The Hood River County Education Foundation has awarded more than $12,000 in grants to Hood River County School District educators to fund innovative approaches to education. Hood River Valley High School was the big winner with seven grants selected for funding. Those grants will provide microscopes, a ceramics kiln, videography equipment, art supplies, and classroom library books.
Two innovative teaching ideas at Hood River Middle will pair ornithology with art in one grant, and create a permanent display for historical realia (artifacts and physical objects) from the 1865 founding of the Hood River City School District in a second grant. Students will be involved in collecting and documenting the historic objects, as well as interviewing residents about the changes in the school district over time.
Grants at Wy’east Middle School will purchase books for the Oregon Battle of the Books, and materials on dyslexia. New wall maps and student maps, as well at a Grade 3 Science kit, were funded at Westside Elementary.
“These grants provide funding for innovative teaching ideas, as well as supplies and equipment needs that cannot be met by the current funding level of our schools,” said Foundation President Chuck Bugge.
Funding for the Educator Grants comes from earmarked donations and fundraising events sponsored by the Foundation. One or two rounds of Teachers Grants are offered annually depending on the amount of proceeds. Applications are scored by the HRCEF Board members.
Grants for 2015 included:
Hood River Valley High School: David Clarkson, Amy Foley, and Joe Kelly, Biology Department, 6 compound light microscopes and 3 dissecting microscopes; Kathryn Davis, Student materials for Plant Genetics, Biology, HRVHS; Matthew Gerlick, Art printmaking supplies; Gabrielle Iversen, ceramics kiln; Amirra Malak, 3D scanner and software for art; Shawn Meyle, videography equipment for student videos; Mandy Webster, English classroom library of leveled reading for students.
Hood River Middle School: Sarah Segal and Brent Emmons, Display of historic realia; Adam Smith, Art and Ornithology.
Wy’east Middle School: Sally Prichett, Calligraphy supplies, David Saquety, student materials and reference books on dyslexia; Dodie Sims, purchase of Oregon Battle of the Books volumes.
Westside Elementary: Megan Farrell, FOSS science kit (water module for grade 3); Carolyn Welty-Fick, purchase of wall maps and student maps, grade 5, Westside Elementary.
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