Connecting Schools With Great Fundraising Ideas.

Over the past four years the Lowe’s Toolbox for Education program has provided more than $17 million to almost 4,000 schools across the country. They don’t just choose a few schools either. Lowe’s will provide grants to public schools and public school parent teacher groups – at more than 1,000 different schools earch school year.

Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation (LCEF) knows how hard you work for your kids and your community and we’re dedicated to helping your parent-teacher group achieve even more for your school. Apply for our Toolbox for Education Grant now and build on your already impressive parent group success with Lowe’s.

Click here to see if you are eligible!

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School supplies– from pens to paper and curriculum materials–are essential to learning.  With the economy and budget cuts it has been tough for many schools to provide the supplies needed. The Tools for Teaching contest sponsored by Catalogs.com and eNasco.com can help teachers face this challenge. Participants have the opportunity to win up to $2,500 in school supplies for their classrooms.

All you have to do is go to the website www.catalogs.com/teachers and answer the question: “Why does your class deserve to win a gift certificate from eNasco.com and how will you put the school supplies to good use?”

This contest runs through runs through Wednesday, September 30, 2009.  Tell all the teachers you know to sign up for this contest.  They could win some great materials to outfit the class for the school year!

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Last week we began announcing the winners of the Fall 2008 Grant award program.  Today I’d like to recognize the final school that will be getting a grant, plus five runners up.  Coincidentally it’s another North Carolina School.  This time it’s the elementary school in Wadesboro.

I’ll write a special article for Wadesboro as well as each of the honorable mention schools soon.  For now here is a list of all of the schools that won.

Congratulations!

Grants awarded to these schools:

1. Fuller GT Magnet Elementary in Raleigh, NC – $2000 for 5th Grade trip to Washington DC
2. P.S. 168/M.S. 203 in Bronx, New York – $2000 for computers
3. Wadesboro Elementary School, Wadesboro, NC – $1500 for science lab equipment

These schools are recognized with an Honorable Mention. Each will receive $100 toward their project:

1. STAR Prep Academy, Culver City, CA – Computers
2. Loma Verde Elementary, Novato, CA – Elmo projector
3. Poinsettia Elementary, Carlsbad CA – Library books
4. Tattnall Square Academy, Macon, GA – Active slates
5. Will Rogers Learning Community (Elementary), Santa Monica, CA – Art Projects

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I am happy to announce the next award recipient is P.S. 168/M.S. 203 in Bronx, New York.  This school serves children from Kindergarten to 12th grade who have disabilities, such as autism, emotional disturbances and learning disabilities.   Many of these students also face other personal struggles as well.  95% of the students are on the free or reduced lunch program.

Teacher Nicole Sivilich who applied for the grant said, “Students with these disabilities are more likely to learn using computer technology over the standard lecture classroom teaching. We would like to see more of our students increase their social and learning skills using technolgy.”

Unfortunately this school is severely lacking in working computers.   High school grade students need computers for preparing for state tests, doing research and writing papers. Children in grades K-2 use a reading program called Preventing Academic Failure and practice basic reading concepts like sight words. While this $2000 grant may only provide a few computers, the school is also applying for other grants as well.

Teachers and administrators at Bronx schools have shown resourcefulness in other areas as well. 23% percent of schools in the Bronx are without a gym or safe area to have physical education.   Some schools are doing fundraising on their own to get a gym while others like PS 168 are using other available facilities.

The Sports & Arts in Schools Foundation (SASF), a non-profit based in Queens, which has received funding from the City Council to connect schools with nearby – and often underutilized – community centers. In the 2007-08 school year, the program served 2,000 students from 40 schools in Brooklyn and Queens. And in December, two Bronx schools – PS 168 on Morris Avenue and PS 754 on Jackson Avenue – enrolled. Students are bused to Bronxdale Community Center on Rosedale Avenue in Soundview, where they play basketball and other sports in what is a state of the art gymnasium.

From: Educators Seek New Ways to Put Physical Education on the Menu

Just like with the challenge of providing physical education and play time, Principal Rosa Nieves Greene and her staff are being resourceful to get the technology to aid student learning in the classroom.  Congratulations P.S. 168/M.S. 203; may you be encouraged in the great work you are doing to help children in your community!

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I’m pleased to announce that the first recipient of the Top School Fundraisers grant program is Fuller GT Magnet Elementary in Raleigh, NC. The fifth grade class is planning their first school trip to Washington, D.C. They have been doing fundraising all year in order go on this trip. They’ve had a movie night, sold donuts, sold coupon books and even Jim’s favorite, the bake sale.

Parent volunteer Julie Henry, who also works for the local NBC station, helped students create this video:

This Top School Fundraisers grant in the amount of $2000 will provide scholarships to students, so that every child in the class will be able to go on this trip. Congratulations fifth graders and have a wonderful time in DC!

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