Clinton school teachers received a pleasant surprise Thursday morning when the Clinton Community Education Foundation presented around a dozen-plus teacher with grants as a part of their annual classroom grant program.
The district was able to welcome author Patricia Polacco a few years ago and this fall, Margaret Peterson-Haddix will be in Clinton to talk with elementary students. Christina Soberalski received a $1,000 grant as a part of a special project for the author visit along with three other teacher grants that will get books to read as a part of her visit totaling an additional $1,500.
Jon Olichwier (oh-lick-wire) teachers junior high school emotional behavior disorder students and will use $500 from the CCEF to purchase sensory materials and help his students focus. He says it means a lot to have funds to continue to improve his students academically and emotionally.
Abbey Youngberg's CES class will receive social-emotional learning materials. She teaches second through fifth-grade students with emotional disabilities and indicates her class will benefit from the CCEF's contribution.
Clinton Junior High School students in Kelbey McMath's class will be helping restore gravestones at Woodlawn Cemetary in Clinton. He wants to incorporate local history and community service in his social studies class.
Clinton Elementary School students in Elizabeth Riley's third-grade special education classroom will use funds from the CCEF to write their books and then have them bound. Riley explains it helps students develop creative writing skills and also learning about the process of writing a book.
Timmi Turney's third-grade class will be receiving more books to help her students advance in their reading levels. She indicates some students need to get their reading skills to the appropriate level and additional resources, mainly books, will allow them to do that.
Clinton Academy will receive a new refrigerator thanks to funding from the CCEF for a new program introduced by their Director Katy Arnold. She explains their new foods lab course gives the students hands-on learning to develop basic skills.
Later this year, if you catch artwork displayed at the elementary buildings in Clinton, it's likely they will be on new stands thanks to the CCEF. Art teacher Stephanie Zmia (zuh-mia) says the closing of Miller Container in Clinton left a void in materials to display her students' artwork but this will allow them to continue to show off the things they've done.
This year's contributions to Clinton teachers from the CCEF is $8,357. The Foundation's Barbara Gullone indicates the last few years they are getting more applications for requests for money. This year they awarded 15 grants from 19 applications.
Other grants awarded Thursday as a part of the CCEF Teacher Grant presentations:
>>CJHS teacher Savannah Reigler's ag/mechanics class will purchase tape measures with $75
>>Kristin Wilson's CES classroom received $997 for exercise materials for their 'Mighty Maroons Mileage Club Year Two: The Year of the Postcard Passport' program
>>Automotive students at Clinton High School will benefit from a grant to Wayne Snearly's automotive class to continue to build up their shop materials
>>Physics students at Clinton High School have been using drones in Roger Baldwin's class and a $1,000 grant will allow them more materials to develop their 'Maroon and Gold Flight Team' as a part
of the STEM initiative
>>Kris Hoke at Lincoln Elementary School received a $200 grant to further a small room for students to be active called Maintain Active Path plan.
(Megan Callahan receives a teacher grant for Teal Walker)
