2011
Aiming for Success- Wausau West Physical Education $3,396
Janna Hillman, Physical Education Teacher / Team members Troy Fabry, Curt Richardt, Dennis Wendt, Kevin Grundy, Mary Schultz, Matt Raduechel & Breana Wavrunek
Once students experience archery success, they realize they can accomplish many things with proper instruction, practice and a positive attitude. This grant supports the start up costs in implementing target archery into the curriculum for all freshmen at Wausau West High School.
Think College Day- Horace Mann Middle School $2,000
Julie Bollmann, Parent Partnership Coordinator / Team members Kathy Drury, Department of Public Instruction & Sheri Bagby, 7th Grade Team Counselor
In today's competitive marketplace, it is more important than ever to prepare and expose children to a college-like setting at earlier ages. This opportunity allows all 7th grade students to have a hands on experience to college at the University of Wisconsin-Marathon County.
Hope for Girls- Wausau East High School/Ell Department $1.850
Mai Chang, ELL/Bilingual Aide
Grant encourages personal development of South East Asian/Hmong girls. Hmong heritage and the positive components of being a Hmong woman will be discussed through lessons and Hmong community speakers.
Archery in the Schools- Wausau Elementary Physical Education Department $2,500
Mike Graham, Physical Education Specialist / Team members Jon Betry, Chris Sullivan, Steve Brown, Randy Luebbe, John Gunnerson, Matt Johnson & Ryan Whalen
Supports WSD Elementary schools in completing four archery equipment sets that meet National Archery in Schools Program Standards. Over 1,200 4th and 5th graders participate in the archery program at 13 elementary schools. All students, regardless of experience or physical ability, can achieve success through archery.
Caring and Sharing- G.D. Jones Elementary School $1,990
Karen Clark, 2nd Grade Teacher / Team members Sarah Nienhuis, Yeng Her & Karen Thurs
2nd Grade students perform in a 20-minute musical "The Little Red Hen". Students will write their autobiography for a playbill, memorize lines and songs giving them fluency practice, writing opportunities, public speaking experience and building self-awareness.
SMART Board Project- Horace Mann Middle School $2,500
Beth Dimka, 6th Grade Teacher / Team member Kathy Brown Tyskiewicz
SMART Board technology continues to be a desired teaching / learning tool for teachers throughout the District. This will be the first time a board is made available to 6th grade at HMMS and was awarded because of the teacher’s articulation not only in terms of improving technology for delivery of math lessons, but also its impact on student learning, engagement and interactive experiences. It will be made available for summer school, after-school study zone classes and clubs as well.
Music Video Editing Equipment- Horace Mann Middle School Music Department $1,500
Margaret Conrad, Teacher / Team members Kathy Brown Tyskiewicz, Ann Martin, Dan Larson & Kristen Helke
In addition to fulfilling the need for accurate sound quality to enhance student learning, digital technology offers endless new strategies for connecting music study to our current culture. Students will have a more meaningful, relevant experience to create and explore, to meet music curriculum standards such as composing and evaluating music and performances, and to share their experiences with each other, their families and the community. Students can create their own adventures in the form of multi-media projects, increasing student participation with producing, creating and editing.
Technology Enhancement- Horace Mann Middle School $2,500
Kathy Brown Tyskiewicz, Administrative Technology Assistant
This one time grant will complete funding for a $13,000 LCD projector project that will enhance the ability for faculty to use of the cafeteria and large group room for presentations such as team-teaching, parent and community presentations, concerts, staff meetings, performance events and open house to name a few. The grant benefits all students and staff at Horace Mann Middle School.
SMART Board- Hewitt-Texas Elementary School $2,500
Daniel Sullivan, Principal / Team members Janice Karlmann, Linda Davis, Carolyn Martin & Kelly Brandt
Staff and PTO partnerships at this school have secured the installation of 5 of 6 SMART Boards and the needed technical support to effectively use the boards. All technical support is in place for the last classroom and this grant will provide the last needed SMART Board. The entire staff is prepared for utilizing the interactive white boards and has begun sharing content to provide consistency in instruction for the Hewitt-Texas students.
Nook Books: Touching the Future of Reading- Wausau East High School $2,495
Paula Hase, Librarian/ Team member Deb Lechner
The goal is to promote and increase independent reading supported by research that the more students read, the stronger the readers they become. Voluntary reading results in better comprehension, a more fluent writing style, improved vocabulary, better spelling, and grammatical development. In the last two years at Wausau East Library, the circulation rate of physical books has remained steady; however, the rate of access and connectivity time has tripled with our e-books and on line databases. Recognizing this shift, libraries must move toward providing students with current 21st century resources. This grant will provide 8 Nook Books and a selection of popular novels that are often on long hold lists at the public library. Nook provides free updates as well as being compatible with OverDrive, the Marathon County Public Library’s digital download center. Barnes & Noble offers direct technical support for schools, on-site advice and training in how to set up a school’s library and the technology restrictions needed to protect purchases.
Social Emotional Foundations of Early Learning- A.C. Kiefer Educational Center $2,500
Samantha Dettman, Teacher/ Team members Julie Zinda, Connie Zebro, Deb Albee, Stephanie Pittman, Sandy Ellis & Julie Burmesch
The Center on Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning (SEFEL) is a national organization founded at Vanderbilt University and is designed to strengthen early education programs and improve the outcomes of young children. Wisconsin partnered with the organization and Wausau School District pre-kindergarten program was selected as a demonstration site for WI, serving as a model for implementation of SEFEL beliefs and practices that promote children’s social and emotional development, prevent challenging behaviors and enhance student learning. Initial core training took place in Summer 2010 and now as those practices are implemented throughout the WSD pre-k programs, it is critical to complete the training needed for classroom staff. In addition to support from special education and United Way, the RFTS grant will help approx. 10 staff members receive training in Summer 2011. As more and more pre-K children are identified, this program model can provide intervention early enough to potentially change the course of those requiring special education support.
Ear-resistable Reads-Wausau West High School, John Muir Middle School, Wausau East High School, Horace Mann Middle School $8,800
Susan Olberbeck, Linda Morrissey, Paula Hase & Sue Engel - Library Media Specialists Secondary Schools
Changing technology toward MP3 audiobooks offers something for all students. These audiobooks meet students wherever they are and exposes them to the pleasure of reading. This grant will provide the four schools with MP3 players and audiobooks of outdated formats of classical texts used within the classroom as well as contemporary titles for reader enjoyment. With both the audiobook and book available, students will be experience the spoken word and follow along and increase their reading skills at the same time.
Words On Photography - Maine Elementary School $869
Amy Smet
Through the use of student photography and creation of "big books", students with learning disabilities will have an exciting opportunity to address their writing skills. The project infuses photography, travel outside the classroom and students becoming authors.
Family University Network (F.U.N.) Longfellow Administration Center - 21st Century Learning $2,500
Nancy Cedar, 21st Century CLC Coordinator / Tim Rogers VISTA
Family University Network strives to enrich and expand valuable family educational opportunities throughout the Wausau School District. By creating advantageous connections with community partners, F.U.N. puts high quality education programs into practice to strengthen families as first source of learning. The Network hosts a series of workshops and conference-style events throughout the school year.
Engaging Students and Gaining Meaningful Data - John Muir Middle School $1,500
Trish Forbes, Annie Sims, Jeff Salzman and Rob Phelps
The SMART Response system is innovative, wireless handheld remotes that allow students to respond to either single questions throughout a lesson or entire quizzes. The immediate, visual response enables teachers and students to track individual responses on formative and summative assessments. With the digital devices, students are motivated to participate, seeing their strengths and weaknesses; and teachers gain valuable insight into the most successful teaching strategies.
