdoor physical activities designed to provide acceptable ways to release anger and deal with stress.  The outcome will be to have students transition from anti-social behaviors to socially appropriate behaviors through a series of six stages using non-competitive games, recreational activities, problem solving, cooperative learning, and skill building.

Wunsche
Susan Haase, Cliff Traxler

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6TH GRADE ORIENTATION VIDEO – up to $1,000

Wells faculty and students will produce an orientation video for each 6th grade family and make copies for use by parents who miss the 6th grade orientation meeting or the school’s open house.  The objective is to ensure that all 6th grade parents are familiar with their child’s teachers, administrators and services the school has to offer.

Wells Middle
Sharon Geiger, Orlando Vargas

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ADVENTURE PHYSICAL EDUCATION-ROPES PE – $5,000

8th grade PE students will be provided an alternative to the traditional PE program through an elective course involving physical challenges.  Students choosing the adventure based PE course will use the school’s low ROPES course, a high climbing wall, caving ladder and knotted rope climbs in the auxiliary gym.  Students will learn basic Orienteering techniques such as compass and map reading while participating in physically challenging Orienteering excursions.  Students enrolled participate in a series of fitness games and initiatives that promote fitness and competition through cooperation.  The grant will provide the high elements for the course, which began as an experimental course last year and was piloted with 49 students.

Dueitt Middle
Scott Bacher

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TAKE ONE – up to $1,000

This project will provide a videotape of language arts instruction to help inform and educate parents about the language arts program at Bammel Elementary.  The video will also serve as a staff development tool for teachers who are implementing the “Readers/Writers Workshop” and “Shared and Guided Reading” approaches to language arts.  The video will depict the instruction going on at school to help parents understand how their children are learning and how they can support reading and writing at home.

Bammel Elementary
Debby Strube, Joan Harding

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SUCCESS CLUB – $3,500

This project creates a series of after school interactive interest centers, including 8tutorials and team building activities designed to help students pass all subjects, engage them in at least one organized school activity and increase skills in conflict resolution, dealing with anger and multicultural interaction.  The after school club will operate three days a week from 4-6 p.m. for at least 75 students who want to participate.  The grant provides for a trip to Astroworld as an incentive and participation in YMCA activities at Wells.

Wells Middle
Delic Loyde, Chequita Jackson, Carol Brown, Elaine Sam

1996 Grants

TAAS BUDDIES – $550

To increase TAAS scores by using specific writing objectives in letters to students and by providing individual support for 3-5th at-risk students.  Identified students will be paired with a teacher, paraprofessional or support staff member for 10 days.  Letters with specified errors will be sent from the buddy to the child.  Students will find the errors, correct them and discuss with their buddy.  Students who turn in their letters receive new ones each day.  Those who participate each day will attend a party.  The grant will provide substitutes for teachers to write the letters, materials and an ice cream party.

Bammel Elementary
Joan Harding, Alice Holman, Carol Johnston, Deborah Havemann, Pam Ondurch,Cathy Loflin, Lynn Sorrell, Gloria Fox, Dianna Perkins

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ART CAMP – $2,000

To establish an intense art experience for 1st-5th graders and high school art students.  High school art students will conduct a one-week camp for elementary children during summer.  The high school students will receive training to conduct the camp and plan the activities.  Elementary students will be enrolled in conjunction with the summer recreation program.  Experiences will include drawing, painting, sculpting, mask making, jewelry design, weaving, kite making, photography and computer animation.  The grant will provide materials, a field trip and training or supplemental pay for the project.

Westfield High
Karla Koop, Pat Barry

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VIDEOTAPING PHYSICAL SCIENCE LABORATORY EXPERIMENTS – $750

Science labs will be videotaped for absent students or students in EC to view the missed lab during the school day (in ASP, EC or teacher conference periods).  Currently only 20 percent of students make up a lab after school; most take a “0”.  This should ensure that students are not disadvantaged by missing the discussion and problem solving that occurs during a lab.  The grant will provide video equipment.

Spring High
Judy Jones, Julie Guillory, Allan Parent

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ENTUSIASMO PARA LA LECTURA – $5,000

To develop classroom libraries of Spanish reading materials to support Bilingual Readers Workshop.  Link is beginning a bilingual program this year, but due to extremely few Spanish books, teachers and the library are unable to support the campus-wide Reader Workshop for the bilingual children.  Spanish speaking students will have quality children’s literature in their primary language, which will not only allow them to implement Readers Workshop but also is shown to promote academic success as the students learn English.  The grant will purchase books, provide teacher training and materials.

Link Elementary
Alice Brimberry, Kathy Schleper, Amy Anderwald, Sandra Cuartas, Cynthia Gomez, Yvonne Roach

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READING PARTNERS II – $1,000

To develop home libraries with student-made books patterned after published reading materials.  Trade books in both English and Spanish will be the models for books that English as a Second Language students make at school.  Home language and illustrations will be done at home as a cooperative effort.  Students share books at school and take them home for their permanent library.  Students will develop a reading and writing vocabulary through development of their own library, and parents and children will work together, resulting in improved attitudes toward reading.  The grant provides published books and materials to make books.

Meyer Elementary
Barbara Rich

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WETLAND LESSONS – $800

To provide an opportunity for 10 non-science teachers to develop lesson plans that utilize the wetland study area as a learning resource.  The wetland provides a vehicle for exposing students to many facets of the environment through various subjects.  Teachers will have a 6-hour workshop to explore the wetland and develop a lesson.  The grant provides supplemental pay for the workshop at the district’s current rate of pay ($80 per 6-hr day).

Spring High
Al Barr

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ACHIEVING INCLUSION THROUGH STRUCTURED LEARNING – $2,170

To provide a structured learning model in classrooms for special needs students with varying handicapping conditions.  The well structured and engineered classroom will teach the student where to go, what to do and how to do it as independently as possible using objects, pictures and photos.  The model will help students improve individual skills and will foster independence.  The model requires parental involvement as the communication component through visual materials to be used at home to support the structured learning environment.  The grant provides software used to develop picture symbols, talking computer screens and Touch Windows.

Wunsche
Mary Mettenbrink
Mary Fehrenbacher

1995 Grants

READING PARTNERS – $750

Provides dual reading materials for Spanish speaking students learning English as a second language.  Companion books in Spanish and English will be placed in book bags to take home with suggested activities that support, extend and enrich the learning of English.  The activities will involve parents to support the child’s learning.

Meyer Elementary
Barbara Rich

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KIDS’ MUSEUM – $860

Special Education students will create a dinosaur museum through hands-on projects which incorporate research, reading, writing, presentation, and self evaluation.  The students will design and develop the museum and serve as docents for other Bammel students.  The 9-week project will involve parents and the larger community as it provides experiences for students that promote discussion, practice by doing and teaching others.

Bammel Elementary
Amy-Elizabeth Smith

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JENKINS READING WRITING CONNECTION – $5,000

An authentic Readers Workshop will be developed across grade levels to improve reading comprehension.  The grant will provide a large quantity of quality books in each classroom to increase the number of books read by 50%.  Each child is given the opportunity to choose from books in the classroom and teachers will incorporate the workshop model in their instruction.  Components include teacher training, parent involvement, Young Writers’ Celebration, student publishing center.

Jenkins Elementary
Kevin Blanton, Rebecca Broussard, Joan Burns, Janet Compton, Heather Fegins, Nicole Harrison

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SUMMER INSTITUTE FOR STUDENTS IN TRANSITION – $1,710

The project will ease the transition of students between 8th and 9th grades; reduce the failure rate in 9th grade; and improve teachers’ understanding of student developmental stages.  The grant will enable a committee to develop plans and collect information on practices of teachers from 8th and 9th grades.  A two-day summer institute for teachers will focus on student development and develop recommendations for improving transition.

Spring High/Dueitt/Twin Creeks
Judy Jones, Patricia McDonald, Patricia Scible, Janet Brinkley, Dean Borg, Mary Lou Schouweiler

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INTRAMURALS, THE ANSWER TO INCREASING PARTICIPATION OPPORTUNITIES IN SCHOOL ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES – $3,672

The project will provide opportunities for 400 students to participate in volleyball, basketball and co-educational intramurals during the school year.  Parents will be trained to officiate and staff members will supervise.  Such activities will promote a higher level of school spirit and student involvement, good sportsmanship and athletic skill building.

Twin Creeks Middle
John Cromien

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INCREASING STUDENT SUCCESS IN CHEMISTRY – $800

The grant will provide copies of a study manual for students in one teacher’s 10-12 science classes to measure improvement of grades between students who use the manual and those who do not.  The study manual is a handout of teacher’s notes containing objectives, review problems and remedial information.

Spring High
Donald Snook

1994 Grants

ACCELERATED LANGUAGE PROGRAM – $5,000

To provide one-third of the tuition cost for up to 20 staff members who enroll in the UH ALP to improve their ability to communicate with Hispanic students and parents who may not speak English and to enhance multicultural sensitivities.

SISD
Karen Scheidhauer

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POWER TO PARENTS – $614

To empower parents of prekindergarten students with materials and skills necessary to successfully use literature to enrich their child’s language arts development.

Ponderosa Elementary
Cindy Keever

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MUSICAL STORY HOURS – $971.95

To use musical recordings as an innovative and effective way to bring books and stories to life creatively for children.  To encourage increased student participation in story hour through the use of music.  to encourage student expression of oral language by encouraging students to participate in chants, songs, and repeated refrains in literature presented.  To add an element of cultural enrichment by exposing very young children to specific types of music.  To facilitate lifelong skill and interest in reading and in listening to music and literature from other cultures.  To promote the use of music with literature in other SISD elementary library programs.

Winship/Hirsch/Ponderosa
Julie Cowan, Robin Krig,
Dorothy McMahon

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FISH CAMP – $2,717.76

To improve the transition from middle school to high school through a two-day orientation for ninth graders.  Students will familiarize themselves with the building, hear from college students and current high school students and be given time to ask questions and hear about programs and activities.

Spring HS
Bill Lakin, Patricia McDonald

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MARVELOUS MATH AND READING LOGS – $370

To provide quality activities for parents and students to explore together; to share suggestions for enjoyable math and reading experiences in the home; to strengthen the connection of math and reading in the home.

Beneke Elementary
Sandra Yates, Kathy Froehlich

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ONCE UPON A TIME: A SUMMER CHILDREN’S BOOK FESTIVAL FOR SPRING ISD – $1,100

To provide seed money to conduct the first festival for elementary children, their parents, teachers and librarians.  Participants  will see techniques for storytelling, reading aloud and puppetry and be motivated to consider storytelling and puppetry as a means of communication.

SISD
Kevin Blanton, Dorothy McMahon

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TEACHING TOLERANCE – $1,500

To help students become more reflective of all groups of students in the curriculum; to recognize and appreciate the characteristics and needs of diverse groups.

Spring High School
Georgette Sullins, Susan Rhodes

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SPRING AHEAD IN WRITING – $300

To provide funds for one teacher to demonstrate and promote good instructional methods to other teachers using a classroom LCD to enhance writing.

Bammel Middle
Dorothy Williams

1993 Grants

SCIENCE IS IN THE BAG – $250
Hands-on materials for students to investigate science concepts expand and enrich the curriculum.

Ponderosa Elementary
Kay Brickley, Julie Secrest,
Mary Lou Robinson, Julie Pever

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EXPERIENCING ART THROUGH PICTURE BOOKS – $450
Specially selected illustrated books help students explore art and the artist’s perspective.

Ponderosa Elementary
Dorothy McMahon

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LET US INTRODUCE YOU TO BILINGUAL EDUCATION – $505
A Spanish video presentation of the bilingual program.

Bammel Elementary
Joan Harding

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TEACHER PREPFORCE 2000 – $4,950
Teachers spend a week in the workplace to shadow professionals and learn current practices and procedures to transfer to the classroom.

Westfield/Spring/Wunsche
Carolyn Ramsey

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SISD SUMMER READING PROGRAM – $3,220
Libraries were open during summer months to encourage reading for pleasure and to provide activities at school libraries.

Anderson/Hirsch/Link/Clark/ Smith
Elaine Say

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PARTNERS IN WRITING – $2,000
Computer provided for classroom use in Tier 4 language arts.

Oak Creek Elementary
Pat Reynolds

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CAREER FAIR – $475
Speakers from a variety of fields and professions shared information in a conference format.

Spring High
Junior & Senior Counselors

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ENHANCEMENT OF STUDENT LIFETIME FITNESS THROUGH USE OF AN EFFECTIVE CARDIOVASCULAR PROGRAM – $750
Students learned to use weight bars and monitors to develop individualized walking/running fitness plans.

Twin Creeks Middle
7th & 8th physical education
John Cromien

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GOLDEN EAGLE SIMULATED SPACE SHUTTLE MISSION – $998
Eighth grade science students plan and execute simulated space missions.

Dueitt Middle
8th earth science students
Jim Winder, Russell Claughton

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BLAST  (BOOK LOVING ACTIVITIES TO SHARE TOGETHER) – $990
Take home packets encourage reading at home for students and parents.

Ponderosa Elementary
pre-kindergarten, K, 1st
Dorothy McMahon, Julie Secrest

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PROVIDING A CONTEXT IN MATH – $640
Mathematics is enriched and enhanced through the use of specially selected literature.

Ponderosa Elementary
4th grade math
Cherry Alarid

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AUTHOR VISIT – $250
A guest author shared the techniques of writing, editing and publishing.

Winship Elementary
3rd grade
Amy Cranford