Nebo Education Foundation Gives Grants in March

Submitted by lana.hiskey on

Nebo Education Foundation Gives Grants in March

Nebo Education Foundation board members meet each month to review and award grant requests, consider fund-raising avenues, and other items that advance the educational opportunities for Nebo School District students. The Nebo Education Foundation functions through generous donations made by individuals and businesses.

Congratulations to the following teachers that continue to inspire the minds of students.

Diamond Fork Junior – Julie Rawle
Julie Rawle, physical education teacher at Diamond Fork Junior, said, “Two years ago the district announced its plan to build an addition to our school to serve as a multipurpose facility. We were elated to finally have a place to house our body conditioning classes and wrestling team. However, we were informed that it would have no fitness equipment. Having this information, we knew it would be hard to hold effective P.E. classes in the new gym. As a department, we began the Box Tops for Education Program in our P.E. classes and earned $852. Even with this amount, it was not be enough to get the equipment needed to run several different physical activity units. Thanks to the Nebo Education Foundation, we will now be able to buy resistance bands, kettle bells, a vertical rope, kickboxing standards, kickboxing wraps, and a cage ball for our new facility. The foundation made up the difference by granting us $760. We will now be able to use the new facility for several different fitness activities such as kickboxing and circuit training! It means so much to the students and faculty at Diamond Fork Junior High School to have the Nebo Education Foundation make such a large donation to help keep our students active and physically fit! Thank you for your generosity and interests in the education of our students at Diamond Fork Jr. High School.”

Rees Elementary – Jacquelyn Searle
“Thank you! I am so excited to have this grant approved. I am already planning ways to enrich the concepts that I teach by using the iPad as a way to bring the vast resources that are available on the internet to my classroom. I am also going to use it as a document camera, take anecdotal notes, and use it as a mini lab for students. Thank you for providing this technology so we can strive to do better at teaching our students,” stated Jacquelyn Searle, first-grade teacher at Rees Elementary.

Riverview – Ginnie DiRaimo, Brooke Eliason, Michele LeMmon, & Amy Jensen
Ginnie DiRaimo, first-grade teacher at Riverview, said, “THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!!! I did the HAPPY DANCE when I read your email about having our grant being funded! I can't tell you how excited I am to have an iPad in my classroom! Last week I attended the UCET technology conference and went to every iPad session I could, hoping that I would soon have one of my own. Now my wish has come true! I've already been using the one and only school iPad for an hour a day, and I have quite a few reading, writing, and math Apps on it. I'll be putting those on my new iPad and more. Students in my class will be practicing reading stories, sight words, phonics, handwriting, math problems and more. They'll be able to dictate stories that will be instantly transcribed. I even learned how to use eMedia videos on the iPad, so small groups of students can watch great educational videos. As a whole class, we'll be able to access some great Apps and educational websites. I'm sure there's so much more that I haven't even figured out yet! Thank you again, Nebo Education Foundation, for making such a big difference for students!”

“Thank you SO much for working hard to get us the iPads!!! I am a first year teacher, and I feel SO blessed to be able to use an iPad in my class. The iPad will help so much with centers, whole class activities, struggling students, and students with speech issues. Our students are growing up in a very technology-focused world. I know my students will be excited about the iPad!” stated Brooke Eliason, first-grade teacher at Riverview.

Michele LeMmon, first-grade teacher at Riverview said, “Thank you so much for the approval of my iPad grant request!. We are all very excited to download and use Apps in reading, writing and math. I have already been searching for Apps and other educational media to use it in my classroom. Now instead of sharing one iPad for the entire school, we will have several that we can use to enhance small group instruction. I cannot wait to use these Apps to help some of my struggling students in a way that is both engaging and educational. Our kids are so computer savvy these days and I think this will be something that will help and motivate every child in my classroom.”

“Thank you so much for approving the grant for an iPad. I am so excited and looking forward to all the things that I will be able to use it in my classroom. I will use the iPad for the whole class, in small groups, and also individual use with parent helpers. I will also be able to video my class to document all the fun activities and learning that takes place. Again, thank you. I am so looking forward to it,” stated Amy Jensen.

Brockbank – Peggy Rothaug
“Thank you! I am so excited to receive this grant for an iPad. We will immediately make use of the thousands of Apps for the Kindle, Nook, and iBooks that are available free of charge. It will be wonderful to teach the students about eBooks and all their many functions and possibilities. The students have such inquiring and curious minds. I look forward to using Apps in conjunction with our library books to continue to enhance that curiosity. The iPad will also be used as a document camera as we read and show visuals. Thank you again. We love to learn in the library,” stated Peggy Rothaug, librarian at Brockbank Elementary.

Hobble Creek–Sabrina Huyett
Sabrina Huyett, fourth-grade teacher at Hobble Creek, said, “I received a $250 grant from the Nebo Education Foundation in order to purchase an iPad. This will enable me to walk around my class while delivering a PowerPoint presentation or showing educational video clips online. My English Language Learner will be able to use English language learning software to improve her skills, making her time in the classroom more effective. I will instruct small groups on how to use the iPad to create multimedia presentations. I am so excited--the iPad will be a great educational tool that will benefit my whole class. Thanks again!”

Hobble Creek – Alison Snow
Thank you for the grant for Space a Visual Encyclopedia books. I personally have one copy of this book and found that students were naturally drawn to it. This grant makes it possible to put the book into the hands of more students. This wonderful book will support over four months of instruction in sixth-grade science. It will be referred to on a regular basis while learning science. The students’ learning and understanding will be greatly increased by exposure to this amazing science book. We cannot afford to take students on a tour through space, but you have provided a way to share space visually through a nonfiction text. I appreciate your help in this goal of helping students better understand their science core. This valuable resource will be a available for many years to come. Thanks so much!” said sixth-grade teacher, Alison Snow.

Brockbank – Terry Oyler
“The purpose of having the iPad is to augment student instruction in the classroom. This tool will prepare the students at Brockbank Elementary to compete academically and economically in the 21st century. The iPad will better prepare students to be educationally competent as they digitally explore the concepts in mathematics, literacy, science, and technology. Additionally, the Apps available through the iPad, bring needed information to students of all learning abilities. I am particularly interested in using this tool to assist students with special needs; particularly students with learning disabilities. Furthermore, students who learn visually will be able to explore the world around them. For example, one application allows students to view the constellations of the universe during the day simply by pointing the iPad at the sky. This is one of many ways of how this tool will be applied in my classroom. One final thought, some applications allow the teacher to take the students on a virtual field trip to various places and times within history and the world. There are limitless possibilities and uses for this tool. An iPad is going to be a valuable resource and an asset to my classroom,” said Terry Oyler, sixth-grade teacher at Brockbank.

Westside–Lisa Erickson
Lisa Erickson, Westside librarian, said, “ I was so excited yesterday when our school secretary told me that the Nebo Foundation Grant I had applied for was approved. This grant will make such a difference to the students of Westside Elementary. There is a large percentage of our school population that has very few books in their home. We will now be able to have both the kindergarten and first grade students have a fun up-to-date book to take home. Some examples are Star Wars, Disney Princess, Elephant and Piggy, or Dr. Seuss. Right now, I have to limit the high interest books to about six per classroom. I can't wait to see how happy a child will be when they get to check out a new book that excites them, instead of waiting weeks for their turn. I know the child will have a greater interest in reading books. Our sixth graders will be thrilled to have more than one set of the Hunger Games, Matched, Paranormalcy, and The Strange Case of Oragami Yoda. When the students like the theme of the novel, they continue to plug along even when their reading ability is challenged. Our whole student population will benefit from the increase of current books in our school library. Our hope is to instill in each child a love of reading and learning. Thank you so much for helping the Westside community to make strides in our goals.”

Cherry Creek – Teresa Smallcomb
“I would like to thank Lana Hiskey and the Nebo Education Foundation for approving the grant I sent in for ukuleles. I am so excited to use the ukuleles in the music program at Cherry Creek. I know the students will benefit from the exposure to a new instrument and opportunity to learn how to play it. I plan on using the ukuleles in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade classes. Thanks again,” stated Teresa Smallcomb.

Wilson – Polly Willardson
Polly Willardson said, “Our Fourth Grade team cheered when we heard the great news that the Nebo Foundation approved the grant for books. Several of our class sets of reading books were dilapidated and falling apart at the seams. The books have been in use for at least 13 years and showed wear and tear from being heavily used with previous students. With the grant money, we are planning to replace class sets of ‘Fourth Grade Rats’, ‘Sign of the Beaver’, and ‘Trapped in Death Cave’. We are buying partial sets of ‘Bub, Snow’, the ‘Burly Bear Scare’ and ‘Because of Winn Dixie’. We are so grateful for this gracious gift. We are in the process of getting the order ready and will be thrilled to start next year with usable books in our Shared Reading. These books will help our students read more fluently, build vocabulary, gain more background knowledge and increase their comprehension. Using new books instead of books with pages falling out will enhance the reading experience. Thank you for your continued interest in the students at Wilson School.”
                       
Brockbank – Terry Oyler
Terry Oyler said, “The sixth-grade teachers at Brockbank Elementary are pleased to be the recipients of the Nebo Foundation Grant for the Salem Wetlands experience. This grant will give our students the opportunity to go through the scientific process with a hands-on experience involving microorganisms. The field trip to Salem Pond wetlands will engage the students in authentic experiences as they use the steps of the scientific process to gather samples of microorganisms, analyze the samples, and discuss the conclusions about the microorganisms living in the wetlands. At the conclusion of this field trip, students will understand that microorganisms range from simple to complex, are found almost everywhere, and are both helpful and harmful. We are truly appreciative of this grant.”

Spanish Fork High – Luke Isley
“I would like to thank you for the grant that will allow me to purchase more cameras for my classroom. Having more cameras, provides more opportunity for students to have hands on experience with photography. Photography is a class that is all about participation. If students don't have the needed equipment, they cannot participate. You have done a great service with this grant. I am very thankful for the support you have provided myself and others here at Spanish Fork High School. Thanks,” said Luke Isley, photography teacher at Spanish Fork High.

The Nebo Education Foundation could use more funds to support these worthwhile learning grants. Anyone interested in donating to Nebo District schools, classes or programs can do so through the Nebo Education Foundation which is a 501 (c) (3) organization created to bring businesses and donors together for the benefit of Nebo District school children.  Your contribution is a tax deductible charitable gift as provided by law. Contact Lana Hiskey at 801-354-7400, e-mail lana [dot] hiskey [at] nebo [dot] edu or mail to 350 South Main, Spanish Fork, UT 84660.

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