Spring Branch Education Foundation Announces Spring Grants

Record $125,140 awarded to projects for SBISD students

Spring Branch Education Foundation (SBEF) directors have approved $125,140 in grants that will fund diverse education-enhancing projects throughout Spring Branch ISD. This is the largest amount the Foundation has awarded in a single granting session.
           
The grants are designated for district-wide projects and SBISD campuses. Twice each year, the Foundation calls for grant applications from any of its 47 school campuses or district departments. Volunteers, as well as faculty members, are encouraged to apply.
           
“Generous community members support the Foundation’s fundraisers and make donations to support these grants,” said Donnie Roseman, a member of the SBEF Board of Directors and chair of the Program and Assessment Committee. “The committee is always impressed with the creativity of the requests. All applications are carefully evaluated for the long-term affect they will have for students.”

“We encourage PTAs, principals and teachers to apply for these grants,” said Cece Thompson, SBEF executive director. “We will call for fall 2015 grant applications in September, and the recipients will be announced in December.”

Community members who wish to support a specific program at a designated campus can make a tax-deductible donation to the Foundation and earmark it for it for that school. Call 713-251-2381 or visit sbef@springbranchisd.com for more information.

Grants that will benefit students on a district-wide basis include:

• Altharetta Yeargin Art Museum – The grant will help fund Road Shows that take the museum to first-grade classrooms and Study Trips for second graders who travel to the museum. Both programs are closely coordinated with grade-level curriculum.
• Houston Prep Summer Camp – A grant of $18,600 will assure transportation for up to 80 high-performing students from SBISD schools to The University of Houston Downtown Houston Prep Program where they will study science, technology, engineering and math. This first-time exposure to a college campus can be life-changing.
• J. Landon Short Mini-Grants for Educators – Thanks to a $12,500 block grant, individual grants will be awarded to SBISD educators who wish to go beyond standard curricula activities and materials to enrich the learning environment. This program fosters new best practices for teaching and learning.
• The Kinesthetic Classroom – Pre-K and kindergarten students on seven campuses will use kinesthetic classrooms designed to strengthen basic gross motor development skills that correlate with academic brain function.
• National Hispanic Institute Freshman Project – SBISD freshman students will be recruited for a four-year program that includes leadership, support and college readiness. Students will meet twice monthly to prepare for participation in The Great Debate in June 2016.
• SpringBoard Mentor Program – More than 550 mentors spend an hour each week with students on 30 SBISD campuses. This relationship helps students build self-confidence, develop communication and interpersonal skills, discover their passions and find meaningful connections between school and the future. A grant of $28,302 will benefit the program.

Grants for individual campuses include:

• Cedar Brook Elementary School – Students will touch, feel and hear their own music with new “elemental” instruments – xylophones, metallophones and glockenspiels.
• Edgewood Elementary School – Learning Together® provides proven cross-age tutoring for second and third graders who are struggling with math and reading. They will be tutored by fifth graders, emerging leaders, who will benefit from additional instructional time.
• Frostwood Elementary School – A garden educator will help kindergarten through third-grade students, teachers and parent volunteers with hands-on learning opportunities in the school’s vegetable garden.
• Meadow Wood Elementary School – Up to 30 first and second graders will be selected to participate in a Fall Prep Program prior to the 2015-16 school term.
• Northbrook High School – Sophomores will be introduced to the Chromebook Classroom in preparation for becoming digital learners before college.
• Nottingham Elementary School – New books will be available to kindergartners and first graders who will read the texts with parents and discuss the books with friends in their classroom Itty Bitty Book Club.
• Spring Oaks Middle School – A school-wide literacy program will transform the campus into a language-rich environment.
• Spring Woods High School – Ninth graders will receive student planners to foster a smooth transition into high school and begin practicing organization and time management skills.
• Valley Oaks Elementary School – The school library will turn into a public library during June, as students, accompanied by an adult, enjoy daily read-alouds, learn keyboard skills, create projects and read, read, read.
• Westchester Academy for International Studies – Sixth graders will enjoy a field trip to the Pine Cove Institute of Wilderness Studies where they will enhance their team work, peer encouragement and self-confidence.
• Westwood Elementary School – First through fifth graders will learn to solve problem using the 4 Cs: communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity.