CRETE — Classrooms will receive everything from TIG welders to wireless microphones, iPads to whiteboards, thanks to mini-grants awarded by the Crete Public Schools Foundation on Dec. 2.
The foundation, accompanied by high school cheerleaders, surprised 18 teachers at four schools throughout the day. In an annual process, educators are encouraged to apply for mini-grants to pay for equipment or supplies that fall outside their supply budgets.
“Educators are limited only by their imagination and are encouraged to reach for the stars,” said Marilea V. Thiem, CPS Foundation executive director.
Librarian Dede Moore received $800 to fund a second year of the “One School, One Book” program. The entire intermediate school will read the same book at the same time and participate in community building activities around the book.
The mini grant will pay for a hardcopy of the book for each classroom and any other special items to go along with it. Approximately 425 students will be impacted.
Although next year’s book hasn’t been chosen yet, the school read “The World According to Humphrey” by Betty G. Birney this fall. The book tells about the adventures of a classroom’s pet hamster.
“Each class had a stuffed pet hamster. We had weekly trivia questions to go along with the book, and a real hamster visited for a week after we finished the book,” Moore said. “Students really enjoyed the book, and our Humphrey books are always checked out of the library.”
She said “One School, One Book” is a great way to promote literacy and build a school community.
“Reading aloud to students is so important,” Moore said, “and it gave our school a common bond to start the school year.”
She thanked the foundation for the grant.
“Our school is lucky to have the opportunity to participate in ‘One Book, One School’ again next year,” Moore said.
The Crete Public Schools Foundation is a nonprofit organization that enhances student educational opportunities by seeking, securing and managing resources for scholarships, teacher grants and alumni relations. It was founded in 1992 as the Crete Public Schools Trust.
For more information, contact Marilea V. Thiem at (402) 826-9875 or marilea.thiem@creteschools.org.
Other Grant Recipients:
High school
- Casey Carriker, industrial tech, $1,472 for TIG welder attachments.
- Alex Wooten, vocal music, $918 for two wireless microphones.
- Alex Wooten, vocal music, $1,066 for speakers for choir sections.
- Eric Fahrlander, band, $700 for percussion station.
High school total: $4,156
Middle school
- Carla Hinkle, sixth-grade resource/intervention, $488.22 for sensory needs.
- Jennene Anderson, band, $2,199 for clarinet.
- Kyle Hemje, seventh-grade math, $350.95 for tablet.
Middle school total: $3,038.17
Intermediate school
- Dede Moore, media specialist, $800 for “One School, One Book.”
- Sarah Rasmussen, fourth-grade ELA and social studies, $740 for Mimio.
- Claire Holling, third- through fifth-grade physical education, $480 for iPad.
- Lindsey Odorisio, fifth-grade special education, $590 for 10 on-task reminder watches.
Intermediate school total: $2,610
Elementary school
- Janet Carriker, elementary, $100 for speakers.
- Dennis Menefee, art, $750 for iPads.
- Amanda Willey, preschool, $750 for STEM.
- Jill Muff, preschool, $750 for STEM.
- Kate Bohling, preschool, $300 for Mindfulness Mondays.
- Jessica Lopez, kindergarten, $2,462.25 for round tables.
- Samantha Churchwell, preschool, $391 for the Little Spot for Preschool.
- Alycia Bates, second grade, $820 for individual whiteboards and supplies.
- Second grade, $1,300 for supplies.
Elementary school total: $7,623.25