Panhandle Alliance for Education

Nearly $100,000 was awarded to 35 teachers for projects that provide educational experiences to hundreds of students in the Lake Pend Oreille School District

This is a request to join an ongoing project which has SMS students making May baskets for approximately 56 children in Head Start. Students and staff currently donate all of the contents and the students assemble the baskets and present them to the recipients. The specific request is for $300.00 to purchase the baskets and finishing touches. The goal for the students is that they have an opportunity to participate in an act of giving to the community, thereby fostering citizenship.

2. Cheer Competition Floor - Sandpoint Middle & High Schools - Laurie Buck - $6,085.00

This request is for the purchase of a portable padded floor for the safe practice and performance of the cheerleaders of the two schools. Varsity and Junior Varsity cheerleaders participate in Football, Soccer, Basketball and Wrestling games as well as school assemblies. They are also involved in Cheer Camps and State Competitions, where they have taken First and Second place. The proposed flooring is the same as they find in their competitions. They have been renting outside facilities for their practices in order to work on padded flooring. This flooring is necessary to teaching safe tumbling and stunting.

3. Portable Computer Lab - Northside Elementary - Jayne McMillan Sturm - $3,984.32

This grant would provide Northside with a portable cart, a laptop and projector. Currently all computers are housed within classrooms and none are available to run whole-class guided sessions through projected media. Supplemental media and teacher generated PowerPoint activities would enhance student learning through virtual reality science lessons, including dissection. Requested for use in 6^th grade science classes, all teachers would be offered training and would be able to use the equipment as available.

This grant involves English students creating website based quizzes as part of curriculum units. Students would learn how to create, post, maintain and appreciate a quiz based on knowledge attained through classroom study. Quizzes will be evaluated for accuracy and creativity before being selected for publication on the classroom/school website and also become involved with a commercial site such as funtrivia.com. The specific request is for a Dell projector to display the website as they together create, access and view quizzes on line.

This grant would fund portable keyboards, software license and required computer accessories to create 20 stations in a music technology lab. This would serve the students in the Advance Placement Music Theory class primarily, but will be used to a lesser degree by all 300 students taking music classes. Students wishing to pursue a music career must be able to use music technology in composition and performance, and this lab will enable music students to meet the National Standards.

The Print Shop received a grant last year for the purchase of a high end laser printer. As of mid-April the group has earned approximately $4500.00 which is going to senior scholarships, fees for national journalism convention and ongoing supplies purchase. The program continues to expand, adding both work projects and students, and this year's request is for a color photocopier/scanner, several high-end paper cutters a thermal binding machine and the materials necessary to begin using them. Both vocational and honors students are supported by this program.

7. Learning to Write Software = Sandpoint High School - BJ Biddle - $5,000.00

PAFE funded the initial year of this web-based software which supports the teachers' ability to design, monitor and evaluate a student's writing progress and provides immediate in-depth feedback. The program was in place last year for the Language Arts teachers, several of whom have used it extensively with great success. A poll of the Department showed that all members wish to continue. Students find that they use it frequently for all writing assignments in all content areas; they like using the messaging function to receive one-to-one feedback and having their entire writing process available for review and revision. The proposed grant will find the second year's subscription with the added goal of adding the Social Studies and Science staff to the program.

8. Fitness Memberships and Equipment - LPOHS - Colleen Obaitek-Ross - $1,000.00

Research has shown that regular physical activity can enhance students' mental health, reduce symptoms of stress and depression, improve self esteem and lower school drop-out rates. This is a request to take on the funding of a program which puts these "at risk" students into a fitness center four times a week during the winter months as there is no gym at LPOHS ($3840). The district funded the program this past year with positive results. Several students lost weight and quit smoking and the overall self esteem has increased. The grant would also cover the purchase of snowshoes ($1120). The goal is to adhere to the state standard of Healthy Lifestyles and expose the students to life long fitness activities.

9. Chemistry / Physics Teaching Equipment - Sandpoint High - Woody Aunan - $8,800.00

This request enlists the support of PAFE into a district funded technology upgrade of the science classrooms to accommodate the expanded number (nearly double last year) of students who have signed up. The portion of the project addressed by the grant request is the teaching materials to support an electronic science curriculum-the purchase of a complete Vernier lab pro interface, wireless laptops and lab books for the 2 teachers. All class activities will be available on the web, labs/lectures will employ technical interfaces, standards will be clearly documented and available on-line, weekly live web-based student/teacher discussion threads will be implemented.

This proposal requests a repeat of the Master Class grant from last year. All students will be able to participate in at least one live, multimedia presentation. As last year, the proposal is to present "Through the Eyes of a Friend" telling Anne Frank's store, and "Northwest Passage" telling the story of an immigrant family's Northwest experience. Both of these performances complement the social studies curriculum.

11. "ROBO Geeks to Mars" - Sandpoint Charter School - Gary Quinn - $2,000.00

A PAFE grant last year supported 64 students enrolled in a technology class and 12 more in an after school program in the study of robotics. This year the request is for money to buy additional robot kits as well as to add a new dimension to the class with camera kits and materials to build a Mars landscape (with planned assistance from the art classes). The request outlines a multipart curriculum which culminates in a statewide competition, the INEEL RoboChallenge, exposing the 8 competing students to other students around the state.

12. SMS Newspaper Equipment - Sandpoint Middle School - Melissa Baker - $520.00

Sandpoint Middle School is going to have a journalism class next year to produce a school newspaper. The use of photos in a newspaper adds tremendously to its interest and quality. The class needs a camera to take pictures of sports events and other activities. The yearbook will also make use of these photos as well as the camera itself. The photos must be of a quality that will reproduce in the paper. The money requested is to purchase a digital camera and accessories.

13. Enhance Science Program - Hope Elementary - Martha Kelley - $1,000.00

This is a 2 part request. The first part is for equipment to support the new science curriculum. 3 elementary microscopes per classroom, blank and prepared slides, a big screen microscope with prepared slides, 4 geo-safari talking microscopes and safety glasses will address the needs of K-3. Included in the request is $690.00 for sets of calculators and an overhead calculator for each of the 4 classrooms in support of the current Math program.

14. Computers for CCNA Course - Sandpoint High School - Alex Gray - $4,475.00

The CCNA program provides student with the opportunity to earn North Idaho College credits while still in High School. The prerequisite A+ Certification course was taught this last year, and student/parent demand has led to the addition of more sections for the 2005 - 2006 school year. The CCNA program would have 15 students, which would require 15 computers. 12 have been purchased with the necessary software. The main source of the curriculum is online, but some students do not have Internet access at home, so there is a need to provide additional text. The monies from the grant would go to the purchase of 4 computers with necessary software and tools and 20 CCNA books. The students in the A+ and Fundamentals of Technology courses would also benefit from the additional computers, as several students now must double up on a workstation. Once the students have network training they will demonstrate their skills on a daily basis by maintaining the high school's system under the direction of the district's technology team.

15. SmartBoard and Projector - Sandpoint Middle School - Cheryl Werhner - $3,450.00

This request is for the purchase of a digitally interactive screen which runs through an interface with a computer and a multimedia projector. The SmartBoard would be used in a yearlong study working with the Department of Environmental Quality in Coeur d'Alene monitoring air quality. There is a particulate collection machine on the roof of SMS that feeds into a port which prints out the data. The DEQ has agreed to come to the class to present information via lecture, demonstrations and data analysis. The application of the SmartBoard would be to help the students create data tables and graphs to reveal correlations. The SmartBoard's format is large and easy to manipulate for possible cause and effect relationships. The students will use it for multimedia presentations. The SmartBoard comes with a gallery of visuals and manipulative tools that will be useful all year for other applications in the classroom, including downloaded or DVD multimedia segments and science demonstrations that are too difficult for the regular classroom.

Classroom Jeopardy will provide students with an engaging means of studying units and preparing for the ISAT. This technological approach combines traditional classroom lessons with a modern medium of communication, allowing students to apply what they have learned in a fun and energetic arena of academic competition. The grant request provides for 3 Classroom Jeopardy with supplemental cartridges and scoreboards. Freshman remedial students will be the first and primary beneficiaries of the program. When not being used by those students, other teachers could bring the program into their own classes. Additionally, students who choose to sign up for the newly formed Jeopardy Club will also benefit. Classes of the same nature, scheduled at the same time could compete against one another, applying knowledge needed for upcoming quizzes, tests or ISAT preparation.

17. Reading Take Home - Farmin Stidwell Elementary - Sue Storaasli - $4,834.00

This grant request proposes to provide the approximately 200 first and second grade students with take home books at the appropriate instructional levels for every student to build and develop a lifelong love of reading. Our school libraries do not have enough books for emergent and beginning readers for all the students to take home daily and many students have few or no books at home. Primary teachers are requiring 20 minutes of reading homework nightly. In addition Title I will provide a series of family literacy night to teach reading strategies and parent responsibilities. The money requested is to buy sets of Rugby Leveled books, Primary Concepts - Enrichment books (for higher readers) and 200 waterproof book bags. This is similar, but larger in number of students covered, to a grant PAFE funded last year.

18. Christmas Jam Project and SWAC Memberships - LPOHS - Pam Lippi - $500.00

As part of Physical Education/Life Skills class this grant proposal asks for approximately 11 visits for 12 "at risk" Junior High students. They would participate in swimming, racquetball, basketball and strength training. For the life skills portion of the request, they would repeat a successful project from last year where students helped to clean up yards, and in the process picked and bagged fruit which they prepared and made into jam as gifts for their families. The jam project needs $70.00 and the SWAC visits for the group would be $430.00.

PAFE has participated for the past two years in this extracurricular activity which includes students from freshman to senior and with GPAs ranging from below 3.0 to above 3.75. The students spend 8-10 hours per week studying the Academic Decathlon curriculum. The process is a highly interactive team driven approach to mastering the curriculum topics. The Sandpoint team continues to grow and improve. This year the team finished second in the state competition. Sandpoint students earned 39 individual medals and 4 all-around medals at state. Their goal continues to be to win the state competition. As before, the monies requested pay for the curriculum materials and expenses to travel the students to the competitions. The overall budget is approximately $12,731.00

The purpose of this grant is to involve SHS History and Government student in "We the People" civic education. This program is funded by the US Department of Education and it complements the regular school curriculum by providing students with a course of instruction on the history and principles of democracy in the United States. Working in cooperative teams, students prepare and present statements and answer questions before a panel of community representatives who act as congressional committee members. Competitive hearings begin at the congressional district level with winning classes progressing to the state and national levels. The money requested in the grant proposal addresses the costs of the local and state competitions. If a team were to make it to the national level, the additional cost could be nearly $20,000.

The National History Day program is a year long education program that culminates in a national contest every June. Students select topics and present their findings in papers, exhibits, performances and documentary presentations. They can work individually or in groups of two to five. The students have opportunities to win awards and scholarships as well as learn about history. At least 12 and possibly 28 classes of US History will be producing projects with the option of entering the regional competition held in Kellogg, ID. The teachers would organize and hold a school competition to determine the students to advance to the regional competition. The grant request addresses the costs of the local, regional and state competitions.. Students have started a social studies club called the Political Science Club and are planning various fundraisers to raise money for Social Studies events to help fund the higher levels of competition.

POAC is requesting financial support for the "Ovations" performing arts program, serving approximately 2,000 students in grades K-12. Students attend performances at the Panida as well having the artists' perform at the schools in more interactive sessions with the students. POAC distributes educational materials prior to each performance to maximize the cultural experience with the performers. The grant monies would go toward artists' fees and production costs.

23. Kaleidoscope and Perspectives Visual Arts - All Schools - Lizzy Hughes - $2,000.00

POAC is requesting financial support for these visual arts programs; Kaleidoscope which serves grades 3-6 through art lessons once per month for one to three hours, and Perspectives which serves grades 7-12 with professional artists teaching in the program which culminates in an exhibit at the POAC Gallery. In both instances many local volunteers participate and donate supplies to make the programs succeed. The money is requested to help with artists' fees and supplies.

24. Music Curriculum Upgrade - Farmin Stidwell Elementary - Tamara Gunter - $4131.75

The money from this grant would be used to purchase 20 music student textbooks and 4 complete (K-6) sets of related teaching transparencies and a K-6 set of Orff orchestrations to be used with classroom instruments for use in the district elementary schools. The current music curriculum, "The Music Connection" coincides with the thought that active music making is the best approach to developing a lifelong appreciation for music. These tools will be used throughout the district throughout the year.

25) Audio/Visual Equipment for Auditorium - Sandpoint HS - Jeanette Hunter - $4,500.00

Grant Committee recommends adding $1000.00 to the $3500.00 request to include overhead screens to complete the facility upgrade.

This request is for a mounted projector (with a long throw lens) in the auditorium with a connected DVD/VCR in a locked cabinet on the stage. This would be used by the drama students on a regular basis and other groups would have it available when they have scheduled the auditorium for classes or special presentations.

26. Tech Ed Equipment - Clark Fork Jr/Sr High School - Chris Rhinehart - $2,000.00

The Clark Fork Tech Ed program is completing its third year. They are short some big-ticket equipment required to implement a full curriculum. The grant money requested is to help with the purchase of small engine parts, tools and curriculum for gas, diesel, steam and heat engines as part of the Power Energy & Transportation curriculum. A key goal is to introduce student to a wide variety of career opportunities and teach associated skills. For that, they must address engine design and repair. The students would have the opportunity to tear down and rebuild a variety of engines and use them in their project designs in various applications as they study how power and energy are created, transformed, and used in modern day transportation.

27. EdTechQuest Computer - Sandpoint High School - Barbara Tibbs - $1,000.00

The SHS teams participating in the University of Idaho's EdTechQuest program have brought back over $20,000 in hardware and software prizes, including an Interactive Whiteboard, digital camera, and electronic drawing tablets. They have not been able to use most of the software as the classroom does not have a computer and associated hardware capable of supporting it. The purpose of the grant is to provide the upgraded equipment necessary to run their prizes. Using this equipment, they would be able to learn to create more dynamic media presentations.

28. Equipment to Help Fight Depression - Special Services - Michelle Nader - $1,000.00

Students who are depressed have difficulty learning and when they become agitated and angry they make it harder for others to learn. Standard treatments include therapy and medication; however, sustained exercise in bright light is always recommended. This request is for a treadmill along with bright light boxes and multimedia (calming music, inspirational readings, and educational videos). Students would typically spend 30 minutes exercising under bright lights. They could also use the treadmill to burn off the energy from anger, frustration and ADHD symptoms to become more calm and focused.

A typical class will have 4-6 students reading far enough below grade level to benefit from reading material other than the text, and will also have 4-6 students who are not sufficiently challenged. The grant request is to fund the purchase of Scholastic leveled books (72 sets of 10 books) for use in the 3^rd grade classroom.

30. Third Grade Reading Books - Farmin Stidwell Elementary - Rick Price - $200.00

This request is for the purchase of a variety of paperback books at assorted reading levels in this new classroom. These books will have Accelerated reader tests associated with them. Because the 3^rd grade classroom is new this year, there is a shortage of books for independent reading and for take home, and the students spend an inordinate amount of time going back and forth to the school library.

31. Stage Upgrade - Clark Fork Jr / Sr High - William Schwerin - $5,000.00

The stage are of the auditorium has not had any upgrades since 1984. New curtains have been approved, but also needed are: a rubberized floor covering (similar to SHS), a new light board with dimmers (16 channel, 2 scene) and a 3-pin XLR microphone cable. Any additional monies would be spent on costuming materials, new flats, scene/props and scripts. Drama and band members would benefit the most, but Science Fairs, spelling bees, fundraisers, talent contests…….and more, also use this space and would benefit and take pride in the improvements.

32. Survey of Foreign Languages - Sandpoint High School - Dana Stockman - $3,700.00

The foreign language department is implanting a Survey of Foreign Languages course which will provide a basic introduction to the language, history and culture of France, Spain, Germany and Ancient Rome. Students will spend one quarter studying each country. By the end of the year, students will have met with 4 different teachers and earned two humanities credits and those going forward in language studies will have determined which language they would like to take. The funds requested are for the creation of a text for this course, as the team will be creating its own. They include printed costs through the Cedar Post Print Shop, substitute time for book development and miscellaneous accompanying materials.

33. Update Technology Lab - Farmin Stidwell Elementary - Laurie Tibbs - $3,267.00

The grant request is to update the 28 station technology lab with a presentation projector and equipment required to run it, a scanner and a digital camera. With the addition of a ceiling mounted projector teachers and students can share information and projects with an audience seated comfortably in the room. Currently students sit on the floor around a TV monitor. The scanner and camera will allow the addition of student generated artwork and photos to their projects, thereby reducing time spent searching the internet for appropriate items. All students use the technology lab at least once a week, and many go multiple times a week to work on special projects. This will give them first hand experience with creating dynamic presentations that include their own creativity.

34. Everyday Mathematics Equipment - Farmin Stidwell - Pauline Delamarter - $700.00

The grant request is for the purchase of class sets of calculators for K - 3 classes and class sets of geoboards for 2^nd and 3^rd grades. These are required components of the new math program, Everyday Mathematics. They are used daily in every classroom, and sharing is not working well. They are needed immediately, and not in an over time purchase.

This is a master class request to bring in 2 dance masters, one expert in modern and jazz dance and the other in ballet and lyrical technical areas. An intense, 2 day, 6 hour a day workshop with each instructor will broaden the horizon and skills of the dance team. The students will receive as much individualized instruction as possible. The team will gain experience with other instructors, increase technical knowledge, build diversity in dance styles and learn more challenging choreography. The students will continue to work on the choreography through the year, and it will be incorporated into their performances for football games, student assemblies, their competitive performances and their performances for the community.

2005 GRANT ROUND