Edina Education Fund announces EPS innovation grant recipients

The Edina Education Fund announced it has chosen 10 Edina Public School projects as recipients of its 2015-2016 Innovation Grants. This year’s awards total $54,850, impact students in grades K through 12 and beyond, and when all projects are fully implemented will touch all nine Edina Public Schools.

Since 1995, the Edina Education Fund has awarded more than 300 Innovation Grants to educators for unique programs that touch learners in all grades across the District. “Innovation grants have been such a rich part of our 20-year history.” said Sarah Knapp, Edina Education Fund Board Co-Chair. “Most of our Innovation Grants range from $1,000 - $5,000. This year it’s exciting to give a one-time, $20,000 grant in honor of our 20th anniversary of supporting the Edina Public Schools.”

The $20,000 grant was awarded to the Project Lead the Way program for the purchase of “professional large format dye sublimation equipment”, which will be used by Valley View Middle School and Edina High School students, as well as other clubs and student groups throughout the District. Students will expand their technology skills and embrace, capture and promote pride in their community, interests, culture and school as they create personalized, professional-quality posters, t-shirts, mugs, signs, and other items. The project was submitted by Tim Berndt.

The additional 2015-2016 Innovation Grants, ranging from $1,243 - $5,000, have been awarded to the following projects, as titled by educators who submitted the proposals:

• “Collaborating with a Colombian Composer: Commissioning Authentic World Music for Middle School Band”: Band students at South View Middle School will collaborate virtually with Victoriano Valencia, a Columbian composer, to learn about Columbian culture and create an original, authentic piece of world music for both middle school bands to perform this year and in the future. Project submitted by Charles Weise.
  
  
• “Fitness on the Go Kart”: Students and teachers at Normandale Elementary School will learn that fitness can happen in any setting, relieve stress, and improve their physical fitness though the use of a medicine balls, resistance bands, weighted balls and more, which will be housed in a cart that can easily move from the gym to any classroom. Project submitted by Julie Hoecherl.
  
  
• “Creating a Mindful Learning Community”: In our high-tech, high-stress world, teachers, students and families at Highlands Elementary School will learn the practice of mindfulness (pausing, embracing stillness, learning the habit of quiet reflection, being aware of the present moment with kindness), and reap the benefits of this life skill, which include improved attention, self-control, emotional regulation and resilience. Project submitted by Jen Feriancek.
  
  
• “Total Body Fitness in Elementary Physical Education”: Total Body Resistance straps and Both Sides Utilized balls will be added to physical education classes at Highlands Elementary School, along with the ability for students to tailor their learning based on current skills and fitness levels, focusing on cardiovascular endurance, muscular strength, flexibility, coordination, balance and body composition. Project submitted by Julie Mickschl.
  
  
• “Creating a Virtual Reality”: Students will be offered a May Term class where they will expand technology skills as they plan, film and edit virtual reality videos about Edina High School using GoPro cameras, laptops, and video editing software. The students’ innovative and creative projects will be shared on YouTube, and the equipment will later be used to document the renovations of the Edina Public Schools. Project submitted by Jodi Ramirez.
  
  
• “Edina Project Search Partnership with Fairview Southdale Hospital”: Grant funds will be used to start a Project Search partnership between Edina Public Schools and Fairview Southdale Hospital. Edina students with significant intellectual disabilities will be placed in internships at Fairview Southdale Hospital in the last year of their Special Education program, where they will gain self-confidence and competitive skills, and find employment in non-traditional, complex and rewarding jobs. Project submitted by Barbara Hodne.
  
  
• “Architecture Center”: Countryside Elementary School students will expand their practice of the 4C’s of learning and innovation skills within the 21st Century Learning Framework (critical thinking, communication, collaboration, creativity) as they work with new Keva planks, Goobi Magnetic Construction kits, Legos, architecture blocks and other resources that will be added to the school’s self-directed Art Studio. Project submitted by Jessica Kitzman.
  
  
• “Library Makerspace Design Lab”: The media center at Concord Elementary school will join the ranks of innovative school libraries across the nation and be re-purposed with the help of this grant. In addition to purposeful, guided classroom visits, this makerspace will be available for student use as arranged by classroom teachers, where students will create, collaborate, problem-solve, and engineer with everything from craft supplies to electronics, robots and video production equipment. Project submitted by Laurie Holland.
  
  
• “English Language Learners in the Mainstream Classroom: Improving Instruction and Assessment”: 22 educators from Concord, Countryside, and Creek Valley Elementary Schools, South View Middle School, and Edina High School will complete a unique, train-the-trainer Hamline University course to learn the techniques of sheltered instruction, how second languages are acquired, and how to provide access to grade level content for all students. The course will be offered to additional Edina educators, eventually reaching throughout the District. Project submitted by Gretchen Lund.

“We are really proud of our Innovation Grants Program. Every year some of our most passionate educators submit grant requests to fund innovative programming for their classrooms. Thousands of students have been impacted by these grant awards over our 20-year history”, said Val Stidman, Board Co-Chair.

Grant recipients were surprised with the news of their awards in their classrooms on January 26 and January 27.

About the Edina Education Fund

Founded in 1995, the Edina Education Fund is an independent, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to the continued academic excellence of the Edina Public Schools. The Edina Education Fund secures private, supplemental funding to support valuable education experiences and innovative projects in the Edina Public Schools. Funds raised augment school system revenues that are provided by taxes, state aid, and other parent and student led fundraising efforts. Over $4 million in grant funding has been provided to the Edina Public Schools through its efforts. visit www.edinaedfund.org for more information.