Nebo Education Foundation Gives Grants April 2012

Submitted by lana.hiskey on

The Nebo Education Foundation is composed of 20 volunteer board members who live in cities serviced by Nebo School District.  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.  Many of the donations received are for selected projects or scholarships, yet a substantial amount is available for the greatest need.  Greatest need monies are considered for grants submitted by area schools.

These grants are funded through the fund-raising efforts of the Nebo Education Foundation board.  One fund-raising effort is the annual “Green Fever” golf tournament that helps fund these various grants throughout the year.  The “Green Fever” tournament will be Friday, May 11, 2012.  Also, the foundation accepts donations from individuals and businesses to support projects.

Congratulations to the following teachers that continue to bless the lives of students.

Springville Junior – David Kindrick
Springville Junior High School teacher David Kindrick said, “Just wanted to say thanks for the support and for awarding our department with money to go towards the purchase of five iPads. I've been working in the Nebo District now for 10 years and have been hearing about others in the district receiving money to help update the technology in their schools. This past year, during a department during collaboration, we talked about some of the applications for science and education in general that can be used on the iPad. We have been saving funds for a few years to purchase a classroom set for the department. We will start by purchasing a set of five. It really means a lot to each of us in being able to stay on the cutting edge of technology. I think we have great science teachers that are always looking for new ways to improve their craft. This will allow us to keep up with the speed at which technology will be of use in the classroom.”

Springville High – Jamie Teot
“We are so very grateful for the approved grant money that will help us purchase new marching bass drums. These instruments are the backbone of our marching band; it would be hard to imagine fielding a band without them. Our current drums are literally falling apart—cracked in so many places that even attempting to repair them breaks them more. We were worried we wouldn't get through another season with them. Thanks to the generosity of the Nebo Foundation, along with Mrs. Christofferson, and Mr. Brown, we are able to purchase these instruments. Our students are ecstatic that they will be able to play this year and for many years to come,” said Springville High Band Director Jamie Teot.

Salem Hills High – Ruth Wilder
Salem Hills High teacher Ruth Wilder said regarding her grant, that will add five for iPads to her classroom, “This past fall, when we obtained one iPad for the classroom, we caught a glimpse of what a powerful teaching tool the iPad can be. We are beginning to use it as a communication device with one of our students who is non-verbal, and it has helped her to better express her wants and needs.  However, our one iPad is not always available when she is trying to tell us something, because another student is using it to access learning on his level. We have three non-verbal students in my classroom and three more who are verbal but are often times difficult to understand. In addition, all of our students have cognitive disabilities that make it difficult for them to access the high school curriculum and the community. This grant will enable us to add five iPads to our classroom which will help us to meet the individual learning needs for all of our students. We are grateful for this opportunity.”

Barnett – Kelly Owen
“I feel so blessed to be in a school district that gives so freely! I can't wait to get the digital voice recorders and start using them! They will be great and help my students increase their fluency and will help to incorporate technology more fully into my classroom. It is something that each kid will come to love and use on a daily basis. They will be allowed to pick some of their reading excerpts. I will then have the opportunity to email home to their parents. This is really important to me, I have seen the benefit of having one voice recorder in my classroom and I can only imagine the benefit 12 will bring. As soon as I get them, my class is going to be making a PowerPoint presentation in which they will record themselves reading the book (and attach the sound file and make their own illustrations) to make their own show. This will help them learn how to use technology and integrate it into the arts as well as fluency and reading. These will be an amazing tool!” said Barnett Elementary teacher Kelly Owen.

Barnett – Jack White
Jack White, Barnett Elementary teacher said, “I am very excited to begin using the iPad in my classroom. I have been watching other teachers in our school use them in so many ways. It will be fun to experiment and see how to use it with a first-grade class. I have been using the document camera and projector. The iPad will help make the use of these tools so much more efficient.”

Riverview – Megan Olson
“I am so excited that my grant was approved for an iPad for my classroom. I have been looking into Apps already and there are some really wonderful ones for first graders. The iPad is something that I can use for whole group, small group, and individual instruction.  I have been using the school iPad for a half hour each day, and I am impressed by how well my students already know how to use it. Thank you again. I think it will be an extremely helpful tool in my classroom,” said Riverview Elementary teacher Megan Olson.

Hobble Creek – Janet Sant
Janet Sant of Hobble Creek Elementary said, “Thank you so much for funding our grant to increase the number of nonfiction books in our Leveled Library! We thank you for your contribution to increasing the number of non-fiction titles, especially at the lower levels for first- and second-grade students. The Nebo Education Foundation has always been generous and willing to help us purchase books and materials that assist us in our efforts to serve students. We thank you again for your ongoing support and efforts to fund worthy projects at our school and throughout Nebo District!”

Barnett – Patty Hanson, Clea Comte, Kaylene Evans
“Thank you, thank you, we are so excited to receive this grant for our iPads and can’t wait to use them in our classrooms. Our students will benefit by this 21st century technology. Our science rotations will come to life as the students experience, through our iPads, the constant change of a weathered rock, see the inside of the earth’s core, or experience each step of the water cycle. Studying different cultures, traditions, and learning about communities will be vivid and exciting. iPads make it possible for us to view exciting and realistic videos that coordinate with our science units on animals and their habitats. Our students will have the opportunities to interact with E-readers and puppet theaters and then share their experiences with the class. Applications for the things we are teaching our students are at our fingertips and will cut down on prep time after school.  We appreciate your generosity,” said Patty Hanson, Clea Comte and Kaylene Evans from Barnett Elementary.

The Nebo Education Foundation can always 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, email lana [dot] hiskey [at] nebo [dot] edu or mail to 350 South Main, Spanish Fork, Utah 84660.

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Hayley Pingree
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