NEW in 2015:
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Grant #1: Hear Me! Hear Me! i Can Read, Write, & Spell!
Campus: All Campuses Amount: $3,000.00 Grades: 1st-12th Student Impact: 120 Subject(s): Dyslexia Therapy: Reading, Writing, Spelling Written By: CISD Dyslexia Dept.: Gay Lyn Hendrik, Donna Hill, Sheri Leamon, Phyllis Reagan Description: Dyslexia is a disorder of neurological origin, characterized by poor reading and spelling; which the underlying cause is weak phonological processing. In our therapy classes, we utilize multisensory techniques to build and strengthen these phonological processing skills. Though this grant, we would like to build upon our program by adding two proven multi-sensory training devices to help our students improve their reading and writing skills. Grant #2: Exploring Electronic Music Through MIDI Campus: Corsicana High School Amount: $3,000.00 Grades: 9th-12th Student Impact: 150 Subject(s): Electronic Music Written By: Mike Huffstetler Description: In order to allow more students opportunities to explore music, I am trying to establish an Electronic Music Course that will allow students to not only compose music, but mix existing music in a style that is relevant to today’s students. This will be done using both live and preexisting sounds in MIDI format using software and hardware accessible to the students. Grant #3: Rekenrek: A Visual Model for Strategic Reasoning in Math Grant Given in Honor of: Zane Stites Educational Grant Campus: All Elementaries Amount: $4,752.00 Grades: Kindergarten Student Impact: 449 Subject(s): Math Written By: Robin Corbett, All District Kindergarten Teachers Description: The rekenrek is an arithmetic rack that was developed at the Freudenthal Institute in Holland. It was designed to support natural mathematical development in children and to help them learn a variety of addition and subtraction strategies. Students can use the rekenrek to develop computation skills and to solve contextual problems. The rekenrek supports the young learner with the visual models needed to discover number relationships and develop automaticity. This number fluency is a crucial foundation for mathematic success in upper grades. Grant #4: Interactive Learning: Come to Life Campus: Bowie Elementary Amount: $2,724.00 Grades: Kindergarten Student Impact: 115 Subject(s): English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies Written By: Laura Ackley, Guadalupe Aguilar, Jennifer Hill, Abigail Lavene, Description: Interactive Learning: Come to Life has limitless applications to the classroom setting. Kindergarten instructional time is highly driven by learning stations and centers. While the teacher is working with a small group, students are engaged in learning activities independently. In English and Language Arts (ELAR), 7" FunTab Pro Kid Safe Tablets will provide emerging readers with the opportunity to interact with the stories independently. Students will use applications from the FunTab to play ABC games that develop phonemic awareness, blending, letter recognition, and letter sound identification. Gone are the days in which students flip through the pages of paperback books without engaging in the stories. Gone are the days of students ripping up laminated centers. In Math, students can use math applications to practice numbers, basic arithmetic, shapes, puzzles, and any other math related concept. The tablets will be used daily during the Daily 5 section or our ELA block and during math centers. Interactive Learning: Come to Life is an innovative way for students to practice reading independently, spelling, arithmetic, and other academic concepts. Grant #5: Read On! Grant Given in Honor of: Eleanor Thornell English/Language Arts Grant Campus: Collins Middle School Amount: $3,405.00 Grades: 7th Student Impact: 450 Subject(s): English Language Arts Written By: Kimi Muldner, Kimberly Berry, Denise Goodrich Description: CEF graciously awarded STARRT and READ ON grants to CHS which have been extremely successful. These grants were based on research that indicates that the use of high-interest, award-winning, contemporary novels can create readers out of any student, even the most reluctant readers. The use of such novels is all the more vital in the middle school years. “There are few tasks more challenging than reaching struggling middle school readers…These students not only have a history of reading failure, they have developed attitudes and coping strategies which lead them to avoid, rather than fix, their reading problems” (Rog, Lori and Paul Kropp. Hooking Struggling Readers Using Books They Can and Want to Read. http://www.readingrockets.org/article/hooking-struggling-readers-using-books-they-can-and-want-read Grant #6: Light Up Math III Grant Given in Honor of: Glenn & Patt Sodd Grant Campus: Drane Intermediate Amount: $2,600.00 Grades: 6th Student Impact: 100 Subject(s): Math Written By: Math Department Description: We would like to continue our program for incoming struggling students to help make them successful in the math classroom. Students can be prepared for a strong start in their math classes with the use of technology to instill in them their multiplication/division facts, and reinforce their skills in addition/subtraction. These students will enter the school year with more confidence, which will result in greater success. Five math teachers will work with one hundred students for 4 days prior to the start of the school year. We will use new strategies and new technology to reinforce 5th grade TEKS so that struggling students will be better prepared to begin the 6th grade. Grant #7: Winter Guard - Exending the Beauty From One Season into the Next Campus: Corsicana High School Amount: $2,250.00 Grades: 9th-12th Student Impact: 35 Subject(s): Band Written By: Bre Osbourn Description: The Corsicana High School Band has a very strong color guard program that rivals some of the strongest 5A and 6A schools in Texas. It adds a visual representation of the music to our marching shows and gives our students a chance to use dance, auxiliary tools and drama to enhance their love of musical performance. Winter Guard provides a color guard circuit that gives these students a chance to compete against other guards in the state in competitions that are just for guard while allowing them to continue enhancing their skills throughout the non-marching season. Grant #8: Band Training Grant Campus: Corsicana High School Amount: $1,750.00 Grades: 9th-12th Student Impact: 130 Subject(s): Band Written By: Bre Osbourn, Jeff Osbourn, Ricky Hinton, Brandon Nelson Description: An organization is only as good as the foundation and environment that is provided by its members and leaders. We will help our ensemble advance into a higher level of thinking, competition and student-ownership by training our leaders, and then our ensemble, in how to properly, positively and efficiently rehearse, perform and compete in the large varsity sector. This will help our students to take more personal pride in the product by helping to create it themselves. Upper level ensembles in our competitive category send their student s to leadership camps or bring clinicians to train their entire band, thus they are able to adapt training to their specific program’s needs. This helps in maximizing training time by relating it to points of rehearsal that students are familiar with in their specific environment. Providing this opportunity for our ensemble will give them another skill set to help them to move to higher level of success both competitively and personally. Grant #9: Shadows in the Dark Grant Given in Honor of: Leah Dill Blackard Arts Grant Campus: Corsicana High School Amount: $3,456.00 Grades: 9th-12th Student Impact: 6000 Subject(s): Fine Arts (Theatre, Dance, Band, Choir) Written By: Gloria McLuckie, Abraham Ramirez, Brittany Lassiter, Mike Hufstetler, Bre Osbourn Description: As the CISD Auditorium continues to evolve and upgrade to the 21st century, the next element needed, is the cyclorama. A staple in all new theatres, specially 5A school districts, is the cyclorama (cyc). This white drape is hung at the back of the stage area. It has many different purposes, including; special effects with shadows, lighting from the back for people behind the cyc, different colors during performances, and creating moods and locations during performances, using slides, power points, and innovative technology. It could also be used to show movies. We will use it for school plays, concerts, recitals, and special guest artists. All Navarro County community members will benefit from this new staple of the CISD Auditorium. Our students will add a new element to their portfolio as they will have more modern equipment to design and use during performing. Grant #10: Taking the Farm to the City Grant Given in Honor of: Cargo Craft Grant Campus: All elementaries, Drane, CMS Amount: $4,000.00 Grades: K-8th Student Impact: 4000 Subject(s): Vocational Agriculture Mechanics, Science, English, Math, Digital Multimedia Written By: Larry Acock, Debra Berry, Jennifer Cabano, Jody Dragoo, Audrey Cain, Holly Myers Description: Application is being made for this grant funding in order to frame and utilize a contemporary greenhouse. This greenhouse will touch students across nine grade levels, giving prominence to cross-curricular learning across at least five subject areas. The goal of this modern greenhouse is to increase student awareness of a working example of our sustainable society. The program is grounded in community involvement encompassing over 4000 students, hundreds of educators, and the cooperation of community members countywide. Students will retain a deeper understanding of the positive impact we can have on our environment and the future availability of natural resources. |
Grant #11: New Adventures in Percussion Performance
Campus: Collins Middle School & Corsicana High School Amount: $2,000.00 Grades: 7th-12th Student Impact: 300 Subject(s): Band Written By: Brandon Nelson Description: Students would travel to two percussion contests, one for drumline and one for concert percussion, where they would perform in a competition and receive 15 to 45 minute lessons from the judges. The judges are master teachers from across the country. Students would also observe other schools’ performance and lesson experiences. These events would challenge our students with new levels of personal responsibility and teamwork. Also, students will experience an enriching competition where they would see other great percussion groups perform and be taught, and they will learn from some of the best music educators in the country.Grant #12: Researching the Right Way Campus: Navarro Elementary Amount: $995.00 Grades: K-3rd Student Impact: 400 Subject(s): Earth and Space Science, Animal Science, Social Studies, and Biographies Written By: Mary Lou Smith, Sara Lewis, Alexdandra Diamantopolous, Sara Hayes, Lori Cotten Description: Due to the need in our school for a technology-based research tool for emergent readers, we have been using PebbleGo.com. PebbleGo.com is a database that allows students to do research safely and on their reading level. For ELL and non-readers, PebbleGo.com reads the information to the student. Secondly, this program emphasizes vocabulary, utilizes color pictures, and is early elementary student user friendly. Thirdly, PebbleGo.com is an excellent, innovative supplement to the CSCOPE K-3 science and social studies curriculum. It also addresses ELAR TEKS for writing and research by scaffolding student research skills. These skills include locating information, gathering data, proper format, and citing sources. Lastly, PebbleGo.com is student accessible from school and home from via the Corsicana ISD website. Grant #13: STEMulating Learning in an Outdoor Environment, Phase II Grant Given in Honor of: Guardian Industries Grant Campus: Fannin Elementary Amount: $2,500.00 Grades: K-5th Student Impact: 650 Subject(s): Science, Math, Reading, Literature, Writing, Health, Social Studies, Gifted & Talented, Special Education, Deaf Education Written By: Cheryl Pratt & Patti Smith Description: The 21st century child has so many advantages that prior generations did not even dream of…Technology he can hold in his hand (or on his wrist), the ability to instantly communicate with others halfway across the world, the opportunity to interact with and play against other gamers simultaneously, as well as having access to insurmountable numbers of movies, as well as never-ending music choices… Unfortunately, the complacent child can get so involved in his “advantages,” that the only way he sees the sun come up or a bluebird fly is on his videos. In an era when society desperately needs innovative thinkers, problem solvers, and explorers, so many children are letting life pass them by as they sit in their rooms and “vegetate.” What better way to get kids excited about Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, than to bring them outside and let them explore and learn with “nature?” Grant #14: Special Effects? We Got 'Em! Campus: Fannin Elementary Amount: $1,226.00 Grades: K-5th Student Impact: 650 Subject(s): Music/Theater Written By: Cindy McCary Description: This grant includes special effect equipment needed to enhance performances and add that special “touch of class” to our programs. In addition, the Science behind how the machines and mirrors work moves us into a full blown Science lesson. Many of our music programs require equipment that we don’t have. I have previously been borrowing from different sources outside of CISD to give our students a quality program. The students get really excited when the special effects are put in place and they rise to the occasion and performances are excellent. The special effects spark their interest in how the special effect is created and leads us into a lesson on the process. This grant also provides exposure to basic tools for theater. Grant #15: Today's Champions, Tomorrow's Leaders Grant Given in Honor of: Elizabeth Park McClung Grant Campus: Bowie Elementary Amount: $2,600.00 Grades: 5th Student Impact: 120 Subject(s): Leadership, Character, Service, Entrepreneur Written By: Cynthia Johnson,Lindsay Olsen, Heather Hill, Jamie Fowler, Kassie Gaines Description: We would like to enhance our 5th grade Champs Program by following our mission statement: Service with pride, Lead with confidence, Inspire to impact lives! We feel that helping students learn and grow to be good leaders is a lifelong skill that not only impacts their future, but can impact countless other lives as well. The 5th grade Champ’s program has been in place for two years now, but we would like to grow the program and make it even better! With money granted to us we can provide unforgettable life experiences and make a difference in countless lives! Grant #16: Saved by the Bells Campus: Carroll Elementary Amount: $1,513.00 Grades: 1st-5th Student Impact: 572 Subject(s): Fine Arts Written By: LaReese Arnold Description: I am applying for a Corsicana Education Foundation grant to fund tone chimes and hand/desk bell sets for my first through fifth grade students. The chimes and bells will be used to enhance the teaching of musical concepts such as reading notes, rhythms and musical symbols. I will also use the chimes to form a special bell group (or groups) who learn more complex pieces and perform publicly. I believe that students will benefit in many other areas of their cognitive, spatial, and social development. The impact of learning to play a musical instrument is almost immeasurable because off all the areas of life music touches. Thank you for your consideration. Grant #17: Who's Who in the Library? Grant Given in Honor of: Eleanor Thornell English/Language Arts Grant Campus: Navarro Elementary Amount: $3,500.00 Grades: K-5th Student Impact: 350 Subject(s): All Written By: Connie L. Wilson Description: At the end of the 2013-2014 school year, the library’s Biography section had an average age of 1995, or 19 years. According to School Library Programs: Standards and Guidelines for Texas (https://www.tsl.texas.gov/ld/schoollibs/sls/stand3.html), the “Acceptable” age for a library collection is less than 15 years. Recognized status is less than 13 years, and Exemplary is less than 11 years. After weeding out aged titles, the average age of the Biographies is now 2001 (14 years average age), but only contains 404 titles, well below the Recognized recommendation of 819 titles, or 7% of the overall collection, as recommended by Follett Titlewave. Grant #18: Sam Houston Principal's Grant Grant Given in Honor of: Kohl's Associates in Action Grant Campus: Sam Houston Elementary Amount: $500.00 Description: The Kohl's Associates in Action Program is designed for Kohl's employees to volunteer their time and give back to schools in the community. At least 5 volunteers must participate in an on-campus event for 3 hours or more, and Kohl's donates $500 in that school's name. Grant #19: Biltz-Perot Museum Grant Campus: Drane Intermediate Amount: $3,500.00 Grades: 6th Student Impact: 400 Subject(s): Science Description: The Biltz Perot Musem Grant started during the 2013-2014 school yer, sends every 6th grade student from Drane Intermediate to the Perot Museum of Nature and Science. The Biltz’s and CEF have joined together to commit to funding the Biltz Museum grant for a total of 5 years through the 2019-2020 school year. Grant #20: Previous (2014-2015) Science on the Road Campus: Sam Houston Elementary Amount: $350.00 Grades: 4th-5th Student Impact: 120 Subject(s): Science Written By: Meredith Boyde Description: Science on the Road was granted in May 2014, but due to rising transportation costs, they needed some additional funding to complete the grant during the 2014-2015 school year. Science on the Road is an opportunity for students to go in the field (on four separate field trips) and study science concepts in the real world in order to apply them to content learned in a classroom setting. These field experiences will allow students to improve their investigative and reasoning skills while enhancing the content they have learned in the traditional classroom setting. Grant #21: Previous (2014-2015) Ag Mechanics with Core Classes “One of a Kind” Campus: Collins Middle School Amount: $3,000.00 Grades: 7th-8th Subject(s): Ag Mech Written By: Larry Acock Description: Ag Mechanics with Core Classes “One of a Kind” was granted in May 2014, but needed some additional funding to complete the grant during the 2014-2015 school year. The purpose and need for this grant is to allow students to see education at work. Students will perform math and science skills with formulas to actually help construct an observation booth. With the help of actuators, it will lift a person into the booth. Then once sitting in the booth it will turn with a smooth motion from the automatic floor, and you will have the option to open the windows for a better visual. All of this is down by a push of a button. Core classes will assist in seeing the importance of research on materials used and how their research will insure the safety of those using and building the project. This project will be constructed by the 8th grade Ag Mechanics class. |