The Lemont High School Educational Foundation has committed to supporting five grants for a total of $30,000 for the 2008-09 school year. The Foundation is funding in full or in part five Educational Foundation Grants, with a stipulation that the funds provided for the projects must be used during the 2008-09 school year. Included among the 2008-09 Educational Foundation Grants are the following proposals:
• Enhancing Mathematics Instruction with Tablet PC’s
• Using 21st Century Literacy Skills to Improve Science Comprehension
• Mission Possible
• AMP Graphing Calculators
• Motivational Speaker - The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens
A complete description of these grants, with recipient information and the amount awarded, may be found on the subsequent page.
Lemont High School teachers submitted 15 proposals for 2008-09 Educational Foundation Grants, requesting nearly $200,000.
The Foundation awarded its first grants - Charter Year Educational Foundation Grants - in December, and less than a year into its existence, has already committed to supporting $50,000 in grants for Lemont High School teachers.
The Lemont High School Educational Foundation provides revenue and support to Lemont High School in order to enhance educational opportunities and enrich the overall experience for its students. The Foundation operates independently from the school, yet fosters the district’s ongoing and systemic efforts to attain the next level of success in all areas of a comprehensive high school education for all students.
The Foundation’s mission is to partner with the community to make lasting improvements to Lemont High School that will enhance the total educational experience for all of its students. Its desire is to fund and support programs and opportunities that aid students’ growth, both academically and as citizens of the Lemont community.
The Foundation is a not-for-profit 501 (c) (3) charitable organization. All gifts to the Foundation are tax-deductible to the extent provided by the law.
2008-09 Educational Foundation Grants
“Enhancing Mathematics Instruction with Tablet PC’s”
Funded at $21,775 — proposal by Kristen Carvell, Erin Hitchcock & Kathy Young
Each Lemont High School student is required to take three years of mathematics courses, and most students enroll in at least four years. A pilot program two years ago placed a tablet PC and projector in each teacher’s classroom so that technology could be incorporated into lessons; this year, teachers were issued new tablet PC’s, and the original tablets have been used in another pilot program for student use. This grant will help purchase a number of new tablet PC’s for students to continue to utilize this technology in the classroom. Using these advances helps to make material more interesting and better understood, and also assists students who are having difficulty in class experience success.
“Using 21st Century Literacy Skills to Improve Science Comprehension”
Funded at $1,000 — proposal by Tim Plotke
The tablet PC’s purchased through the “Enhancing Mathematics Instruction with Tablet PC’s” will be shared by the Mathematics and Science Departments, and specifically utilized for anatomy and zoology courses, while the funding in this proposal will be used to purchase a color printer. Students in anatomy and zoology currently rely on dissection to locate and identify particular organs within the body, and in turn draw specimens and label the parts. Through this proposal, students will utilize tablet PC’s and digital photography to import images from a camera, label the images and make notations electronically. Labs will be saved digitally and submitted to the instructor electronically, breathing new life into academic content and engaging students with challenging and intellectual work.
“Mission Possible”
Funded at $1,800 — proposal by Dave Clark
The primary aim of the student-led Mission Possible organization is to make Lemont High School a better place by, among other ideals, honoring and respecting the rights of others, encouraging all members of the school community to take responsible actions, and recognizing that today’s actions affect the future. Mission Possible sponsors a number of activities annually, including but not limited to Hometown Heroes Night, Red Ribbon Week, a winter holiday fundraiser, Mission Possible/Winter Spirit Week, School Bus Driver Appreciation Week, a Senior Citizen Dinner and an End-of-Year Backpack collection. Materials for these events will be funded through the grant.
“AMP Graphing Calculators”
Funded at $2,000 — proposal by Dan Cozzo, Brent Gagnon & Kelly Collins-Bunn
Next fall, Lemont High School will implement a new initiative - the Academic Mastery Program (AMP) - to meet the needs of students who consistently fail courses, have no recognizable learning disability and have not been successful through traditional intervention programs. AMP will feature modified academic instruction in a self-contained classroom. Each AMP student will be required to take courses in mathematics and science, all of which rely on scientific calculators. A set of TI-84 graphing calculators will be purchased in order for students to engage in daily assignments without the need to purchase a calculator or bring one to class.
“Motivational Speaker - The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens”
Funded at $3,425 — proposal by Sharon Jacobs
Each summer, all Lemont High School students are required to read the school’s “One Book, One School” selection, and next fall, a guest speaker will help to drive home the lessons of their reading assignment, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Teens. Gary McGuey, a motivational speaker from the Franklin-Covey Institute, will engage parents and students in a series of assemblies over a two-day period, helping to inspire students to gain control of their lives, improve relationships with family and friends, increase self confidence, make smarter decisions, define their values, prioritize their goals and find balance in their lives. Students, parents and faculty and staff will all be motivated to be the best they can be in all aspects of their lives, and to become effective and productive problem solvers.