Community Consolidated School District 89 recently issued the following announcement.
The Partnership for Educational Progress (PEP) has awarded grants worth $1,500 to four projects that will help Community Consolidated School District 89 students develop financial awareness, manage their anxiety, improve handwriting, and understand resource scarcity.
The 2018-19 PEP grants were awarded to: Glen Crest teacher Julie Ramirez; Arbor View Elementary staff members Deb Carroso, Julie Cufaude, Jessica Langman, Beth Obremski, Mo Wahlman, and Kim Wankel; Briar Glen Elementary staff members Caron Jones and Annie Lillwitz; and Westfield Elementary teachers Nadia Bardack, Lori Daly, Laura Lipinski, Karl Mennecke, and Sue Pumo.
Recipients of 2018-19 PEP grants More information about each of the projects is below:
“FriYay Snacks”: $250 grant
Students in the Glen Crest Middle School specialized academic classroom will start a snack-cart business that will help them build important life skills. The students who have intellectual disabilities will design a menu for the snack cart and choose the prices for each item. The students will deliver menus to staff at the beginning of the week, take orders, collect money, and deliver the orders to each teacher. This experience will help the students develop reading skills, financial awareness, and interpersonal skills.
“Sensory Safe-Spot”: $500 grant
This grant will give students who experience “sensory over-responsiveness” a place to calm down and organize their thoughts. One in every six children has sensory issues that make it hard to learn and function in school. The grant will provide supplies for a room that is designed as a sensory safe spot. Giving students a place to work on their anxiety and impulsivity while teaching them self-control techniques that increase their focus, creativity, and fine-motor skills.
“Size Matters Handwriting Program Pilot”: $250 grant
This grant will purchase supplies for a 10-week program aimed at students who are struggling with the motor skills needed for legible handwriting. The school’s occupational therapist and second-grade teacher will help students identify the size and spacing awareness that leads to better handwriting. Students will play games and work on assignments in other topic areas while developing new handwriting skills. In addition to handwriting, students will learn how to self-assess and correct their work.
“Westfield Community Garden”: $500 grant
Through this grant, Westfield students, staff, and community members will design and build a sustainable community garden. Starting in September, students will compost their lunch scraps in an outdoor bin and an indoor worm bin built by students. Students will then use an indoor greenhouse to plant and care for seeds that will be rotated throughout the year. The seedlings will eventually be moved to an outdoor community garden where vegetables and flowers will be grown.
About the Partnership for Educational Progress
The annual Partnership for Educational Progress Grant Program is supported by tax-deductible gifts contributed by individuals and businesses, and through other fundraising activities. The Partnership for Educational Progress is a charitable foundation that works with Glenbard School District 87 and its feeder elementary districts to provide enrichment opportunities for all students. Learn more about www.thepepfoundation.org.
Community Consolidated School District 89 has held community restaurant fundraisers to support the PEP Foundation.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Community Consolidated School District 89
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