Schools Win Four Excellence in Education Grants

by Kristy Muller, Communications Director

Congratulations to teachers at Creston Christian Elementary School, Millbrook Christian Elementary School, and Grand Rapids Christian Middle School, who have been awarded Excellence in Education “teacher minigrants” by the Grand Rapids Community Foundation.

The awards, announced in March, provide funds for projects that enhance learning. “These grants truly help teachers and students do things that are above and beyond what is in the school budget. Some of these activities and projects are essential for understanding a specific aspect of curriculum or helping deepen a learning experience,” said Ruth Bishop, education program officer at the Foundation.

Details of the GRCS awards are as follows:

Fast ForWord Program:
$5,000 Grant to Creston Christian
This grant funds the purchase of Fast ForWord to Language and Reading, a computer program that helps build the cognitive skills needed for reading and learning efficiently. It is an intense program that will help 16 students work diligently on reading and language skills. The grant was requested by Educational Support Services teacher Becky Tubergen.

We’re Coming to America…Grand Rapids:
$668 Grant to Millbrook Christian
Sue Pluymert, a 3rd grade teacher at Millbrook, submitted a proposal for her idea, We’re Coming to America…Grand Rapids. The grant funded the purchase of puppets representing a variety of ethnicities and nationalities. Students build international awareness and cross-cultural understanding by creating puppet dramas illustrating what coming to America would be like for each puppet.

Lay Flat or Go Long:
$920 Grant to Millbrook Christian
A project idea by Diane Boerma, a 5th grade teacher at Millbrook, was also selected. The project, Lay Flat or Go Long, uses global positioning satellite receivers (GPSRs) to enhance student understanding of latitude and longitude.

Discovering a Creativity/Technology Link:
$5,000 Grant to Grand Rapids Christian Middle School
Sixth grade teachers Hilda Quist and Judy Rooy, along with media specialist Tammy Baker and technology coordinator Sheila VanderWoude, collaborated to design the Discovering a Creativity/Technology Link project and write the grant application. The project reflects the school’s goal to increase communication proficiency through writing and speaking.

This grant gave all 6th grade students the opportunity to learn from award-winning author Dr. Gary D. Schmidt. Schmidt, a professor of English at Calvin College, is author of the 2005 Newbery Honor and Printz Honor book Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy. His most recent novel is The Wednesday Wars, a 2008 Newbery Honor Award Book. Schmidt shared with sixth grade students his journey as a writer. He also used his skills to help them write their own stories and discover how creativity can link with technology.

To celebrate the students’ completed projects, 6th graders held a Writers’ Festival May 29 at the DeVos Center for Art and Worship. Students shared their stories through original and technologically developed artwork, computer presentations, podcasts, and live readings. Schmidt also attended, helping students celebrate the joy that comes from responding to God and his creation through the creative use of language.