$30K In Grants Awarded To Lemont District 113A Schools

LEMONT, IL — Lemont District 113A schools have been awarded more than $30,000 in grants to teachers by the District 113A Educational Foundation.

“We are very proud to support teachers and students in Lemont,” Carolyn Cesarz, the foundation president, said in a release. “These awards enable innovative new programs and methodologies that help shape our community’s students for the future.”

According to a release, grants were awarded to all three district schools for software, classroom furniture, books, artwork and more. In seven years the foundation has invested $200,000 in Lemont classrooms, funding everything from software to musical instruments. The foundation is supported through generous donations from area families and businesses.

The foundation said the grants allow teachers to introduce new programs to their classrooms that require resources beyond the means of the district budget. In 2016, a grant provided Breakout EDU kits for fifth grade classes. The kits promote critical thinking and problem solving skills as students compete to solve complex puzzles.

“[Breakout EDU] has helped with teambuilding, community in the classroom and a way for students to practice a skill they have already learned in a new and exciting way,” Michelle Rakoczy, a fifth grade teacher, said in a release.

The 2017 grand awards included:

For Oakwood Elementary School:

• Ball chairs for second grade classrooms
• Scholastic News subscription for English language learners
• Books for community reading program

For River Valley Elementary School:

• Front Row math online subscription for fourth grade
• Kidblog subscription for third grade
• Google Cardboard and Android smartphone devices
• Outdoor recess equipment
• Tubanos for music class

For Old Quarry Middle School

• Flexible seating for classrooms
• Video cameras for student communications projects
• Artwork for display to enhance social studies curriculum
• Heart monitors for physical education classes
• Breakout EDU math kits

Multiple schools in the district also received five online program subscriptions for all grades to support one-to- one technology and an iPod and sound system for physical education classes (grades 1-5).

“We are incredibly grateful for the community support that makes these grants possible,” Cesarz said in a release.

To learn more about the grant program and past awards, visit SD113AFoundation.org.

Photo provided by the Lemont School District 113A Educational Foundation.