Six Apex Schools Awarded Grants from the APSF
The Apex Public School Foundation has just announced six grants for the 2023-2024 school year!
We received our most applications to date, and the APSF awarded the most money in its history, allocating more than $10,000 to materials from books to yoga mats to musical instruments. We also awarded the second annual Karen Sinders Memorial Teacher Grant in memory of the beloved middle school principal and APSF adviser.
Grant recipients were chosen based on a number of criteria, including innovation of the project, the educational impact, and the sustainability of the project year over year. Here is what Apex-area students will now have access to in their schools:
Trebuchets Away!
Innovative Engineering & Design teacher Carol Jemiolo from Apex Friendship Middle School received the Karen Sinders Memorial Teacher Grant for the purchase of Pitsco Trebuchet Kits. These engineering kits will provide a hands-on experience as students expand their knowledge and understanding of how levers and fulcrums work. Students will learn about momentum and how variables such as weight of projectile and angle of launch can affect launch distance.
Musical Exploration Through an Orff Lens
Olive Chapel students, led by music teacher Kenzie McConnell, will have an opportunity to explore music creation through instrumental ensembles. Students will use communication and collaboration skills to learn, play, and create musical works as a class. The barred instruments funded by this grant, including glockenspiels and xylophones, will increase student engagement while also enhancing development of music literacy, rhythm, and correct instrument playing technique.
WLES Collaboration Workshop
The 2024 KTL McDonald's of Apex APSF Teacher Grant was awarded to Sean Russel of West Lake Elementary School for a STEM workshop. The workshop will provide opportunities for students to engage in vocational projects that encompass STEM skills and teach practical life skills.
Mirrors and Windows in Diverse Classroom Libraries
Nathalie Powell, Amanda Rini and Kaelyn Sparks from Oakview Elementary collaborated on a grant to provide students with books that feature culturally diverse literature. These 5th grade teachers wanted to improve their grade level library of “mirrors and windows” books. “Mirror” books allow readers to see characters that mirror who they are, often resulting in greater engagement in learning. Books that are “windows” offer diverse views of the world and often allow readers to see their own lives and experiences as part of a larger human experience.
Spicing Up Our Sensory Routine!
The Apex Friendship High School PEPI programs developed a grant that will bring students with and without disabilities together through team sports and socialization. Special education teacher Hillary Kitchen and PE teacher Andrea Spaulding will enhance the program and bring in additional equipment to help challenge students while increasing participation and enjoyment. Students will be exposed to new hobbies and activities they can then choose to further pursue after high school.
Middle Creek Elementary School TV in Action
Club advisers Nancy Friend and Taryn Slozak teamed up to provide 4th and 5th grade members of the Middle Creek Elementary School TV Club with equipment to produce a school news show to be broadcast to their school community. Students will collaborate to create an engaging, informational program that also teaches the producers valuable communication and tech skills..
The APSF is able to fund these incredible projects thanks to the help of community partners and generous donors. We hope to fund $12,500 in grants in 2024 –click here to help us meet that goal!