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Classroom Grants, Chromebooks and Connectivity
The Vigo County Education Foundation (VCEF) is committed to supporting the students of the Vigo County School Corporation, whether learning takes place in the classroom or remotely. While maintaining our focus on supporting classroom teachers, this academic year the Foundation is strategically addressing district wide needs. Since the outset of this highly unusual school year, the Foundation has granted over $129,000 for classroom mini grants, SmartBus WiFi hotspots and Chromebooks to Vigo County schools.
One hundred seventy-three Chromebooks will be distributed to second grade students in schools with the highest free and reduced rates. Children in second grade are on the cusp of transitioning from learning to read, to reading to learn. Connectivity and access to technology should not be a barrier to achieving educational excellence. Information Technology Director Doug Miller reports, "In November, all second grade students will receive Chromebooks which will help make learning more enjoyable and engaging for students. Students look forward to exploring and learning new information through classroom digital platforms, new Google apps, virtual websites and experiences, videos, and interactive activities and games."
Deputy Superintendent Dr. Karen Goeller added, "Second grade students are working daily to strengthen their reading performances. The new devices will enable them to access digital reading programs and ensure a strong literacy foundation for future learning."
Connecting to the internet has been made more accessible through the funding of fifteen mobile WiFi units, which will be placed on school buses and parked throughout the county when and where needed.
The Vigo County Education Foundation relies on community partners to help enrich education, address educational inequity, and equip teachers with the tools to provide creative, engaging educational experiences for their students. One such partner is the Fleschner Family Foundation, whose trustees said they give to the Vigo County Education Foundation "in honor of all the great teachers in the Vigo County School Corporation that have made a difference in our lives."
Vigo County students deserve every opportunity for success in the classroom and in life. You make this possible. Go to vigocountyeducationfoundation.org to learn more.
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Science Buddies
Lost Creek Elementary second grade teacher Kristen Browne writes, "This year will look a bit different than past years….however, we will still strive for the ultimate goal of keeping the students engaged in science by doing hands-on experiments." Students work in pairs, allowing them the opportunity to work collaboratively as they move through different phases of each experiment.
The experiments are based on several topics in science, such as energy, temperature, earth, space, weather, matter, and a variety of STEM activities. Mrs. Brown adds, "Creating experiments that they can take home, do at home, or use to create another experiment will allow them to enjoy science even more and retain the information better."
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Sugar Bear Cubs, Here We Come!
Originally intended as kindergarten readiness bags to be distributed during the spring Kindergarten Roundup, "Kindergarten Welcome Bags," greeted new children and their families at Sugar Grove Elementary. Teachers Susan Bough and Barbara Jackson showed the families the materials that were inside the bags and explained ways that they could use the materials at home with their child throughout the year.
Materials included Block Ten Robot Mats with stackable counters, foam dice and shapes that help the child with many beginning math skills, and a pair of scissors and a foam shoe so that parents could continue to work on these skills at home. Pocket sleeves and handwriting practice books were provided, and each bag included two books to help build the children's home libraries to build good reading habits.
Mrs. Bough and Ms. Jackson wrote, "The bags benefited our kindergartners and their families, and we couldn't have done it without your help."
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Congratulations to the 2020 Excellence in Education Recipients, and thank you to the sponsors who make honoring them possible! More details on our website
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IN THE NEWS:
Education Foundation awards $54,000 in mini-grants
By Sue Loughlin, Tribune-Star
Projects that teach students about Terre Haute history, encourage enthusiasm for reading and foster a love of the sciences are among those awarded grants from the Vigo County Education Foundation.
VCEF awarded 90 mini-grants totaling $54,062 for classroom enrichment opportunities in Vigo County School Corp. schools. The awards were announced Thursday during a FaceBook Live presentation, a format used because of COVID-19 precautions.
“All of these mini-grants are made for $750 or less, and it is amazing to see what great teachers are able to accomplish with that amount of money,” said Jane Nichols, VCEF executive director.
Read More
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VCSC gets six new SmartBus WiFi units
Tribune-Star staff report
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Get a Plate, Support a Classroom
$18.75 from the purchase of each Committed to Education license plate is sent to the VCEF to support teacher grants and innovative programs that enhance learning for all students in the VCSC.
Learn more HERE.
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