WLSEF Grant Program Continues to Assist Teachers in Educating our Children

The West Lafayette Schools Education Foundation has been awarding teacher grants since 2007.  In the ensuing 14 years, just under $100,000 has been granted to several dozens of teachers, enhancing and enriching the educational experience for students from kindergarten through high school in all curricula areas – music, art, science, history, literacy, and more.

These grants are funded entirely by the generous donations of WLCSC patrons, alumni, parents, and other friends of the corporation.

Here are some words of thanks from recent grant recipients:

Sue Stan, on behalf of the entire West Lafayette Intermediate School staff, received a grant for her “Virtual Field Trips to the Children’s Museum.”  Mrs. Stan writes:

I am very grateful for this grant because it was able to help fill the void of face-to-face field trips.  This grant purchased an all school access to online programs offered by the Children’s Museum in Indianapolis.  One of the programs was a Native American Festival.  This program provided the students the opportunity to learn about the different Native American cultures in the United States.  It also provided each of the students with materials to create projects that represented each of these cultures. 

In addition to the above experience, they also had a winter play about the origins of Santa, activities on Paleontology and Fossils, Creative Wednesday ideas, and presentations about Ryan White, Ann Frank, and Rosa Parks.  I cannot thank the donors enough for their generosity.  It provided the students with OUTSIDE experiences even though we enjoyed them from INSIDE or ONLINE.  THANKS!

High school English teacher, Marydel Forbes, received a grant which brought an award-winning young adult author to the school.  She writes:

Thanks to the generosity of the West Lafayette Schools Education Foundation, young adult author Jay Coles visited the jr./sr. high school last spring to share about his journey to publication and read an excerpt from his young adult novel, Tyler Johnson was Here. Afterward, they lined up to request autographed copies of his book and chat. Students emerged from Coles’ address knowing that not only can they overcome adversity, they can reach for their dreams and make them happen if they are tenacious enough. Teachers emerged knowing that the speech had resonated with their classes. It wouldn’t have happened without WLSEF. Thank you. 

Grant recipient and high school chemistry teacher, Jane Schott, writes:

Having wireless temperature probes in our lab has been a game changer!  Students can monitor temperature changes on their wireless devices and instantaneously produce graphs to analyze.  The time we save is now used for discussion and analysis at the conclusion of an experiment.  Previously this analysis was done at home or the next day, and that never had the same impact as what I am witnessing this year.  Thanks!

Fellow high school science teacher, Rebecca Gwin, also received a grant to help bring lab work into the 21^st century.  She writes:

The GoDirect Gas Pressure Sensors were better than imagined! Students were able to have a safe, collaborative, and engaging experience back in the Lab through using the sensors. The wireless connectivity and easy to use app lowered barriers to learning while allowing all students the ability to interact with the equipment, content, and each other.