HCEF

2009 Mini-Grant Winners

This year we were able to present 23 Mini-Grant Awards to teachers and administrators at the Teacher In-Service Day on August 17th. The Foundation Mini-Grant Awards are used to reward teachers and schools that want to enrich and expand their students learning opportunities. Over its history, the Foundation has awarded more than $60,000 in mini-grants to Harvard teachers.

Some of the proceeds from the Foundation’s Black & Gold Ball fund the mini-grants, and all of the funds raised from last year’s Black and Gold Ball Dutch Auction supported field-trip mini-grants this year. The following is a list that shows how we are putting your generosity to work!

8th Grade Team Quest - Mimi Book: Independent Inquiry students use engineering and scientific skills in a hands-on building project, generate answers to questions across the curriculum, and apply critical/creative-thinking skills to solve some very unusual problems.

 After School Games Club - Ken Haylock: Friday afternoon after-school games club which reinforces math and reading skills, develops strategic thinking, and provides a positive social atmosphere for all HJH students involved.

Bee-A-Reader T-Shirts - Deb Grover: 2nd Grade motivational tool used with the Accelerated Reader program. Students and staff wear their shirts on Fridays and field trips.

 Exploring Cross-Curricular Novels - Ashley Hendryx: A program designed for 6th, 7th, & 8th grade students to continue to develop their reading abilities through a “book club” type of atmosphere.

 A Titanic Exploration - Rachel Hockemeyer: HJH 6th graders will explore two different novels: S.O.S Titanic and Al Capone Does My Shirts. Students will gain a greater understanding of autism as well as be exposed to the historical backgrounds of Alcatraz Island and the RMS Titanic.

Camera for Yearbook Staff - Earlene Camasta: Camera used to take pictures of academic and extracurricular activities for a newly created yearbook project for HJH.

 Tree of Knowledge - Rob Zielinski: The project identifies and showcases the honor and high honor graduates of Harvard High School, promoting future students to achieve the high standards set by their peers.

 See It Digitally - Lisa Eisele: Digital picture frame used to display projects completed by students enrolled in Digital Imaging. This frame allows another form of visual art presentation.

 Washington School Nursery Rhyme Mural - Sandy Knop: A painted mural of various nursery rhymes set above the top third of the hallway Walls. Learning these rhymes will help children acquire new vocabulary skills, rhyming skills, and many other early Language Art skills.

 Stem Bags - Jeannette Dyson: Inviting and easy-to-do science and math take-home learning bags used by Pre-K students. They are designed to develop higher order thinking skills, discover the wonder of science, as well as bond and interact with their parents.

 Veteran’s Day Breakfast - Debbie Holland: A program to honor local veterans with a special breakfast, student performance, and special recognition.

 Field Trip Woodstock Opera House - Debbie Holland: A trip to provide the students of Central School with a cultural theater experience.

 Eighth Grade Caudill Project - Patricia Nikolich: Students will read high interest and quality literature from the 2010 Rebecca Caudill nominee list. Students will be able to expose other students to these books through classroom presentation and projects.

 Starlab & Pre K Science Night - Brenda Anderson: An inflatable planetarium that allows students to enter and learn about space and the constellations. All students and staff at Washington will be able to participate.

 Phonics & Literacy Take Home Bags - K Juarez, J Barrett: Washington students will have pre-assembled bags consisting of a book and activities to support the curriculum item. The goal is to encourage reading and learning at home with parental support.

 Veterans Appreciation Assembly - Mimi Book: Harvard Jr. High students will learn to understand and appreciate the sacrifices veterans have made to maintain our freedoms through an assembly and luncheon.

 Junior High Play - Marie Bittner, Holly Friday: A play involving Jr. High students from four grade levels. This study allows students to grow and interact with others in a safe and non-threatening environment

 Buggin’ At Rush Creek - Kim Williams: Kindergarten students learn about the life cycle of the butterfly first-hand and take a field trip to explore their habitat and interact with nature.

 Where The Wild Things Are - 1st Grade Team: 1st grade students will read the book, discuss it, and go to the theater to see the movie based on the book to encourage reading.

 First Division Museum - Tom Gentilli: 8th grade students will study World War I and World War II and visit a museum set up in a "You are There" format at First Division Museum at Cantigny in Wheaton, IL.

 Abraham Lincoln Museum - 7th Grade Team: 7th Grade students will travel to Springfield to see the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum.

 Reptiles and Mammals Assembly - Meg Kruckenberg: Washington School Students will interact and learn about numerous reptiles and mammals during a presentation by Corbin Exotic Pets.

 Corbin’s Exotic Pets and Zoo to You - Karen Pennell: Central Students do the same.