Foundation awards $89,000 in classroom grants

The Education Foundation for Bend-La Pine Schools has awarded $89,000 in classroom grants to public schools in Bend, La Pine and Sunriver and subsidized $37,000 in need-based activity fee scholarships for the 2018/2019 academic year.

2018 year marks the 30 th year of the Foundation and in recognition of this milestone, the Foundation awarded $30,000 more in Classroom Grants than it has in previous years. Over the past decade, the Foundation has invested more than $1.5 million into our public schools – positively impacting thousands of Bend-La Pine students.

” We are excited to announce this year’s classroom grant awards. As a foundation, we continue to look for more ways to support our educators and to put innovative learning in all students’ hands. Our focus continues to be around STEM-related programs, as well as art and music and to provide the continued support of activity fee scholarships to students who qualify at the middle and high school level, so they can stay active and engaged within their school. The Education Foundation is proud to make a strong impact for the school Ddstrict and build lasting relationships with our community partners and members, ” said Wendy Graunitz, Education Foundation president.

Over 53 innovative STEM programs, art & music classroom grants, as well as other Life Skills and wellness programs, were awarded, reaching nearly every school. Priority of awards is given to high-need District schools and is based on merit of the request and available funding.

Scott McDonald, Instructional Technology Coach, stated, ” The Education Foundation is an essential partner for all of our schools when it comes to emerging technology in the classroom. This coming school year, students from EVERY Bend-La Pine middle school will have a unique opportunity to fly small programmable drones using code! Learning to write code is challenging. Students who persevere through the curriculum will see their hard work come to life when they are able to make the drones fly intricate patterns and maneuvers using functions and commands that they program themselves. This kind of opportunity would not be possible if not for the classroom grants that the Education Foundation awards to teachers every spring.”

For a complete list of Classroom Grants awarded visit www.engagedminds.org

Thanks to the generous support from grant partners, individual and corporate donors, and the Bend community, the Foundation provides support to teachers and students. The work of the Foundation affects the greater population of 18,300 students and 2000 educators equitably within the Bend-La Pine school district. Annual fundraising events include Mt. Bachelor Ski4Schools and the Trivia Bee, and in September 2018, the Foundation will partner with Avid Cider Co. for a 30-year public celebration event at The Box Factory. To participate in or sponsor the event, please contact the Education Foundation.

About the Education Foundation for Bend-La Pine Schools

The Education Foundation, founded in 1988, prepares District students for success and future through exceptional educational and extracurricular activities. For more information, contact Michelle Johnson, Executive Director, (541) 355-5660, www.engagedminds.org or email education.foundation@bend.k12.or.us.