Recent Funded Grants

2011 Fall Grants

(click the headers for more details about each grant)

Grant Information

-The Mt Vernon Education Foundation (MVEF) awarded over $14,500 in fall 2011 to eight teacher-requested grants. This is the most allocated for any grant cycle in the Foundation’s history!
-Since MVEF was established, over $52,000 in teacher-requested grants has been awarded to six Mt. Vernon Schools. Over 58 teachers have been impacted by the grants, many of their colleagues and their students.

MATH MANIA – FES – Alissa Lockwood, 1st and 2nd Grade Looping Teacher

The use of games, puzzles, play money and other manipulates will help students increase their understanding of math concepts. The materials will engage the students and create a classroom environment which provides for individual and independent learning.

IPADS FOR EDUCATION – FES – Sara Potter, Kindergarten Teacher

MVCSC will bolster a pilot program for future iPad/technology use in the classroom. New applications on the iPads offer students an interactive technology experience specific to their own learning level. All reading and phonemic awareness applications will be aligned with the Indiana Academic Standards.

THE BODY SAFETY PROGRAM – FES – Gina Kammerer, Social Worker

The innovative program is designed to educate students on the rights of their body and to keep themselves safe from predators. The program will be presented age specifically throughout the corporation, and includes a parent information night.

PROJECT WISDOM – MCE – Heather Whitaker, Principal

The program will help develop the character of students by using life-long core values in the daily broadcast and possibly in the classrooms. It has proven to positively affect school climate and decrease student misbehavior.

FOR THE LOVE OF LITERACY – MES – Courtney Streicher, Kindergarten Teacher

With students entering kindergarten at various levels of reading capability, age appropriate readers and CD’s will provide students with a variety of subjects at their level.

READ NOW POWER UP – MVMS – Brenda Kelly, 6th Grade Teacher

This reading program is designed to positively affect struggling readers with computer activities and books. It provides reading diagnostic reports of the student’s progress and places them at the appropriate instructional level listing their individual student needs.

NO SHELF REQUIRED – MVHS – Faith Phillips, Librarian

Piloting MVCSC’s first venture into e-books in the Media Resource, the selection of e-book reference bundle contains 53 titles for MVHS students’ research. The e-books are available to students at any hour of the day and provides an opportunity for simultaneous multiple users.

PROTEIN MODELING KITS FOR HONORS AND AP BIOLOGY STUDENTS – MVHS – Christine Turk, AP Biology Teacher

The 3D modeling kits will provide advanced level students the opportunity to see, touch, feel, hold and create complex protein structures and will be invaluable to a student to take the abstract and make it concrete.
The Mt. Vernon Education Foundation is pleased to offer this support to the Mt. Vernon students and staff.

2011 Spring Grants

(click the headers for more details about each grant)

Grant Information

-The Mt Vernon Education Foundation (MVEF) awarded over $6,000 in spring 2011 to eight teacher-requested grants.
-Since the establishment of the MVEF four years ago, MVEF has given nearly $38,000 in teacher-requested grants to the six Mt. Vernon Schools, affecting 41 teachers, many of their colleagues and their students.

FOCUS ON SUCCESS! – FES – Tanya Lott, Resource Instructional Assistant

The use of games and unique hands-on tools in math, spelling, language arts, and handwriting will engage special needs and students in grades 3-4 with memorization, repetition, and drills. Learning can now be exciting, challenging, and competitive

FOR THE LOVE OF LITERATURE – FES – Alissa Lockwood, 1st & 2nd Grade Looping Teacher

The use of reader books for first and second grade students who are reading well above their average grade level will be used for improving fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary. These books will provide the teachers a tool to encourage students to perform at a higher level and provide these students an additional academic opportunity.

BLACK HISTORY MONTH: AFRICAN AMERICAN POETRY – MVIS – Denise Frazier, 6th Grade Reading/Language Teacher

The use of The Ultimate Black History Collection DVD collection and a series of poetry books written by black Americans will connect students to speeches, poetry, novels, songs, and commentaries on the artists. The resources will also help students participating in the Martin Luther King, Jr. writing contest.

NOVELS TO ENHANCE READING – MVIS – Lauren Bailey, 5th Grade Teacher

An additional set of novels for MVCSC fifth grade students was a proactive request on behalf of the fifth grade teachers who will be separated during the school year of 2011- 2012 and beyond. The teachers will have a total of two full sets to share among the three buildings in which they will be teaching fifth grade students.

IMPROVING TECHNOLOGY FOR LANGUAGE ARTS WITH NETBOOKS – MVMS – Nick Ragan, 7th Grade Language Teacher

An addition of six netbooks with headphones and case will assist middle school students with additional technology for research papers, class projects, access to Moodle, internet based research, Powerpoint, and even with some standardized testing that must be completed via computer.

GAMES FOR LEARNING – MVHS – Dana Hochstedler, Foreign Language Teacher

The use of foreign language games will aid students in learning the language in an interesting, engaging, and fun way. What better way to encourage young high school students to learn, practice, and use a new language than through the use of hands on games and entertaining resources.

VIDEO LITERACY – MVHS - Danielle Stindle, English Teacher

The use of Kodak Playsport HD camcorders will upgrade the level of engagement and learning for Sports Literature class students. Students will be required to create commercials for a new product they create, produce and market it, and then draft a script they perform/speak in front of a camera. This project touches on key components of literature education such as public speaking, creative writing, and listening.

HOW COOL IS COMIC LIT? – MVHS - Shannon Schiller, English Teacher

The use of new award winning quality graphic novels will enhance the graphic novels section of the current literature curriculum for high schools students. The students first learn how to read a graphic novel, and then pick their own novel and create a reflective blog, a glossary, facts and eventually a paper.

2010 Fall Grants

(click the headers for more details about each grant)

Grant Information

-Nine grants totaling just over $8,000 were recently awarded to all six schools in the Mt. Vernon Community School Corporation in the Fall 2010 Grant Cycle.
-In 2010, nearly $12,000 was given to teacher-requested grants in the two grant cycles.
-Since the establishment of MVEF 3 ½ years ago, MVEF has given over $33,000 in teacher-requested grants to the six Mt. Vernon Schools, affecting 33 teachers, many of their colleagues and their students.

1ST GRADE LITERACY WORK STATIONS - FES – Kelly Ulm, 1st Grade Teacher

The MVEF will provide out-of-seat learning experiences with literacy stations that will foster literacy independence in students. Literacy work stations to be funded include: overhead, pocket chart, buddy reading library, ABC sort, spelling, writing, and games/puzzles.

“FLIP IT!” – MES – Chad Wimmenauer, 4th Grade Teacher

Flip digital cameras will provide teachers and students a creative option for self-learning by exploring how they interact in front of a group, how they handle themselves while speaking in front of classmates, etc. The digital cameras may also record science experiments, present re-enactments of key historical events, record music programs and art shows and provide other unique learning opportunities.

READING ACROSS THE CURRICULUM – MES - Kathy Tingwald, 2nd Grade Teacher

Teaching with different reading books will provide theme-based learning experiences for the students’ book clubs and address individual reading abilities. Multiple copies of the books will allow for theme-based learning experiences in grammar, writing and comprehension.

BUILDING A CLASSROOM LIBRARY FOR RTI – MES – Amy Marshall, Corrective Reading Coordinator

Reading novel sets will be incorporated in the “Response to Interventions” (RTI) program, and used to promote growth in reading fluency, comprehension, and vocabulary all while performing the same type of work as their more advanced classmates.

INTERVENTION RESOURCES FOR 1ST GRADE MATH RTI – MCE – Linda Grube, 1st Grade Teacher

A variety of materials will be acquired for the purpose of making math fun and accessible for 1st grade students in need of math intervention. Math games, pocket charts, coin posters, inch worm rulers and other tools will be put to use to generate excitement for math concepts and learning.

SEA OF SOLUTIONS: MORE KIDS IN THE LIFE RAFT – MCE – Dianne Grannan, Special Education Teacher

A weighted blanket and a CENTsory resistant tunnel will provide comfort for students on the Autism Spectrum, with Sensory needs or with Emotional Disabilities. Much needed educational materials will also help staff and parents to better understand how to instruct and care for our students with sensory needs.

WORD DISCOVERY THROUGH DICTIONARIES – MVIS – Ashley Plank, 5th Grade Teacher

With the assistance of new dictionaries, 5th grade students will learn the history of a word, how to sound it out, and how to use it when writing. Vocabulary development will continue with class activities such as a short skit, commercial, cartoon or image of the word. The dictionaries will help meet state standards and improve spelling, language, reading and comprehension.

IMPROVING TECHNOLOGY FOR LANGUAGE ARTS WITH NETBOOKS – MVMS – Nick Ragan, 7th Grade Language Arts

With increased access to computer technology, students can search the internet for research projects with netbooks. The technology of this nature must be protected, and it needs an energy source. A secure storage and charging station for netbooks used by students in the classroom will be provided.

VIRTUAL CHEMISTRY LABS – MVHS – Danielle Taylor, Chemistry Teacher

Students can explore lab experiments without the need for worry about safety, lab preparation, and/or lab clean-up, and students just might get the chance to “virtually” blow stuff up! With access to a virtual chemistry lab, Mt. Vernon High School students will be able to explore areas of chemistry that could not otherwise be supported by the corporation’s budget.

2010 Spring Grants

(click the headers for more details about each grant)

BOOK BUDDY READING PROGRAM – MCE – Brianne Williams, Kindergarten Teacher

Peers teaching peers is a hands-on, powerful and influential tool where both parties learn skills and establish relationships. The Book Buddy reading program has 4th grade students mentor and help teach full-day, at-risk kindergarteners to learn to read. Research shows that pairing emerging readers with established readers leads to reading improvements for both. The students spend 30 minutes a week reading books, creating literature-based projects and forming positive peer relationships. The kindergarten students have shown vocabulary and language improvement, as well as a growing interest in books and learning to read. New storytelling kits and puppets, recognition certificates and book-making supplies will enhance the successful outcome of the program (fluency, comprehension and vocabulary improvement).

LIFE SKILLS CLASSROOM – MVHS – Du Wain Boss, Resource Teacher

In August, 2010 the construction will be complete for the new life skills classroom for mildly and moderately disabled students. For the life skills curriculum to engage the students in learning hands-on life skills, supplies will be provided for the classroom such as cookware and supplies, as well as cleaning supplies. Consumerism, housing, food choices and preparation, clothing, health care and job preparation will teach students how to live independently.

VOCATIONAL LIFE SKILLS – MVHS – James Cochran, Resource Job Coach

Until now, resource students were only able to participate in vocational tasks within the building. The goal of the program is for mild and moderately disabled life skills students to obtain paid employment in the community, and become productive members of society. Because of a federal stimulus grant of the hiring of a Job Coach, to give much needed supplies to a new area, was funded by the government. students will be required to job shadow, complete tasks with limited supervision and eventually without supervision. The grant will facilitate a number of job seeking activities and work-experience activities such as a new time-clock and life skills for students to work in the community.

SERVICE DELIVERY MODELS – ALL SIX SCHOOLS – Deb Swim, Speech/Language Pathologist at FES

Speech Therapy teachers are providing more efficient classroom-based services to speech students who have articulation/phonological needs. Teachers need instruction to prepare themselves for changing the paradigm of speech therapy from being “pulled-out” of classrooms to “push-in” (speech teachers instructing students in the classroom). Video presentations “School Service Delivery Models: Effective, Efficient, Intensive” and “Therapy Services in the Classroom: Creating Student Success” will aid the Mt. Vernon speech pathologists in their training. The programs “5 Minute Therapy” and “5 Minute Kids” will enable the speech pathologists to minimize the amount of unproductive “down time” in previous therapy and maximize active, individualized learning. Comparative data from the program shows students were discharged 42 therapy hours sooner than the students receiving traditional group therapy.

2009 Fall Grants

(click the headers for more details about each grant)

CLASSROOM LIBRARY – MVIS – Amanda Bartemus, 6th Grade Reading Teacher

Helping to provide a variety of genres in the reading classroom, including fiction and nonfiction, will expose more children to different types of books to become more interested in reading. Grouping students with different reading levels to work together will make reading enjoyable and a stimulating activity with a project at the end.

LITERATURE CIRCLES – MVIS – Kelly Ulm, 6th Grade Reading Teacher

Providing the classroom library with novel sets will engage the students more with their interest in reading. In the classroom’s “Literature Circles,” students have a different responsibility every day, including group leader, reporter, illustrator, and passage finder. New novels will allow the students to gain insight from and work effectively with their peers.

ROMANS & MEDIEVAL WORLD - MVIS – Kittie Masters, 6th Grade Teacher

Supporting the social studies medieval unit, books enhancing the Roman unit will go hand-in-hand with the internet for further student research. The Roman books will help add to the activities for the 6th grade team. The MVEF’s investment in these books was stretched even further as Usborne matched 50% of the purchase.

LITERACY TAKE HOME PACKS – MES – Jeannine Carder, 2nd Grade Teacher

Making another connection between school and the student’s home, take home packs will help to develop the lifetime habit of reading for pleasure and information. Each pack is self-selected by the student and consists of collections of fiction and non-fiction books, poems, songs, and hands-on educational activities.

COMPREHENSIVE CURRICULUM FOR CORRECTIVE READING – MES – Amy Marshall, Corrective Reading Coordinator

Students who are having difficulties with reading are offered different innovative methods for the children to become engaged in reading. The readers’ theater booklets, buddy reading books, comprehension and fluency games as well as reading activities will make learning to read more fun and exciting.

HEART ADVENTURE CHALLENGE COURSE – FES/MCE/MES – Lori LaBelle, Physical Education Teacher, MCE

The challenge course consisting of tunnels, scooters, balls and other activities will teach children how the blood flows through the heart and that exercise is just one component needed to keep the heart pumping. Children will learn science and physical education pertaining to body systems, nutrition, heart health and risk factors of heart disease. The Heart Adventure Challenge Course will rotate through all three elementary schools and affect all elementary children.

Wii ARE LEARNING TOGETHER – FES – Marisa Bernard, Special Education Teacher

Providing a multisensory approach to learning, the Nintendo Wii will engage special needs students in their classroom to achieve optimal academic and behavioral success. Through different programs available, children can add, recognize patterns, develop vocabulary, and additional desensitization tools for students with auditory challenges.

FORTVILLE ELEMENTARY VIKING SPORT STACKERS – FES – Joan Heiden, Resource Teacher

Additional Sport Stackers allow students to increase their attention span and concentration while stacking and un-stacking 12 specific cups in a pre-determined sequence. Sport Stackers help students use both sides of their brain and body at the same time, work on patterns, sequences and problem solving.