The District 45 Foundation is pleased to share that 45Fest netted a total profit of over $37,000, with $20,000 of that total collected prior to the event in the form of sponsorships and donations. These funds will be put to good use by the Foundation next spring when grants are awarded.
The District 45 Foundation for Excellence is a non-profit organization that raises funds to support the enrichment of the educational opportunities for the students in District 45. Last spring, seven grants were awarded for the 2017-18 school year and the Foundation provided generous funding for two 21st century learning classrooms.
The seven grants awarded by the Foundation included:
- Utilizing Technology in Music—Connect+Pro headphones will extend the use of music in the Schafer School General Music classroom.
- You Can Do the Cube—Rubik’s Cubes with 40 STEM/STEAM lessons and curriculum will engage Schafer students in solving problems through puzzles.
- Makerspace Club—A Place to Explore, Create and Collaborate–Makerspace Club will meet weekly to expand student creativity and problem solving skills in the Makerspace at North School.
- Awesome Author Study of Bruce Hale—Award-winning children’s book author Bruce Hale will Skype with Schafer 2nd graders to increase writing and reading engagement. Each student receives a book, and authors a book.
- Experiences to develop language and background knowledge—Trips to the Kohl’s Children’s Museum and the Lincoln Marsh will build background knowledge, vocabulary and hands-on play experiences while incorporating common core standards as well as the next generation science standards for Stevenson School first graders.
- Summer Reading-Lunch Bunch—Schafer 2nd, 3rd and 4th grade students will develop a love of reading by having books and fun literacy activities put in their hands to read and then meet at the park for sharing their reads.
- Jefferson Middle School PE Choice Program/Heart Rate Monitors— The most efficient and up-to-date heart rate monitors, will allow the Jefferson Physical Education (PE) teachers to implement the “My PE Choice” program which helps students lead physically active lifestyles.
The District staff will be invited to apply for the 2018-19 Foundation grants next spring. The grants will be awarded prior to the end of the current school year, so planning can be done over the summer. The success of 45Fest will offer the District 45 Foundation the opportunity to greatly enrich the education programming in the District 45.