Cox Communications Awards More Than $51,000 in "Innovation in Education" Grants to Orange County Schools

LAKE FOREST, Calif. – Dec. 2, 2016 – Cox Communications has awarded more than $51,000 in “Innovation in Education” grants to 16 Orange County schools in the Cox service area to help fund innovative programs for students in grades K-12. The grant program invited principals, administrators and teachers at eligible schools to submit a grant application for innovative classroom projects that focus on skills-based learning, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art/Design, and Mathematics), digital literacy, or cyber citizenship (responsibly using the Internet).

The 2016 Innovation in Education grant recipients are:

Capistrano Unified School District

• Clarence Lobo Elementary School (San Clemente), STEAM Academy – Kindergarten students will be taught beginning coding skills.
• Dana Hills High School (Dana Point), Environmental Education Center Project – Students will investigate the roles that different animals play in the ecosystem, their feeding habits, plants that are native and invasive to the area and if there are any effects on the wildlife.
• Viejo Elementary School (Mission Viejo), STEAM Lab – Viejo's future STEAM Lab is a unique extension of the regular classroom where students will be able to engage in exciting, cross-curricular learning opportunities, and hands on activities involving science, technology, engineering, the arts, and math (STEAM).
• Vista del Mar Middle School (San Clemente), Video Production – Video Production students are learning and using media journalism skills to produce 30 minute shows.

Diocese of Orange

• The Parish School at St. Edward the Confessor Catholic Church (Dana Point), Fifth-grade Learners Baby Beach Project – Fifth-grade students will be collecting samples from Baby Beach in Dana Point for the purpose of detecting pollutants and other possible contaminants in our local community.

Irvine Unified School District

• Brywood Elementary School (Irvine), Nearpod Virtual Reality – The Nearpod VR viewers would be utilizing technology to engage students in experiential learning.
• Culverdale Elementary School (Irvine), STEAM Innovation-Makerspace – A makerspace encourages interactive learning and hands on experimentation, as well as collaboration with peers and community volunteers.
• Lakeside Middle School (Irvine), Woodbridge Lake project-based learning experience – Students will work with scientists from the Irvine Ranch Water District and the University of California, Irvine to collect and analyze long term water quality data from Woodbridge Lake.
• Portola High School (Irvine), Environmental Implications of Aquaponics Systems – Students will act as environmental consultants to advise local community members on the environmental implications of aquaponics systems.
• Turtle Rock Elementary School (Irvine), Breakout EDU Kits – Games (Breakouts) teach teamwork, problem solving, critical thinking, and troubleshooting by presenting participants with challenges that ignite their natural drive to problem-solve on the computer.
• University High School (Irvine), PASCO Physics Kits – Students will be collecting data from the various probes and analyzing the data and graphs obtained.

Laguna Beach Unified School District

• Thurston Middle School (Laguna Beach), Forensic/Mock Trial: Deep Sea Mystery – The Deep Sea Mystery will focus on the environmental phenomena of decomposition of human cells in relation to ocean water currents and ecosystems. The crime scene will focus on underwater body rescue and retrieval as well as the basis of cell decomposition in ocean water environments.

Saddleback Valley Unified School District

• Robinson Elementary School (Trabuco Canyon), Interactive Projector with the 3-in-1 Interactive Easel – Students, regardless of disability or level of impairment, will be able to make use of the curriculum and interact with their peers to the fullest extent of their abilities.

Tustin Unified School District

• Hicks Canyon Elementary School (Irvine), STEAM Innovation-MakerSpace – The STEAM Innovation-MakerSpace will use best practices for technology integration and makerspace support for over 950 elementary students.
• Loma Vista Elementary (Santa Ana), Cougar Creativity Lab – The lab will provide teachers and students a creative place to implement the latest Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
• Tustin Ranch Elementary School (Tustin), "Rocky's Den" Learning Space – Creating a learning space with the latest technology tools.

The “Innovation in Education” grant program is part of Cox Communications’ long-standing commitment to education. In addition to providing grants to schools, Cox offers discounted Internet service through the nonprofit initiative Connect2Compete to families on the national free school lunch program to help bridge the digital divide. Cox also awards $150,000 annually in scholarships through Cox Charities to graduating high schools seniors in California.

About Cox Communications

Cox Communications is a broadband communications and entertainment company, providing advanced digital video, Internet, telephone and home security and automation services over its own nationwide IP network. The third-largest U.S. cable company, Cox serves approximately 6 million residences and businesses. Cox Business is a facilities-based provider of voice, video and data solutions for commercial customers, and Cox Media is a full-service provider of national and local cable spot and digital media advertising. Cox is known for its pioneering efforts in broadband, voice and commercial services, industry-leading customer care and its outstanding workplaces. For nine years, Cox has been recognized as the top operator for women by Women in Cable Telecommunications; Cox has ranked among DiversityInc's Top 50 Companies for Diversity 11 times. More information about Cox Communications, a wholly owned subsidiary of Cox Enterprises, is available at www.cox.com and www.coxmedia.com.