Nebo Education Foundation Gives Grants February 2014

Submitted by lana.hiskey on

Nebo Education Foundation Gives Grants February 2014

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. 

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

Spanish Fork High – Amanda Cooley
Amanda Cooley, English teacher at Spanish Fork High said, “I am so grateful for your assistance in helping us grow our audio library for our resource department. Some of the students have helped to choose books that they have had an interest in reading, but have not had the reading ability to read them. With the assistance of audio books we will now be able to reach more of our students' interests. We will also be able to read more books, introduce different topics and show students how accessible books can be to them. Without your generosity, we would not be able to have the variety of books we now have. We recognize that you have a limited amount of resources and we are glad that you chose to help us help our students reach new goals and achieve new heights with books.”

Salem Elementary – Alyse James
Alyse James, second-grade teacher at Salem Elementary said, “Thank you so much for presenting me with this grant!  It is very much appreciated, and will be loved by so many students for years to come!  We are purchasing tools to hatch chickens, and quail in our classrooms!  During this entire process, we will be teaching about life cycles, and the students this year, as well as many years to come, will be able to observe this cycle "hands on" using these wonderful tools!  We are also purchasing grow lights, so the students will be able to see life cycles in multiple perspectives and with multiple venues!  Students learn best when it's hands on, and this will create memories for them that will last a lifetime!  Helping students become life long learners, and making memories with them means the world to me as teacher!”

Mapleton Junior High – Suzanne Rowley
Suzanne Rowley, United States History teacher at Mapleton Junior High said, “I am so happy about the grant I received from Nebo Education Foundation. I am so excited to be able to implement the novel, "The Red Badge of Courage" during the Civil War Unit we study in US History. I believe this novel will bring to life the trials the soldiers face and the ugliness of the battles. This book will have my students "feel" the Civil War. They will experience the fear, anger and courage it took to be a soldier in the war that tore America apart. Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to teach the Civil War through a soldiers eyes.”

Mt. Loafer Elementary – Pat Bradley
Pat Bradley, second-grade teacher at Mt. Loafer Elementary, said, “We are so excited to have received this grant from Nebo Education Foundation.  We are producing a Musical Theatre production entitled “E-I-E-I-OOPS”. It is a well known fact that the arts reinforce learning and provide opportunities for children to express themselves and apply the principles learned. We desire to provide this opportunity to all students within our grade level because many of them don’t get opportunities outside of school.  We will use the funding to provide costumes, sets and other props for our show.  This would not be a possibility without this generous contribution to the educational benefit of our second graders.  Thank you so very much.”

Spring Lake Elementary – Brenda McFarland
Brenda McFarland, kindergarten teacher at Spring Lake Elementary said, “I am so excited the Nebo Education Foundation approved my grant for magnetic white boards.  These white boards are 5 x 7 and will fit perfectly in my kindergartners tiny hands.  I plan on using the white boards during small group guided instruction.  We will practice sounding out words and writing them down.  We will also use the white boards with magnetic letters to practice building words.  Thank you so much for supporting the kindergartners at Spring Lake Elementary!”

Canyon Elementary – Darlynn Menlove
Darlynn Menlove, kindergarten teacher at Canyon Elementary said, “I love the idea of helping these young students find success in educational software on the ipad that includes everything from literacy and reading to mathematics and science. They are excited to look up familiar books to read to a partner, and try to compete in a math races as they explore concepts that include geometry, addition, subtraction and even algebra. They will enjoy looking up information on various animals that they are interested in researching so they may write a kindergarten report. This may sound like upper grade education, but the kindergarteners are ready and able to use and enjoy this technology to further their progress!”

Spring Lake Elementary – Erica Fordiani, Ashley Grover
Erica Fordiani, sixth-grade teacher at Spring Lake Elementary said, “Thank you Nebo Foundation for the money needed to purchase a class set of new calculators. My students will be able to accurately check their work and if answers don't match they can go back and re-work their problems. Thank you for enabling me with the tools needed to teach in the 21st century. My students will forever be impacted by your generosity as they learn with your gift of technology.”

Ashley Grover, fifth-grade teacher at Spring Lake Elementary said, “I will be using this grant to purchase calculators for the students in my classroom to use.  This grant is a great opportunity for me to provide my students with something that I wouldn't be able to do with my own money.  Once the students have learned the basic math skills, calculators are a great way for them to check their work.  Learning to use a calculator is a skill that every fifth grader should have.

Taylor Elementary – Rory Hansen & Ien Richins
Rory Hansen and Ien Richins, fifth-grade teachers at Taylor Elementary said, “We are super excited about our grant.  Our big focus this year has been two fold: helping our students love math and being able to manipulate numbers and use number sense and mathematical confidence to critically think through any problem. The manipulatives, math, games, and activities we've procured will do just that.  We are excited, but our students are even more so. We can't wait to start opening up our students eyes to a world of math that haven't seen before.”

Riverview Elementary – Cindy Porter
Cindy Porter, facilitator at Riverview Elementary said, “Riverview would like to thank the Nebo Foundation for the very generous donation to our school. With an enrollment of close to 900 students, we need books, lots and lots of books! This money will get us started on a Listening Center Library for our teachers. Our lower grades use listening centers daily in their classrooms. By listening to the stories on CD's, the students are able to hear fluent readings over and over. Thank you again for the donation!!”

The Nebo Education Foundation functions through generous donations made by individuals and businesses.  The Foundation helps enrich students’ education in Nebo School District.  Anyone interested in the Nebo Education Foundation or who wish to make a donation for education is encouraged to contact Lana Hiskey by email lana [dot] hiskey [at] nebo [dot] edu, by phone 801-354-7400, or mail 350 South Main, Spanish Fork, UT 84660.