ABC EDUCATION FOUNDATION AWARDS 22 GRANTS TO ABCUSD SCHOOLS

ABC EDUCATION FOUNDATION AWARDS 22 GRANTS
TO ABCUSD SCHOOLS

Cerritos, CA—December 15, 2014 – The ABC Education Foundation recently completed its second annual mini-grant program to return funds to schools in ABCUSD from Foundation fundraising efforts throughout the year. Nearly $25,000 will be awarded to support 22 programs at ABCUSD schools at a Jan. 26, 2015 presentation event at the District offices. 2014-2015 grant winners include:

Education Mini-Grant Awardees:

• Nixon Academy (Kristina Whiteman): The Walking Classroom: Combining Common Core with Physical Education, at $1,500
• Willow, Furgeson, Bragg Elementary Schools (Monique Erece, Oralia Rojas, Dulce Barnum): Handwriting Without Tears for Transitional Kindergarten, at $1,500
• Bragg Elementary (Jessica Boles): Attention Deficit Disorder/Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Teacher Training, at $1,500
• Haskell STEM Academy celebrated several wins: 1) (Elaine Lima, Greg Taylor, Robert Beecher): History Day, L.A., at $1,500; 2) (Debbie Vomero, Kristy Ramer, Scott Mariano, Leonore Bello): Implementation of Common Core Math Through Technology, at $1,500; 3) (Jennifer Holmes, David Ok, Heather Mendoza and Natalia Avila): Engineering Showcase, a Project-Based Learning Experience, at $1,500; and 4) (Debbie Vomero, Kristy Ramer, Scott Mariano, Leonore Bello): Hands on Tools for All Math Students at $1,500
• Fedde Middle School (John Laird & the Science Department): Expedition Mars, at $1,500
• Artesia High School (Kathryn Chaffins): Assess Your Environment, Scientifically, at $1,500
• Gahr High School celebrated three wins: (Bill Myers) Field Trip to Peterson Auto Museum, at $600; (Crystal Ho) Take a B.R.E.A.T.H. With Us (Balloon Regression Experiment Analyzing Time vs. Height) at $1,500 and, (Deanna Ceballos) Resources for Meeting Students’ Mental Health Needs at $481
• Carmenita Middle School (Deborah Orr): Really Big Problem Solving, at $1,500
• Adult Transition Program, Special Education Department (Nathan Rogers-Madsen): Public Transportation to Employment

Special Mini-Grant Awardees includes:

• Nixon Academy (Alana MacDonald): Walk, Listen and Learn: Taking Healthy Steps Through Common Core, at $700
• Carver Academy (Winnie Lee): Community Based Instruction: Investing in the Future Independence of our Special Needs Students, at $700
• Kennedy STEM Academy (Melissa Valentine): ABCUSD 3d Annual Reading Olympics 2014-15, at $690
• Cerritos High School had two awards: (Denise R. Weuve): Writing Workshop, at $700 and (Janis Lake): Into the Wild at $700
• Willow, Furgeson, Bragg Elementary Schools (Monique Erece, Oralia Rojas, Dulce Barnum): TK Field Trip to the California Science Center, at $700
• Artesia High School (Sharron Pollock): Robotics Team Supplies, at $700
• Whitney High School (LaMonica Bryson): Reap What You Sow: Cultivating a College Going Mindset in Middle School Learning Communities, at $700

“Selecting the winning grants was a challenging process,” said Rachel Santos, ABC Education Board Member and 6th grade teacher at Leal Elementary School who also chaired the Foundation’s grants committee. “We created an anonymous process to score each mini-grant based on merit, then lined up our top scoring mini-grants to see where they were located in the district. We were pleased to find that our merited winners also represented schools in all parts of our district.”

Mini-Grant requests were required to align with the District’s strategic plan while Special Mini-Grants allowed for funding of projects of merit outside the plan. A total of $19,081 was allocated towards the Education Mini-Grants and $5,600 for the Special Mini-Grants. In November, a committee read 44 grant applications from 21 schools or programs within the district. Questions about the ABC Education Foundation or its grant application process can be directed to Terri Villa-McDowell, Executive Director of the Foundation at (562) 926-5566, ext. 21150.

The ABC Education Foundation was founded in February 2012 to support district programs in jeopardy due to budget cuts. Since its inception, the Foundation has held multiple fundraisers, including two 2K/5K Fun Run and Wellness Fairs, two Golf Tournaments and three Ragnar Relay race fundraisers. The Foundation has funded over $100,000 in programs for ABC schools including support for an annual school backpack initiative, pedestrian safety public education campaigns and the Primary Intervention Program, an early intervention social emotional program. It has organized a committed Board of individuals representing business and education who donate their time, finances and expertise to ensure that every ABC student and every ABC school succeeds.