Grants
View a slideshow of the 2006-2007 Mini-Grant Program winners
2007-2008 Mini-Grant Program
$250.00 Mini-grants
The Study of Life Cycles: Awakenings Mini–grant
Gabriella Laurino, Forest School
The mini-grant funds donated by Awakenings Holistic Healing Center will be
used to purchase incubators. Forest School students will continue their study of
the life cycles of animals for years to come with these welcome additions.
Eric Carle Storytelling: Erin Smith, Terrace School
Kindergarten and First grade students at Terrace school will be able to enjoy
stories by Eric Carle. Using props & a story-telling cloth board, they will develop
and enhance reading and language skills.
The Soil Adventure Mobile: Karen Higginson, North
School
North School students will have a visit from the Field Museum’s Mobile Unit that
teaches children about soil, the importance of soil and it’s ingredients as well as
the critters that live in the soil. This hands on learning experience is sure to
make a lasting impression on the students.
$500.00 Mini-grants
Non-fiction Immersion Project: Lindsay y. Santiago, Orchard Place School
Third grade bilingual students will benefit from a new collection of non-fiction
books purchased for Orchard Place. Students will read the books and graph
their progress, with the end result being each student having read 100 – 150 non-
fiction titles over the course of the year.
Raz-Kids.com & Readinga-z.com: Des Plaines Rotary Club Mini-grant:
Agata Malec, Iroquois Community School
The ELL Staff will benefit from the purchase of a subscription to these websites.
Using the website and the accompanying materials, students will be exposed to a
wide variety of titles, model the reading, and improve comprehension.
Second Chance Reading Program: Betty Walsten, Forest School
Students in the ELL program will be reading stories that are proven to be of high
interest to second and third grade students. The program will enhance reading,
build vocabulary, and improve comprehension and fluency.
On the Move with Speed Stacks: Des Plaines National Bank Mini-grant:
Marc Schellhorn, Orchard Place School
Speed Stacks are definitely in the future of students at Orchard Place, possibly
even their parents. Students will participate in Speed Stack lessons and
tournaments in P.E. as well as in the after school program.
5th Annual Mystery Academy Awards: Margaret Walters Mini-grant:
Ann Petelle, Algonquin Middle School
Algonquin students compete for their own “Academy Awards”, awarded for
mystery stories that have been written by students, video taped by students, and
based on a student screenplay adaptation from the original story.
Math Lifelines: Des Plaines National Bank Mini-grant:
Vanessa Swakow, Algonquin Middle School
All math students at Algonquin will be given a 12-page Math resource packet,
outlining formulas, conversions, and showing examples. Posters will re-enforce
the concepts in the classroom setting.
Read Naturally: Des Plaines Education Association Mini-grant:
Ann Severance, Forest School
Students will be able to achieve increased reading fluency through the use of
technology based reading programs and assessments. This program makes it
easier to assess a student’s progress and individualize student goals.
Digital Cameras for School Newspaper:
Kathy Shanahan, Chippewa Middle School
Students creating the school newspaper will now have digital cameras to
enhance and modernize the look of the newspaper, which has been published
since Chippewa’s inception in 1961.
A Wonderfully- “Wicked“ musical Experience: Fiona Calder Mini-grant:
Stacey Magnusson, Algonquin Middle School
55 students from Algonquin Middle School will be attending the Broadway
Musical “Wicked” in downtown Chicago as part of the Drama/Music program.
All facets of the story and production will be studied and critiqued.
$750.00 Mini–grants
Beyond the Bully Day: Asia Gurney, Chippewa Middle School
The 07/08 school year will kick off with a day devoted to discussions, assemblies,
and activities about bullying, solutions, and change. The staff at Chippewa
Middle School will focus on teaching students how to recognize bullying and
empower change in their school and community.
K – 2 Literacy Intervention: Margaret Klemundt, Orchard Place
Using Primeros Pasos, a multi-sensory instruction program for kindergarten, first
and second grade students, students that struggle acquiring early literacy skills in
Spanish will be given further instruction to improve these skills.
Hands on History: Kathie Clifford, North School
5th grade students at North School study pioneer life and the westward
movement. This mini-grant will provide a culminating field trip to The Grove in
Glenview, where they can experience what life was like in the early years of
American History.
Read Naturally Phonics: Kathy Giambeluca, Forest School
K – 4 students will get extra practice in phonics and related areas such as word
families and blends that will help improve their reading fluency.
First Grade goes to the Theatre: Bea Bradley, South School
After reading and studying a book in their classroom, first grade students will then
take a field trip to watch the story performed. They will then compare and
contrast all literary components.
Renewable Energy Sources: Jonathan Kamen, Chippewa Middle School
Students in Applied Science will learn about the various reusable energy sources
such as solar, wind, and water, and the impact of their use on society.
Rollerblade for Life: Shawn Mannion, Plainfield School
Elbow and kneepads will be purchased by the P.E. Department to keep their
current Rollerblading program up to date and safe. Additional rollerblades will be
purchased to replace older skates that are showing signs of wear.
Sensory Station: Adrianne Kayner, Cumberland School
Sensory stations will be set up for students in the ELS program at Cumberland
School, as well as other students in the building that have sensory integration
deficits. By providing quiet “sensory breaks”, students can participate more fully
during their academic day.
ELS Music Inclusion: Jeanne Lightfoot, Chippewa Middle School
Educational Life Skills students at Chippewa will be able to participate in a new
instrumental music program created just for them. They will be taught to play a
newly purchased set of musical bells.
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