From USD 428 Great Bend...
The USD 428 Education Foundation is preparing to enhance learning opportunities with an outstanding list of grant winners from across the district.
We want to extend a special thank you to the individuals and corporate supporters who supported our in-person event last November, purchased an auction item, or gave a donation on Giving Tuesday. Your gifts are what make these mini-grants possible.
In 2023, we are proud to award $23,488.75 in Mini-Grants, funding innovative ideas and exciting enrichment opportunities. Thank you again for your support of our teachers, students and school community!
Great Bend High School
Cristina Montes- Folk Dancing
- Adding dresses for the growing program
Anna Alvarez - Leer Para Aprender (Read to Learn)
- Books read in class that are on their novice level will help students make connections both culturally and with conversations.
GBHS Science - Andrea Siefkes, Cortnea Wilson - Taking Vitals
- Patient vital signs equipment (stethoscope, sphygmometer, pulse oximeter, scale)
Athletic Training - Rehabilitation/Speed Reaction Timers
- Hands-on and Student Peer Teaching
Travis Straub - Spraying Water-Based Finishes
- The latest technology in spraying finish in woodworking.
Jake Hofflinger - 3D Laser Cut Projects
- Professional quality laser reusable engraver plans used by dozens of students in years to come.
Robin Linsner - Accounting/Investing Classes
- Students will use calculators in aspects of accounting applications.
Dan Heath - Panther Media Live-Telephoto Sports Lens
- Panther Media Live will plan will produce live stream programming of sports, arts, and academic activities at GBHS.
Great Bend Middle School
Holly Tittel - GBMS Yearbook
- Adding a Yearbook class as an elective to the GBMS schedule and purchasing additional cameras for students to use at sporting events and activities.
Brandy Proffitt and Joseph Bliven - Farm to Fuel Hydroponics
- Growing plants without soil in a hydroponics tower and then continuing the learning by creating and ultimately using biofuels to run a small-scale engine.
Eisenhower Elementary School
Tammy Cline - Reading 4 Enjoyment
- A series of chapter books written at a lower level with topics more suited for their age focusing on eleven high-interest stories, that build on each other.
Melissa Schlegel - Sensory Mini Room/Nook
- A mini sensory "room" will provide sensory input and exploration opportunities through auditory, visual, and tactile exploration customizable to meet different sensory needs as well as a place to regulate when students are overstimulated.
Amber Shattuck - Learning Through Reading
- A variety of children’s books that match the science topics that our curriculum teaches; animal adaptations, light and sound, and the sun, moon, and stars.
Kristine Boepple - States & STEM
- STEM Career book series
Little Panthers Preschool
Brooklyn Burkhart, Kimberlyn Sinclair, & Morgan Little - Math & Science
- Teaching our students through hands-on learning experiences.
Jefferson Elementary School
Janae Donham - Frog Games
- Personalized learning is subject mastery or meeting standards that allow students to work independently, with a partner, or as a group.
Natalie DeForest - Read Across America Day (2024)
- Enjoy a book with students of a different age and an adult he/she doesn't usually see each day and share books with other elementary schools.
Lincoln Elementary School
Desteny Alcala - Project Lead the Way Literacy Engagement
- Predicting, supporting with evidence, comparing and contrasting, and drawing conclusions are all skills used in both science and reading to become better scientists and better readers.
Lindsay Mazouch - E-Sports & Tech Advancement
- E-sports and e-gaming in a school setting are relatively new concepts for kids who do not like to read.
Park Elementary School
Dara Touslee - Learning-Based Dramatic Play Centers
- Two Dramatic Play Centers. 1) Sensory Center that will complement our Project Lead the Way. 2) Space/Astronaut Center that complements our Reading unit.
Dara Touslee & Kelsey Sciacca - Taking it Outside
- Picnic Table for Garden - Spending time outside in an outdoor classroom can significantly reduce students' stress levels.
Angela Orth - Learning Centers
- ELA and Math Learning centers for hands-on activities to engage students
Alana Blessing - 360 Reality Audio & Sensory Tent
- Therapeutic space audio entertainment environment through low-level beat frequencies scientifically proven to help decrease stress and anxiety, increase relationships, and improve sleep.
Riley Elementary School
Leah Yancey - Stepping into Reading
- Leveled reading to build reading comprehension skills by gradually increasing the complexity of students’ reading material.
Leah Yancey - STEM in Action
- The Dot and Dash Coding Robots are interactive tools for teaching kids to “code.”
Washington Education Center: Helping Hands Preschool & Barton County Special Services
Shelly Post & Shauna Young - Squishy Circuits for Helping Hands Preschool
- This project in and of itself is innovative. It will stimulate thought from all students with motivation and excitement.
Kari Carper - Math and Literacy Education for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder through Sensory Exploration
- Lightboards and clear magnetic blocks teach number and letter recognition and provide sensory engagement.
Brandy Maneth - Exploring the World through Sensory
- Sensory boxes and adaptions for students to help enhance fine motor skills.
Sarah Allison - Art Expansion
- Creative art to develop fine motor skills and expand creativity through different supplies.
SAVE THE DATE!
Dinner & Auction Planned for November 2023
Make plans to join the USD 428 Education Foundation for the Annual Dinner & Auction on in November. More details will be announced this summer.