AAPSEF Announces Initiatives for Excellence Grants to School District

The Board of Directors of the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation has neared completion of its review of grant proposals from the AAPS administration, and has determined to fund the following programs for the 2010-2011 academic year as part of its Initiatives for Excellence:

Elementary Enrichment Coordinators ($55,220) This is the second year of AAPSEF funding for a program which brings cohesion and best-practices planning to our district’s use of curriculum-enhancing activities.  Elementary Enrichment Coordinators work with each of our elementary school clusters (the group of schools that feed a middle school) and examine current activities.  They then work with building administrators and classroom teachers to bring greater depth to the curriculum through academic games, hands-on classroom activities, field trips and connections to higher education resources.  For a look at last year’s activities in this program, click here.

Environmental Science Program ($35,479) This program, established in the early 1960’s, is one of the oldest environmental science programs in public school history.  It has a broad scope, touching points in the school curriculum from grades one through six.  Specifically, AAPSEF funds will be used to support field trips related to the program for children at all 21 AAPS elementary schools.  The cost breakdown of the trips is simplified here: Kensington Metropark, first grades, $16,286; Gravel Pit and Life Cycles, second grades, $5,464 and $2,319; and Hydrology and Planetarium, sixth grades, $11,410. To learn more about the environmental education program, click here.  Photo: Teacher Bill Stapp leads students in hands-on observation of nature in the early years.

ACT’s EXPLORE and PLAN Assessments ($22,000) Used as a tool to prepare students for the Michigan Merit Exam, the EXPLORE assessment will be administered to all eighth graders and the PLAN assessment will be administered to all tenth graders.  These tests help students find their academic strengths and weaknesses, and focus on their career inclinations at the outset and midway-point of high school.  The premise is that these assessments help guide students in career choice and course preparation for college or other postsecondary work.  Guidance staff then coordinates meetings with parents to help interpret the results.  For more information, click here.

5^th Grade Instrumental Music Program ($10,000) All AAPS 5^th graders have the opportunity to experience instrumental music hands-on.  Our award-winning high school music programs build on this early foundation.  Most importantly, this program ensures access to the best in music education for all students at all schools.  In Ann Arbor Public Schools, no one is left out because of an inability to pay for private music lessons.  AAPSEF funding will support the repair of musical instruments for fifth grade students for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Our Board of Directors is continuing research into other district program applications and will determine additional funding this month. Because of the generous support of the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation’s donors, we’re able to make substantially larger contributions to our District this year.  Thank you!

Educational Foundation’s Grants to Teachers Announced

Each fall, students enter classrooms in Ann Arbor where some of the most committed, energetic and exceptional teachers wait to greet them – teachers that have been preparing all summer for their learning.  Within the first month of school, many of our teachers submit grant applications to the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation for support for projects during the upcoming academic year.  

This fall, AAPSEF received 61 applications, which were then reviewed by our 9-member volunteer Grants Review Committee.  28 projects were awarded funding, impacting an estimated 7,584 students at 21 Ann Arbor schools (for a complete awards list, click here).  The maximum amount of funding per grant is $1,000; several projects received funding at the maximum amount.  Total funding from AAPSEF for the fall grant cycle is $22,606.

Projects funded include creation of a mural at Skyline High school; installation of a garden at Roberto Clemente; additions to the science collection for K-5 grades at Carpenter Elementary school’s library; the purchase of West African percussion instruments for Ann Arbor Open; summer learning programs at Haisley and Lawton Elementary schools, among others.  Some grant awards are for next-step phases of projects, such as the Scarlett Bands Clinic/Remix Day, where local musicians spend a day at Scarlett working individually with students of their instrument.  Other projects, such as the Huron High School Science Extravaganza Day, are traditions that have been building their own history.  Extravaganza Day, in its fourth year of funding, introduces hundreds of fifth grade students to the world of high school science with hands-on physics experiments led by Huron High students.  The idea is to inspire fifth graders to be excited about science classes offered in middle school, and thus prepare for high school courses in the subject.

Ann Arbor Open’s music teacher, Dan Tolly, received funding for West African percussion ensemble instruments.  According to Tolly, “The support of the Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation allows educators to take our craft to a whole new level.  The grant money received gives us the chance to bring the world to our students.”

Pictured: Skyline High School students Jessica Knight and Allie Lang conduct a chemistry experiment funded through a spring 2010 grant application by teacher Kathe Hetter, “How Green is My Orange?”   To view the PowerPoint report on this project, click here.

Thanks for the memories

Our sincere thanks to AAPSEF supporters who came out and paid tribute to departing Superintendent Dr. Todd Roberts at this year’s annual Harvest Dinner on October 20^th.  It was a warm and memorable gathering, and a wonderful send-off to a leader who gave great service to our public schools.

Over 100 attendees enjoyed fabulous food from Chef Alex Young of Zingerman’s Roadhouse.  State Representative (soon State Senator) Rebekah Warren and education advocate Norman Herbert spoke about the impact of Dr. Roberts’ tenure in Ann Arbor.

AAPSEF Board Members Laurie Barnett and Sheila Carpenter served as Co-Chairs of the Harvest Dinner. Thanks to their commitment of energy and time, over $6,600 was raised for organizational support for AAPSEF. In addition, more than $5,000 was raised for the endowment fund.  We’re also grateful to Skyline teacher Tom Pachera, who loaned his personal sound system for the evening.   To view photos from the Harvest Dinner, click here.

Foundation Sponsors Life After High School November 18

Ann Arbor Public Schools Educational Foundation is proud to be a sponsor of Life After High School, a free evening for high school students and parents of high school students with learning disabilities to explore their options for post-secondary education.  The event will be hosted at Community High School, 401 N. Division Street on Thursday, November 18, from 6:30 PM -8:30 PM.   Attendees can meet with counselors and recruiters from schools and organizations that offer resources for students with learning disabilities. 

Other sponsors of the event include the Ann Arbor Public Schools Student Intervention and Support Services Department, the Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation, and Zingerman’s Community of Businesses Foundation.  To download an event flier, click here.