Thanks to growing donor support, the SCASD Education Foundation is providing direct support to teachers and students for exciting, enriching new learning opportunities. The foundation recently announced the award recipients of its 2018-19 Student Opportunity Grant Program. A total of $7,516 has been awarded to schools across the district for several exciting new initiatives:

• 3D Printer & Filaments – Jessica Jeffries: The STEAM program at Gray’s Woods Elementary School will receive funds for a 3D printer and filament package to be used in a collaboration with Park Forest Middle School and Mount Nittany Middle School Technology Education departments. Middle school tech classes will develop the programming for 3D printed projects selected by our elementary classrooms. This purposeful collaboration between elementary and middle school students promotes student engagement, learning, innovation and creativity.
• Design Thinking – Jeffrey Tranell: The sixth grade STEM program at Park Forest Middle School will receive funds to bring the Carnegie Science Center traveling road show to students at school. The show, Solar Quest: Living With Our Star, is complemented by multiple hands-on, small group adventure stations that run throughout the day. The traveling show gives students multiple opportunities to experiment with concepts that are part of the curriculum or topics that enrich the curriculum.
• Emily Arrow Skype Call – Jamie Ramey: Teachers at Easterly Parkway Elementary School will receive funds to host a Skype call for first and second graders with Emily Arrow, a former music teacher who takes popular children's books and creates inventive songs. These songs make classrooms joyful and link literacy and music in powerful ways for young students.
• Solar Quest:  Living with our Star – Timothy Dzurko: The Technology Education Department at Park Forest Middle School will receive funds for a CNC Laser Cutting System to design, create and assemble objects that have practical uses. Thanks to the system’s versatility, laserable materials will include metal, acrylic, wood, leather, glass, brick, cardboard and paper, fabric and more. A CNC Laser will provide students of PFMS with the opportunity to discover their inner innovator.
• MindUP Curriculum – Jen Grube & D’Anne Saylor: Ferguson Township Elementary School will receive funds for a mindfulness program. The grant will establish a network of teachers to share experiences with the MindUP Curriculum and mindfulness practices in their classroom. It will also support students across all curricular areas and students will develop skills needed to have a better relationship with stress. Students will build awareness, develop self-management, increase their focus and grow in confidence.
• One Book, One School, One Community – Brittany Snavely: Lemont-Houserville Elementary Schools will receive funds to support the One Book, One School, One Community initiative for the 2018-19 school year. The initiative culminates in day-long event during which students, faculty and staff will interact with experts from Carnegie Science Center’s Science on the Road. This program will reinforce the STEM-based concepts studied as part of the month-long exploration of the hands-on book, Architect Academy.
• Unified Bocce Program – Clairen Percival: State College Area High School will receive funds to partner with Special Olympics Pennsylvania to implement Interscholastic Unified Sports programs, which bring together students with and without disabilities to train and compete as a team, representing their high school. Bringing this program to State High will promote social inclusion and embrace diversity. The Special Olympics Interscholastic Unified Bocce program will give students who may not otherwise have the opportunity to compete for their school the chance to represent State High in athletic competitions.

The SCASD Education Foundation is excited to bring these innovative learning opportunities to students in the State College community. Watch for updates from the SCASD Education Foundation on the grant program!