Foundation Gifts Fund 6 Programs in GP Schools

Teachers throughout the distirct will return to their classrooms today and at least a handful will have funding to implement new programs after the approved their applications.

The Foundation presented the grants to the Grosse Pointe Public School Board this week for their approval. The grants will cover the cost of implementing six programs plus an additional in kind donation. The total amount of grant dollars is $26,761, of which $24,711 goes to support a specific new program applied for by a teacher.

The grants include:

• $4,900 for the Peer-to-Peer program at , and High Schools, and and elementaries. The program aims to educate students about special needs learners to help achieve more natural interaction among the students.
• $12,800 for the Cozy Corner at Barnes Early Childhood and Education Center. This will help in development of an interactive sensory classroom for children on with developmental sensory problems.
• Two grants for $1,393 each will fund the FAST Spelling program for first and second graders at and elementaries. This is the second phase of a pilot program.
• $225 for a pilot program at Kerby Elementary for the FISH Philosphy for the Classroom teacher education. The education aims to help teachers develop strategies for larger classroom sizes
• $4,000 will provide start-up funding for a program at North High School that will incorporate the operation of the school store into the business curriculum and provide students with hands-on experience to apply their classroom developed knowledge.

In addition to the grants, the Foundation also gave an in kind donation of $2,050 to the district. All of the gifts and donation were approved by the school board.