GRANT ROUND SUMMARIES

2009

2008

2007

2006

2005

2004

2003

2008 Grant Awards
Over $132,000 was awarded to teachers for projects that provide educational enrichment

1. Botany Study of Plant Structure, Northside Elementary, Jayne Sturm, $1,168

This grant will enhance the sixth grade botany science unit, as well as introduce students to watercolors through the study of flowers.  It enables students to learn through a thematic/project based curriculum. Students will maintain, fertilize, and divide flowers each year.  The eight flower bins on the south end of the Long Bridge are kept beautified by the sixth graders at Northside. The sixth graders diagram the flowers with detail and labels using flowers from their own flower beds, and then learn the art of pastels and watercolors painting their "hand-grown" flowers.  Students learn the comparison/contrasts of fertilization and pollination of flowering plants.  Dissecting comes next, with a microscopic perspective where all parts of the flower are analyzed with a closer look.

2. Weather Station at Washington Elementary School, Rod Swerin, $2,500

(Dave and Laurie Wall Grant for Math and Science)
Using four disciplines, Reading, Math, Science, and Technology, students will utilize a weather monitoring system to track, time, temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, rainfall, wind speed and direction.  All classrooms will have the ability to visually monitor the above changes in weather via a web page.  Computer lab instructor will create and manage the web page with real-time climatology.  Students will learn how to gather, interpret and display data using a variety of techniques and identify weather trends in North Idaho.  Weather is used as a vehicle to tie disciplines together.  This unit will also align with state standards in science and math.

3. Alternative Energy-Solar Cars, Sandpoint Middle School, Perky Smith-Hagadone, $2,742

This unit will explore three different forms of alternative energy: wind, hydro, and solar. As a culminating project, each student will construct a twelve inch long solar car. Students will learn the properties of aerodynamics, drag, traction and friction from their math teachers. Design and construction will occur in both their science and math classes. Students will race their cars at a Solar Grand Prix which includes a solar cooking picnic.  Most importantly, their engagement in real life problem-solving is invaluable.

4. Modeling Habitat through Data Analysis, Sandpoint High School, Tom Albertson, $2,626

      (Dave and Laurie Wall Grant for Math and Science)
Statistics students at Sandpoint High School will team with the Idaho Fish and Game to calculate habitat units on land that has been acquired through the Bonneville Power Administration mitigation program. Teamed with IDFG biologists, students take measurements of vegetative cover, canopy cover, and percent water coverage. These measurements are then converted into Habitat Units that measure the optimum habitat for species such as Canadian geese, ducks, white tail deer, muskrats etc. This grant provides a “field” computer and Minitab statistical software; a powerful program that allows students to complete a full data analysis. A desktop projector enables student presentations of the different habitat models.

5. Classy Keyboards, Sandpoint Middle School, Imogene Lyon, $2,500

      (Betty Ann Diehl Grant for the Arts)
The Sandpoint Middle School music department will purchase a portable electronic keyboard and bench. It will replace an old piano that has trouble staying in tune.  The keyboard will start out the day in early-bird jazz band practice. Next the keyboard will be used in band classes to help students tune their instruments to correct pitches.  It will also be utilized to demonstrate beats, dynamics, and intonations.  Choir classes will employ the keyboard to help students with pitch, playing parts, and back up instrumentals to their vocal performances.  The portable keyboard will support soloists, quartets, jazz engagements, and choir performers as they travel in our community.

6. Post Secondary Career Planning, District Wide, Jeralyn Mire, $1,352

This grant enables high school students and families to increase their knowledge of higher education alternatives. The first program will take junior and senior high students to The National Association for College Admissions Counseling (NACAC) Fair in Spokane, Washington in fall of 2008. This fair will have over 100 colleges and universities for students to learn about.  The second program is a stipend for a keynote speaker; the Director of Academic Services at Gonzaga University.  Her topic is Preparing for the College Experience.  The third program is to fund eight parent/student education nights.  These will happen every month during the school year and will focus on the application process, searching for colleges, professional/technical programs, financial aid, and career information.

7. Arts Authors and Us, Washington Elementary, Tom Prez, $1,000

Arts, Authors and Us! begins with a keynote address by a well known children’s author to the entire school population.  Afterwards, students attend three sessions throughout the day where they engage in self-selected, hands-on art, building, writing, drama and dance workshops.  Arts, Authors and Us! is a critical component of the school’s language arts curriculum, and fosters a life-long love of reading, writing and the arts.  The goal is to encourage, motivate and inspire young writers and artists through hands-on activities, led by community artisans, parent volunteers and a published guest author or artist.  The grant will cover the cost of the guest author/presenter, books and supplies.

8. The Brain Unit, Sandpoint Middle School, Sandy Ross, $1,925

Students will learn about the human brain including neurons, the effects of drugs on the brain, and the basic structure of the brain.  Students will conduct a variety of labs including sheep-brain dissections.  Students will be surveyed on their particular strengths and weakness (Eight multiple intelligences of man) in math.  They will apply what they have learned to their own life, enhancing understanding of self and self worth.  Our librarian will delve into information on dreaming and sleep patterns in adolescent brains. 

9. Ovations Performing Arts, District Wide, Kim Queen, $5,000

The Ovations program operates in conjunction with the Pend Oreille Arts Council’s acclaimed annual performance series.  Local and regional students in grades K-12 gain first hand experience with professional performers, providing cultural and artistic exposure uncommon in the local community.  Youth attend educational performances and attend master classes.  An estimated 3,000 students will be served by this program.

• Kaleidoscope Visual Arts, District Wide, Kim Queen, $2,000

The Kaleidoscope outreach program provides visual arts education to approximately 1,500 rural students in grades 3-6 in the fiscal year 2008-09.  Approximately 10 artists and 60 volunteers reach students in 11 schools (55 classrooms).The program offers art lessons once per month for one to three hours.  Over the last 16 years, this effort has served over 12,000 students that would otherwise have no art education.

11. May Baskets for Head Start, Sandpoint Middle School, Irene Adler, $300

This project involves giving all Head Start children a basket full of books, toys, etc.  in the month of May.  The students and staff provide all of the items that fill the baskets; the grant monies are used to purchase the baskets and wrap materials.  This activity is a school-wide project and involves everyone working together to make a wonderful contribution to less fortunate children.  This is a wonderful lesson in community service.

12. Take Home Reading, Farmin Stidwell Elementary, Melissa Couch, $400

Over the last three years, teachers at Farmin Stidwell Elementary have established a home-school literacy connection by providing students with a take-home reading program. Each student will take home and return a book at their instructional reading level daily.  Primary teachers are requiring 20 minutes of reading homework nightly.  This home-school connection will create partnerships with parents to aid in student growth.

13. Acadeca N.I.C.E. Meet, Sandpoint Middle School, Mary Bird, $1,250

The Acadeca coaches of four local high schools will hold a scrimmage called N.I.C.E. (Northern Idaho Competition of Excellence).  This is a pre-competition which gives students an opportunity to set goals and to achieve them, to be involved with a school team, and to help improve their test-taking skills before the regional Acadeca competitions.  The money from this grant will purchase awards, printing costs for tests and essays, timing devices, and office supplies for the pre-competition. 

14. Kokanee Fish Project, Sagle Elementary, Jackie Hanna, $1,850

The Fish Project enables students to develop a lifelong awareness of the importance of water quality and habitat for Kokanee.  Eggs are brought to the school by Idaho Fish and Game and hatched in the school’s hatchery.  Students watch the different stages of development of the eggs and then, in the late spring, the fry are planted in Midas Creek near Garfield Bay.  This grant will purchase new fish viewers, as well as lake and stream water quality test kits.  The students then would compare their results with a technological tool, the Imagilab, which water biologists currently use to test water quality.  Students will also study the anatomy of fish by dissecting preserved fish. 

• Classroom Pad Manager Software, Sandpoint Middle School, Sandy Ross, $455

This grant will purchase a scientific calculator that is easily visible on a Smartboard and a site license that will provide the same calculator on every computer at the Middle School.  The goal is to create concrete visual connections between algebra and geometry.  This type of calculator is not usual, and few students have used anything like it prior to their ISAT exam. Students may perform better, and certainly will be more comfortable using the ISAT calculator after they have worked with the Casio ClassPad Manager software.  Student achievement on ISAT exam may improve because this calculator performs like the calculator on the new ISAT exam. 

16. Electrophoresis Lab, Clark Fork Jr. Sr. High, Martin Jones, $3,000

This grant will allow CFHS students to experience, through hands-on laboratory work, a few of the various processes of genetic analysis that have revolutionized almost all fields related to biology including forensic science, medicine, and paleontology, just to name a few.  The money will purchase equipment to allow CFHS to perform agarose gel electrophoresis on DNA fragments – DNA fingerprinting by a more familiar name.  Students will receive three benefits:  First, this will form part of the science curriculum at CFHS will give students a new focus on biology.  Second, this “beyond high tech” scientific process will be performed by students who might otherwise think that such work is beyond their capabilities, thus increasing their perceived life options.  Finally, students will acquire a deeper understanding of the form and function of DNA and how people study it.  The setup also establishes a core capability that can be later supplemented to investigate proteins and DNA amplification through PCR (polymerase chain reaction).  

17. Fishery and Conservation Project, Washington Elementary, Jennifer Smith, $1,500

The purpose of this grant is to replace an outdated water filtration system and water chiller currently used as part of the third grade “Trout in the Classroom” project at Washington School. The new filter system and aquarium chiller would allow the third grade classes to continue raising trout in the classroom as part of their Life Science curriculum each spring. The opportunity to observe the lifecycles of trout from the egg stage to the fingerling stage is a critical component of lessons designed to teach students to appreciate water resources, engage in stream habitat studies, foster conservation ethics, and to understand ecosystem connectivity.   

18. Science Enrichment Grant, Farmin Stidwell Elementary, Jody Russell, $6,300

The 6th grade team at Farmin-Stidwell is requesting $6,300 for essential science equipment.  This grant will allow our students to have a hands-on, concrete science experience using microscopes, glass beakers, Petri dishes, slides, and other paper supplies.  It will allow all students the opportunity to move from abstract learning through our current book, to a hands-on, explorative approach. 

19. Kid Friendly Ukuleles, Farmin Stidwell Elementary, Tamara Gunter, $3,537

The grant dollars would be used to purchase quality, kid-friendly stringed instruments in the form of playable, good-sounding ukuleles for students at Farmin Stidwell.  These instruments have been effectively used as an introduction to stringed instruments in Canadian schools, where the smaller size made it accessible and attractive to student players.  Stringed instruments of this nature have been proven to be effective in stimulating personal creativity, hand-eye coordination, language, mathematical, and interpersonal skills associated with literacy and musical performance. Through developmentally appropriate instrumental experiences, students learn aspects of expression, rhythm, form, melody, timbre and harmony.

20. Central Processing System Software, Sandpoint Middle School, Marcea Marine, $6,090

This grant will enable all students to engage in a question and answer session.  The Classroom Performance System (CPS) provides a tool for the teachers and students to simply engage all students.  Each student enters an answer on his/her individual response pad.  Every student is involved in thinking, processing and putting together a reply.  CPS provides both immediate and summative feedback to the teacher and supports the repetition of core learning concepts but prevents unnecessary review.  This grant builds on additional units that were purchased last year through a PAFE grant.

21. Pioneer Days, Farmin Stidwell Elementary, Becky Forell, $1,500

For many years the second grade classes at Farmin-Stidwell have been participating in Pioneer Days. They will expand their program to encompass every subject area into this project and will purchase materials and equipment, as well as books, to make this possible. The students will make a quilt, which incorporates both geometry and art. The quilt will be raffled off in order to buy supplies for the following year. Lessons include language arts through the reading of literature, writing, and singing.  The whole unit is heavy in social studies through the study of past communities and how pioneers lived.

22. Smart Board for Computer  Lab, Kootenai Elementary, Julie Reister-Keaton, $2,800

The Smartboard facilitates learning by providing a visible, easy to manipulate resource to introduce lessons, new computer programs and concepts, model steps and methods, and allow hands-on interaction by both the teacher and students. The instructions and steps will be more visible on the large board.  The Smartboard accommodates different learning styles, encourages high level of student interaction, aids in knowledge retention, allows for easy saving and printing of "notes" on board, improves communication between students, class and teacher,  accommodates presentations based on need, interest and flow, and ultimately allows for a transition to a student-centered, performance-based learning environment.

23. Chess Equipment, Sandpoint High School, Woody Aunan, $550

For the past twenty years, teacher Woody Aunan has had chess boards and clocks in his classroom for lunch and afterschool play.  Many of the clocks are tired and broken as well as the pieces.  Keeping chess alive is a worthwhile but uphill battle.  (Competing with x-boxes, cell-phones, and ipods is not easy).  Chess and “speed chess” with new digital clocks as well as learning software and weighted pieces will be purchased with this grant money.

24. Acadeca Curriculum, Clark Fork Jr. Sr. High School, Mike Turnlund, $2,428

This project will supply students with the necessary travel arrangements and curriculum to succeed in the Academic Decathlon class and the scheduled competitions. In order to build a successful Academic Decathlon program it is essential that the students have access to necessary materials and transportation. This program is an extremely competitive academic program that provides students with the opportunity to learn and master a variety of skills including public speaking, written composition, test taking, and interview skills. Students involved in this program are dedicated to academic success and continually endeavor to better themselves through the pursuit of knowledge.

25. Robotics Engineering curriculum, Farmin Stidwell, Alan Larsen, $1,046

The grant will be used to purchase two color and compass sensors and a 6-week curriculum designed by Carnegie Mellon University. The curriculum component will teach some basic engineering skills such as how to design, construct and alter robots to meet the requirement of different challenges.  The curriculum will help to improve the ability of  students to construct more advanced robots and deal with some of the more complex issues involved with the actual construction and programming of the robots.

26. Math Fact Wrap-ups, Farmin Stidwell, Deborah Davis, $1,320

A “Math Wrap-Up” is a math manipulative designed to aid students in practicing math facts while providing a self-check for immediate feedback. It is a hand held key-shaped, six inch long plastic manipulative with a long string attached.  Numbers are written down the left and right sides, with one large number at the top.  Students wrap the string around from left to right to solve the facts.  If the answers are correct, the string will match the pattern on the back.  Students can set personal goals and work toward reaching them independently, in a group or on a team.  Wrap-Ups provide valuable fact practice without the time consuming grading, reams of paper, or need for computer use. 

27. Special Ed. Preschool Math and Science, Farmin Stidwell, Krista Eberle, $2,297

The project will give children in developmental preschool the tools necessary to develop a core foundation of pre-academic skills in math and science. According to the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC), “quality early childhood programs provide diverse and frequent opportunities to develop an understanding of new concepts.”  Access to the various materials requested in this proposal, direct instruction from special education staff, and frequent opportunities to explore and learn new ideas are especially important for children in developmental preschool.

28. Success Tracker for Reading, Washington Elementary, Susan Lee, $1,600

Teachers benefit from this online, whole-class assessment and remediation management system aligned with READING STREET (a reading/language arts program), and Idaho state standards.  Success Tracker is designed as follows: Diagnostic tests to access student readiness for learning; Benchmark tests to assess students’ progress throughout the year; Correlations to content skills so student scores can be disaggregated into targeted remediation; and correlations to state standards so both teacher and students can see progress before high-stakes testing. When students complete a test, Success Tracker’s instant feedback lets students know what they’ve mastered.  By selecting un-mastered skills the student is directed to immediate remediation.

29. Teaching Torso for Health Class, Lake Pend Oreille High, Georgina Puailoa, $693

This grant will provide a teaching aid for the health class at LPO.  The indication of cause and effect of good and bad habits will be aided by the demonstration of the location of each organ.  This accurate, realistic representation of the human body accommodates the learning style of the at-risk population.

30. Printmaking Curriculum, Sandpoint High School, Heather Guthrie, $1,045

This grant would provide a printmaking press for the advanced students and presented as a 9-week unit for beginning classes, basing the printmaking on their burgeoning drawing foundation.  This is a valuable art form and many faceted. A large component of most AP portfolios is in the form of prints.  It is also an exciting art technique for the beginning art student because they can create multiple images from their original design.  I would use it in all of my classes, totaling 163 students.

31. Mobil Media Station, Kootenai Elementary, Mamie Brubaker, $2,409

This grant provides computer equipment to set up a Mobil Media Station to enhance technology integration for 160 students.  Media station uses would include: curriculum-specific presentations by students, library and classroom presentations for students, quarterly awards assemblies, open house presentations, parent workshops, staff meetings, and teacher training.  Daily agendas, calendars, newsletters, labs and links on the website could be projected during class time and serve as the underlying structure of the course.

32. Project ICAN, Southside Elementary School, Pat Valliant, $8,500

I CAN! (Intense Cognitive Advancement Now).  This award will continue the work at Southside Elementary to provide students with opportunities to become better readers.  During the 2006-07 school year our students’ reading scores went up nearly 10% points, in part due to this grant.  Reading is the single greatest indicator of a student’s future academic success.  The goal of this project is to target all students prior to the start of each school day with reading opportunities including an open library, two classrooms and the computer lab.  The grant funds will pay for tutors and pizza parties for peer tutors.

33. Mars Rover Program, Sagle Elementary School, Ray Bird, $966

This grant will fund the Mars Rover Program, an advanced math and science program designed to stimulate and enhance math and science concepts through participation in structured lessons and hands-on activities, leading to the building of a Mars Rover Robot.  All teams end the program by competing in a regional Mars Rover competition held in Moscow, ID in May.  Sagle has an average of 5-6 teams each year.  Each team has 5-6 members.  All activities and assignments happen after school as an extra-curricular program involving both teachers and parents with the student teams.

34. Pow Wow with Indian Art, Kootenai Elementary, Louise Zmuda, $1,400

The goal of this grant is to acquaint Kootenai fourth and fifth graders with the rich Kootenai Indian culture through writing, music, dance and art.  Kootenai elementary children and De Smet Tribal students will be pen pals throughout the year.  In May, children from the Kootenai Tribal School in De Smet will visit Kootenai Elementary School for a Mini Powwow.  All children will participate in tribal artwork and learning three tribal dances.   Kootenai will serve lunch to all.

35. Rachel’s Challenge, Sandpoint High School, Pam Webb, $5,000

Rachel’s Challenge is a national organization that provides programs and assemblies to address issues like prejudice, bullying, and acceptance.  SHS participated in Year 1 of Rachel’s Challenge.  This grant would provide funds for Rachel’s Legacy, the follow up program encouraging students to recognize their full potential.  This second assembly presents a whole new set of challenges and stories, and will continue to change not only the school’s climate, but its long-term culture.  The benefit of this program is promoting change from within that will affect change all around.

36. Steel Band Instruments, Sandpoint High School, Aaron Gordon, $9,500

The Steel Band project will expose students, staff and the Sandpoint community to the diverse culture, music, and sounds of Calypso, Saco, Reggae, Latin and other forms of non-western music.  This would be the first and only Steel Band in Northern Idaho, offering itself to students and community members. This would provide an opportunity for the entire SHS/SMS student body, not only to participate as performers, but also to experience the great sounds this ensemble can produce!

37. PLATO Transitions Courseware, Sandpoint High School, Pam Web, $1,466

Funds from this grant will be used to purchase supplemental PLATO materials for three elective courses: Economics, LifeSkills and Health.  The PLATO Transitions program provides students who are at risk to recover credits needed for graduation.  The program revolves around utilizing PLATO, a nationally recognized computerized education system.  The program currently reaches 35 students with plans to grow.

38. 6th Grade Science Lab, Sagle Elementary, Tracy Williamson, $2,775

The Glencoe Science series at Sagle School has textbooks and support workbooks, but no science lab materials.  This grant will help purchase lab supplies and triple beam balances for our students.  With the purchase of science supplies we will be able to provide our students with the labs intended to accompany Glencoe Science.  The triple beam balances will give the students a scientific tool to accurately measure the mass of objects.  Instruction along with complementary labs will improve student understanding and achievement in science concepts.

39. Response to Intervention, Special Services, Maril Valle, $2,800

Beginning at Southside Elementary, Response to Intervention (RTI) will provide an alternative to placing students in Special Education for extra help.  After training, administrators and teachers will identify students with whom the traditional classroom interventions are not working.  Through support, observation and documentation, teachers will be given the support tools they need to deal with the complicated issue of determining and implementing appropriate interventions.

40. Math Club, Farmin Stidwell Elementary, Laura Rantala, $1,450

This grant provides the funding required to send the Farmin-Stidwell Math Club to a state Math Olympiad.  The Math Club is for any interested 5th or 6th grader that has a desire to learn advanced math concepts at a brisk rate.  Math Club meets after school every Thursday from October through May. The learned math concepts would then be applied to a “team” competition at the Washington State Math Olympiad, which is held on the first Saturday in May.  Students are given weekly lessons covering specific advanced math concepts, following a planned curriculum that covers: Probability and Statistics, Algebraic Sense, Geometric Sense, Number Sense, Measurement, and Problem Solving.

41. Acadeca Scholarship and Travel, Sandpoint High School, Mary Bird, $5,000

This grant provides partial funding for the AcaDeca team to participate in competitions.  AcaDeca offers students in both the upper and lower quartiles a chance to earn recognition for academic achievements, to compete in events that are essential to work-place success, and to explore honors level curriculum.  Academic Decathlon is an activity that helps address the goals of the LPOSD and the No Child Left Behind legislation.  Study will focus on Latin America this year.

42. Robotics, Sandpoint Charter School, Julie Williams, $5,800

Building on last year’s grant, this year students will work on enhancing the capabilities of the human-sized robot, ALBERT.  The grant also provides kits for assembling smaller robots and funds a trip to the Robo One competition in San Diego where they will show them.  All 7th and 8th grade students at the Charter School are introduced to the concepts of robotics through this program.

43. Dance Master Class, Sandpoint High School, Cindy Smith, $2,500

Dance Team Coach Cindy Smith will bring three diverse masters to broaden the horizons of her dance team.  The goal is to provide the experience of working with other instructors, increase the student’s technical knowledge and build diversity through challenging choreography.  The team will use the experience in competitive performances.  The grant funds a two-day, six hour per day workshop with each instructor.

44. Math Club and Olympiad Trip, Sagle Elementary, Liz Gollen, $700

The purpose of this grant is to fund Sagle Math Club, a unique opportunity for 5th and 6th graders who excel in advanced math concepts in a before-school setting.  Topics covered include algebraic equations, Pythagorean Theorem, working with pi, factorials, statistics, probability, algebraic variables, the circle and exponents.  The grant will fund the trip to Spokane in spring for the Math Olympiad where the students will compete in teams.

45. History through Literature, Sandpoint High School, Damian Gooding, $1,065

This grant funds History through Literature for 10th and 11th grade US history honors students.  During each of the thirteen units of study, the students will read and analyze a landmark novel or work of non-fiction that either significantly influenced our nation’s history or is especially descriptive of America during a given time period.  Students gain a deeper understanding of our nation’s history and further develop their literacy skills.

46. Differentiated Instruction, Sandpoint High School, Mike Randles, $2,300

The differentiated instruction curriculum supports the well-substantiated belief that students will excel if afforded the opportunity to apply their strengths (learning style) when pursuing knowledge.  This grant will allow SHS to acquire a quality projector, media software, and a set of a high-interest novels for use during the Language Arts Novel Unit.  The goal of the project is for students to critically analyze a novel, to collaborate with other students of various learning styles, and share their strengths and weaknesses to enhance learning.

47. Math Club, Kootenai Elementary, Naticia Litven, $2,560

The Before School Math Club Program serves any Kootenai 5th or 6th grade student interested in learning advanced math concepts at an accelerated pace.  Students compete at the Washington State Math Olympiad in the spring in the following categories:  probability and statistics, algebraic sense, geometric sense, number sense, measurement and problem solving.  Funds go to cover the costs of competition including registration, travel, hotel and supplies.

48. After School Tutoring, Farmin Stidwell, Trudie Weiden, $10,000

This grant will fund an after school Math and Reading Tutoring program at Farmin-Stidwell.  The goal of the program is to offer intensive intervention in reading and math to students in grades 4,5, and 6 who fall below the Proficient level on their Fall ISAT scores in either subject.  The sessions take place from Nov. through March, three days a week for one hour and fifteen minutes at the end of the school day.  The goal is to see an improvement in ISAT reading and math scores for each of these students.

49. Classroom Furniture, Clark Fork Jr. Sr. High, Michael Turnlund, $2,457

This grant will provide Clark Fork students with safe and comfortable classroom furniture.  The tables and chairs purchased with this money will directly impact the learning environment and enhance the classroom experience for every student at the school.