The Kalispell Education Foundation has awarded $ 26,687 in Great Ideas Grants to help teachers and counselors fund projects and equipment to enrich the classroom experience at Kalispell Public Schools.
Thanks to the community support the foundation received this year, 19 of the 24 grant applications were funded, according to Kalispell Education Foundation Executive Director Dorothy Drury.
Several projects this year have focused on the mental health, well-being and collaboration of students in addition to academics.
Rankin Elementary Principal Merissa Murray received a grant of $ 1,989 for classroom “calm kits” to help students identify emotions such as anxiety and healthy socio-emotional responses to self-regulation. . A grant of $ 1,300 was made to the Kalispell Public Schools Director of Special Education Sara Cole’s Project Proposal, “Yoga for Teachers and Teens”. The grant will fund a yoga class with the aim of helping potentially overwhelmed staff and students to slow down, pay attention to their bodies and emotions through guided movements and breathing with an emphasis on practices mindfulness.
At Peterson Elementary, counselor Allyson Jones received funding of $ 1,443 to purchase updated technology to increase student access to a counseling program where she teaches weekly interactive classes and tools related to life. ‘socio-emotional learning and school preparation.
“In today’s world with broken families, tough economic times and Covid-19, mental health issues are increasing rapidly, and by offering a more intensive program, we hope to reach every student through weekly classes of counseling skills, ”Jones said of the project. need in their grant application. “In our community alone, we have suffered great losses of students and adults by suicide. These whole-class lessons will provide students with skills and tools to put away in their toolbox and access when they see fit. Skills can include emotional regulation, making friends, problem solving, and career development.
Each year, staff are invited to apply for funding of up to $ 2,000.
“Our teachers go above and beyond to make school fun, safe, interactive and transformative for their students. It is an honor to support them in their role of helping their students learn, ”said Drury.
Here is a list of grant applicants, projects and the amount of funding received.
Edgerton Elementary School
Amber Carpenter, “Math Masters”, $ 650
Heather Key, “Life Skills Class Library,” $ 652
Elemental of Elrod
Heather Anderson, Chelsea Kammerzell and Nicole Fahnlander, “Making Kindergarten Masterpieces”, $ 1,410
Ryan Streiff, “Whiteboard Madness”, $ 2,000
Flathead High School
Megan Koppes, “Graphic Novels are Good for Novice Readers,” $ 1,811
Helen Lyford, “Life Skills Wish List,” $ 1,826
Stephanie McLean, “Adaptive ALEKS,” $ 1,035
Linzi Napier, “From Backyard Brains to Biomedical Brains,” $ 1,630
Glacier High School
Josh Munro, “Cameras from the Glacier Yearbook,” $ 2,000
Elementary hurdles
Melania Ames, “I’m playing! »$ 1,089
Dani Burtsfield, “Supporting Our Younger Readers – Decodable Books,” $ 1,133
Kalispell College
Annie Gustafson and Ashley Anderson, “Biomimicry Youth Design Challenge”, $ 1,928
Maggie Owens, “Discovering Electricity,” $ 701
Kristi Sanders, “Beginner’s Book Club,” $ 1,366
Linderman Training Center
Mary McRae, “Counseling with a Caring and Relaxed Environment,” $ 873
Peterson Elementary School
Allyson Jones, “Consulting with Technology,” $ 1,484
Rankin Elementary School
Merisa Murray, “Classroom Quiet Kits,” $ 1,989
Kelli Thomas, Marla Nelson, Kari Elliot, Tonya Nickerson, “STEM in Action”, $ 1,810
School district
Sara Cole, “Yoga for Teachers and Teens,” $ 1,300
Journalist Hilary Matheson can be reached at 406-785-4431 or by email at [email protected].
