The Appleton Education Foundation board of directors recently approved 21 grants totaling more than $23,000 to creatively enhance education for students in the Appleton Area School District.
All funding is from the Appleton Education Foundation Fund, unless otherwise noted.
Appleton Area School District
- $2,940 to pilot coding and robotics programs for kindergarten and first grade.
- $497.02 to support the pilot of Storybook STEM for kindergarten and first grade.
- The above pilots will inform AASD’s curriculum decisions for elementary STEM Labs beginning in the 2024-25 school year.
Appleton Central
- $2,800 to support classroom movement options.
Appleton East High School
- $400 for cooking materials to benefit students in the special education department. Students will learn life skills to help increase independence. (Funding provided by the Betsy Melzer Endowment Fund within AEF.)
Appleton West High School
- $2,000 to purchase a table saw for the theatre department to increase set-building opportunities for students. (Funding provided by the Vira and Alan Stoner Education Fund within AEF.)
- $394.31 to ensure all graduates have a gown to wear for graduation; allowing them to participate in the graduation ceremony and feel proud of their accomplishment. (Funding provided by the AEF Fund and Scheuerman Family Fund within AEF.)
Madison Middle School
- $250 for 3D printer filament to use as an incentive for reading and other library challenges.
Janet Berry Elementary School
- $520.06 for math manipulatives for a 2nd/3rd grade classroom.
- $400 to purchase drums for the music program. The drums are particularly accessible and engaging for students with special needs. (Funding provided by the Betsy Melzer Endowment Fund within AEF.)
- $200.41 for math games to help struggling students develop math fluency skills.
Columbus Elementary School
- $462.96 to purchase Zenimal Mindfulness Meditation devices for use in special education classrooms. (Funding provided by the Betsy Melzer Endowment and Bob and Gerri Heffron Family Endowment funds within AEF.)
Ferber Elementary School
- $309.32 for a multi-sensory manipulative tool kit – including sound boxes, slider chips, whisper phones, etc. – to help struggling students build literacy knowledge through visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and tactile instruction.
Foster Elementary School
- $3,000 for staff professional development around the math curriculum shift to Illustrative Math.
Franklin Elementary School
- $200 for read-aloud books to be used at the conclusion of physical education classes. Books will focus on sportsmanship, perseverance, hygiene, etc.
Highlands Elementary School
- $500 to purchase Tchoukball equipment. Tchoukball is an international game combining handball and basketball.
Houdini Elementary School
- $485 to publish a student-written book, “Spud the Positive Potato.” (Funding provided by the Scheuerman Family Fund within AEF.)
Johnston Elementary School
- $1,503 for Shoebox Tasks for the special education department. Tasks are designed to help students build independence and confidence while creating good academic routines.
McKinley Elementary School
- $672.83 for books to support the youth advocate and dean as they work with students who struggle with challenging behaviors and self-regulation skills.
Richmond Elementary School
- $499.99 to purchase audio storytelling machines (Tonieboxes) for Kindergarten classrooms to support independent, student-led storytelling.
Community Early Learning Center of the Fox Valley
- $3,000 to create Family Mindfulness Kits for AASD 4K students and families involved in the Kindness Project at Bridges Child Enrichment Center and Head Start. (Funding provided by the AEF Fund and John Mielke and Sally Morey Mielke Early Education Fund within AEF.)
UW-Oshkosh – Wisconsin Mariachi Academia Popular
- $1,988 to increase awareness and appreciation of Mariachi music. This program is organized by the Chicana/o & Latinx Studies Program of UW-Oshkosh. AEF funding will support three professional development events for AASD teachers and one Mariachi concert open to students and families.
