Special Grants
Photograph by MsDetta, Inc.
Northwest Indiana World Trade Council's Annual Gala
Each year, approximately ten to twenty Munster High School
students are able to participate in this after-school program due to
the grant which purchased eleven African drums, educational materials and
accessories.
For more information, please also read the "Drumming
up interest in music" article on the Media page.
This state-of-the-art technology uses live weather information to bring real world meaning to all subject areas (including science, math, language, arts, history, and geography) while fostering a strong awareness of our changing environment and is a hands-on learning tool for the students and Munster High School. This is the grant mentioned on our Home page.
The Project Peace Team at Wilbur Wright Middle School strives to eliminate teasing and taunting and to foster a school atmosphere where students feel physically and emotionally safe. Students learn to manage conflict before it escalates into violence and to develop and practice communication and interpersonal skills.
Funds for this project helped to purchase a Cassablanca Avio Pro Digital Video Editor. This editor (with software appropriate for an educational setting) enables staff and students at Frank H. Hammond Elementary School to film, record, edit, enhance and digitally render video projects and effects. This program addresses the technology and communication needs the students will have in the future and also has a direct impact on learning in the areas of social studies, writing, reading, comprehension and analysis of oral and media communciations.
Outside speakers help Munster High School students to become more aware of the realities that those who are "different" must confront.
Grant was for early childhood special education needs at Frank H Hammond Elementary School and provided the funds to purchase eleven backpacks, each of which contain a written guided play activity sheet for parents, a book, children's music CD, an assistive communication device, manipulatives and an assistive language play sheet.
Curricular materials helped Eads students with four concepts fundamental to an understanding of politics and government: Authority, Privacy, Responsibility and Justice. This project helps students to understand the conflict of ideas and how to resolve them peacefully, as well as examining the needs and rights of individuals versus the needs and rights of society as a whole.
Requested by an Eads parent, the goals of this club are to educate students on the importance of environmental awareness, to create a better environment for everyone in the community, and to have fun while doing it. This grant helped to purchase plants and bubls, stepping stones, birdhouse supplies, garbage receptacles and craft supplies.
C.L.A.S.S.: Connecting Learning Assures Successful Students
Staff at Eads attend workshops in the areas of climate, community, and curriculum, and then implement the concepts they learned in order to provide: (1) a school climate that reflects respect for everyone; (2) a school community which a connection to the real world; and (3) a school curriculum that correlates with the Indiana State Standards and uses brain compatible learning.Teachers meet periodically to discuss ideas, concepts and implementation strategies.
Third grade students at Eads attended a full-day session at the planetarium dome at the Challenger Learning Center to learn about the solar system including the constellations. Students using a media globe, became young astronomers, observing the sky and journeying into the solar system. They also viewed images of the Hubble Space Telescope and saw "Fantastic Space." Students then completed an evaluation based on the activities of the day.
Implemented at Elliott Elementary School, Wiggle Works is a system that teaches reading, vocabulary, listening, speaking and writing skills. This program has been shown to significantly raise reading scores.
Wisla, a world renowned ensemble of 30 constumed dancers and instrumentalists from Plock, Poland, performed for the students at Eads and Elliott Elementary Schools. The Wisla performance brings culture and Fine Arts from another country to the students and helps them to understand the integrative nature of many art forms, including dance, visual art, music and theater.