The Riverside Press-Enterprise
Rotary Club awards grants to 10 teachers
Teachers from four La Verne schools have received minigrants from the Rotary Club of La Verne.
The club presented its annual minigrants at the Jan. 17 meeting of the Bonita Unified School District Board of Education.
At the meeting, Diana Laguna, president of the Rotary Club of La Verne, and Rotary Club members Craig Rubin, Steven Johnson and Deborah Deacy distributed $3,200 in minigrants to 10 Bonita Unified School District teachers. The grants, which are worth up to $500 each, will help fund projects and resources that include a two-person tricycle for preschoolers, dramatic play centers, a sensory light table and an assistive technology library, according to a news release.
Gayle Cervantes, a transitional kindergarten teacher at Grace Miller Elementary School, will use her grant to install a sensory light table in her classroom, to enhance her students’ learning experience.
“A light table in my TK classroom acts as a luminescent canvas, illuminating learning in vibrant hues,” Cervantes said in the news
release. “It enhances sensory exploration, fosters fine motor skills and sparks creativity, casting a bright glow on the path to early childhood development. I am delighted to incorporate the light table into my lessons.”
Grace Miller first grade teacher April Maidens received a grant to fund a shaded outdoor classroom.
“My students love being outside and requested benches and shade outside our classroom,” Maidens said in the news release. “I
am happy with this grant, as we can provide this area to extend our learning outdoors. I know my students will love using this area for years to come.”
The Rotary Club of La Verne’s 2024 minigrant winners, in addition to Cervantes and Maidens, are John Mcluckey of Bonita High School; Renee Gregory and Jennifer Svoboda of Grace Miller Elementary School; Karla Iniguez of La Verne Heights Elementary School; and Lori Dukowsky,
Megan Shockey, Cherry Agapito and Mary Udria of Roynon Elementary School.
The Rotary Club of La Verne’s minigrant program began in 1998. A panel of Rotarians reviews the applications, evaluating them for innovation, clarity and potential benefit to students. The minigrants, which can be used to purchase materials, equipment and classroom supplies, are funded entirely by the Rotary Club, according to the news release.