2006 Grants Awarded!

The 2006 Education Foundation awarded 25 grants to 19 campuses in May 2006 totaling $75,523-- more than any prior year!

Here’s a look at where the grants are going and why:

* Lake Waco Montessori School: $450 for local students to represent WISD at the United Nations Montessori Middle School Conference in October. Stops at Ellis Island and the Statue of Liberty are planned.
* Lake Waco Elementary School: $479 for a circle drumming class in Las Vegas for Carrianne Bernatis to attend. She plans to incorporate this in the campus’ music class.
* Bell’s Hill Elementary School: $700 for a career exploration program, specifically targeting elementary school children.
* Cesar Chavez Middle School: $1,220.65 for a brass music project that can build up students’ confidence in music and other areas.
* Parkdale Elementary School: $1,530 for cooking and math activities.
* Brook Avenue Elementary School: $1,670.33 for a three-day science training program.
* Kendrick Elementary School: $1,845.65 for exposure to reading materials, ranging from puppets to books to literary CDs.
* Provident Heights Elementary School: $2,000 for a garden/pond curriculum.
* Bell’s Hill Elementary School: $2,551.20 for professional growth opportunities for third- and fourth-grade teachers in teaching writing.
* J.H. Hines Elementary School: $2,639 for creative-thinking exercises for students.
* Lake Air Middle School: $2,756 to create a journalism class on campus.
* Waco High School: $2,865.46 for percussion curriculum.
* North Waco Elementary School: $3,000 for a “Teaching Young Einsteins” program that involves fifth-graders teaching kindergartners.
* Waco ISD fine arts: $3,224.76 for three orchestra teachers who teach on 13 campuses to receive professional training.
* Crestview Elementary School: $3,500 for an “Organic Green Classroom” to be used as a science discovery center.
* Sul Ross Elementary School: $3,500 for studying the aquatic ecosystem through ponds.
* Doris Miller Elementary School: $3,521.39 for a “Hungry Caterpillar Butterfly Habitat,” an organic butterfly habitat that will be used as a science discovery center.
* Cesar Chavez Middle School: $3,770 for a one-week, critical-thinking summer camp for students.
* G.W. Carver Academy: $4,500 for a program focusing on math, science, technology, problem solving and communication skills. It’s for a simulated exercise of living on Mars.
* University High School: $4,500 for a collection of children’s books.
* Waco ISD human resources department: $4,500 for a $100 stipend given to each new teacher, matched 100 percent by the Rapoport Foundation.
* Hillcrest PDS: $4,700 for a program called “Science Made Clear.”
* Doris Miller Elementary School: $5,000 for an early childhood-reading program for pre-kindergarten students.
* Waco ISD: $5,100 for special mathematics curriculum to challenge high-ability learners.
* Cedar Ridge Elementary School: $6,000 for a “Kids’ Newscast” on campus.

Waco ISD Education Grants & Grant Facilitation
The WISD Education Foundation works with teachers and administrators in the district to facilitate grant proposals, but the Foundation also fundraises to give funding gifts! Since 1999, more than a half million dollars have been granted to WISD programs from the Education Foundation.

In 2005, the Waco ISD Education Foundation gave every new teacher $100 to help set up their new classrooms. Pictured L to R: WISD Education Foundation Executive Director Kay Metz, Superintendent Jerry Major, Foundation Board President Sally Bledsoe and a 2005-2006 new teacher.

TFE Frank Burke Memorial Grant
A local company, Technology For Education, has made a $10,000 contribution to the Waco ISD Education Foundation in the memory of Frank Burke.  Mr. Burke, who died on January 28, 2004, worked as a network support specialist for Waco ISD.  Until the year 2014, one grant in the amount of $1,000 will be awarded each school year with the Education Foundation grant cycle. The “TFE Frank Burke Memorial Grant” is intended to be a technology-focused grant project.

Waco Foundation Grants
The Waco Foundation offers grants twice annually. The WISD Education Foundation works with teachers and administrators in the district to facilitate grant proposals. If you would like to apply for a grant, please fax a Grant Proposal Notification form to 755-9658. The forms are found in First Class under the News conference, then Electronic Forms, then Community Development.