Nebo foundation awards grants to local schools

so that they could hear themselves speak and therefore improve their pronunciation The Nebo Education Foundation has and reading. With this grant, we will be recently given grants to various schools purchasing adapters to microphones that within Nebo School District to aid teachers will allow this process to happen. It means in their efforts to provide students with that our students will be able to improve the best education possible. Nebo Education on their reading, which is paramount to Foundation board members meet each their success.” month to review and award grant requests, Larsen Elementary School consider fundraising avenues and discuss Fifth-Grade Team other items that advance the educational Fifth-grade teacher Dylan Lawter at opportunities for Nebo School District Larsen Elementary in Spanish Fork said, students. “We are excited to get new Chromebooks

These grants are funded through the in our classroom. These Chromebooks fundraising efforts of the Nebo Education will provide students many opportunities Foundation board. Many of the donations to explore technology in writing projects, received are for selected projects, yet a math learning and the science research substantial amount is available for the that we do. This means a lot to us because greatest need. One fundraising effort is when students learn to utilize technology the annual Green Fever Golf Tournament. for education purposes in the classroom, This tournament will be Thursday, May it will become a habit that they can carry 18. Also, the foundation accepts donations with them both in and out of school.” from individuals and businesses to support Sierra Bonita Elementary School projects. Dana Beckert

Congratulations to the following teachers: Facilitator Dana Beckert at Sierra Bonita Elementary School in Spanish Fork said, “With the grant money awarded to our school, we will be purchasing multiple sets of books for our school’s leveled library. To better meet the needs of the teachers in providing interesting texts for their students, I asked teachers to provide me with a list of titles that their students would find engaging and interesting. It is good to provide additional titles to our leveled library so teachers and students have a variety of high-interest texts. This grant will provide texts specifically asked for by our students and teachers.” Mapleton Ridge Elementary School

Denette Steen Music teacher Denette Steen said, “I have the pleasure of teaching elementary students music once a week. Almost 500 students walk through my classroom. It is my job to help them explore music and love music. We will be using the money granted to our school to purchase ukuleles. Nothing beats watching a child explore with an instrument in their hands.” Mt. Loafer Elementary School

Jen Lundquist Fourth-grade teacher Jen Lundquist at Mt. Loafer Elementary in Salem said,

Spanish Fork High School Jennifer Heder, Clint Roberts,

Stephanie Searcy SFHS choir teacher Jennifer Heder said, “We have been raising funds for a new Wenger Acoustical Shell for the last year. We plan to have all the funds necessary by December 2017. The current shell is old and takes quite a crew to set up before each performance. The new shell will be better suited to fit the needs of the many musical groups that perform in the Spanish Fork High School Auditorium. Acoustically, the new shell will produce an overall better sound, have ease of set- up and will be more aesthetically pleasing.” Larsen Elementary School

Kris Robison Computer teacher Kris Robison at Larsen Elementary in Spanish Fork said, “Thank you so much for the grant that you have given to me for my computer lab at Larsen Elementary. We use a program called Imagine Learning that helps our students with reading and phonics. We needed a way to help the kids record themselves reading and pronouncing the words “We are ecstatic about our science grant library. Many of the books purchased from Nebo Education Foundation. We are will be specifically for struggling readers. building a fourth-grade Interactive Science They need books written at their instructional Experiment Supplies and Demonstration level but that also appeal to their Cart. Our science program is set interests. This grant will also fund fiction up with various experiments for hands- books for emergent, transitional and fluent on experiences for the students. Supplies readers.” have been purchased previously by teachers Rees Elementary School on our team. Many items are needing Rachelle Orton to be replaced. We are excited to purchase Special education teacher Rachelle Orton books and supplies to coordinate with our at Rees Elementary in Spanish Fork science units.” said, “I will be using the new iPads as student Payson High School devices in my resource room. I love

Marilyn Miller the capabilities of an iPad with all students PHS physical education teacher Marilyn K-6. iPads are very easy to use even Miller said, “The new gloves will be with younger students K-3 who have not a lot safer to play with than the old ones yet developed keyboard skills and are still that were falling apart. The students will learning letter and number recognition. love them.” I have also used iPads extensively with Payson Junior High School older students in reading and math. iPads

Anne Purcell have helped me facilitate quick assessments, PJHS math teacher Anne Purcell said, differentiate learning and engage “This grant will supply the students at students. This is so important in 30 minute Payson Junior High with scientific calculators pull-out groups. This grant will allow they use every day in their math my students to have 1:1 technology, which classes. Many students at Payson Junior will facilitate their learning in a way that are unable to buy their own calculators, will benefit each child.” but this gift will help them have the tools Other grants awarded include Chad Argyle necessary to be proficient in math.” of Santaquin Elementary School and Spring Lake Elementary School Jason Shelley of Oakridge School.

Ben Atkin Fourth-grade teacher Ben Atkin at Spring Lake Elementary in Payson said, “I wrote a grant for some non-fiction books to help us with our science and writing teaching this year. We have to teach about animal adaptations, biomes and plants and animals of Utah. It is a really fun subject to teach but almost impossible to do without a text book. These full-color books will work great for getting the kids excited about animals.”

Orchard Hills Elementary School Robin Wheatley

Literary specialist Robin Wheatly at Orchard Hills Elementary in Santaquin said, “This money will be used to purchase over 50 sets of books for our guided reading

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