$6,100 in Grants Awarded to Ephrata School District Teachers

At a special awards ceremony held Wednesday night at Ephrata High School, the North Central Education Foundation awarded 12 "Teacher Classroom Grants" totaling $6,100 to Ephrata School District teachers.

Congratulations to Grant Elementary, Columbia Ridge Elementary, and Ephrata Middle School for their awarded projects:

• Grant Elementary: 3 grants, including a $1,500 Social Emotional Growth Kit
• Columbia Ridge Elementary: 6 grants, with $1,000 for Reading Rockstars to boost literacy
• Ephrata Middle School: 3 grants, featuring $900 for the Cascade Learning Loop Exploration Project

A huge thank you to the foundation and the 25 dedicated teachers working together to bring these enriching experiences to our students!

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GRANT ELEMENTARY

Christina Barnett: $300 for STEAM Room / Creative Learning SmartLab Project

“STEAM Room / Creative Learning SmartLab” grant will help roughly 500 students explore subjects like science, technology, engineering, art and math. With this funding, additional STEM kits will be purchased that help students learn through hands-on activities, work together to solve problems, think creatively and share ideas. The lessons are designed for all types of learners—whether they learn best by seeing, listening, moving or speaking. Lessons match what students are learning in science class and include short videos to help students understand the topics. 

 

Marshall Bilodeau: $300 for Orff Musical Instruments

Grant funding will support the purchase of Orff musical instruments for Marshall Bilodeau's music classroom,  benefiting 450 students by enhancing their musical learning through hands-on, interactive activities. The project’s goals include improving students’ rhythm and melody skills, fostering collaboration through ensemble performance and encouraging critical thinking by analyzing music. With durable materials and teacher training, the project is designed to last for years. It also connects music with other core subjects like math and social studies, creating a well-rounded learning experience. The project emphasizes student engagement, creativity, and choice, using technology for feedback and supporting a lasting appreciation for music.

 

Delaney Lenge, Melissa Gonzalez, Kathryn Latimer, Aaron Lotz, Lisa Ngueyn: $1,500 for Social Emotional Growth Kit

The "Social Emotional Growth Kit" grant will be used to purchase Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) Educator’s Starter Kits and Bundles for 91 second-grade students at Grant Elementary. These resources, which include  books and educator guides, will support Tier 2 SEL lessons that focus on emotional identification, regulation and social awareness. Materials will be reused each year, creating a library of SEL resources that can be accessed by teachers for individualized lessons based on students' needs. This project seeks to improve students' self-awareness, self-management and social skills, addressing trauma-informed needs and helping students navigate emotions in a constructive way.

Lenge

Gonzalez

Latimer

Lotz

Nguyen

 

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COLUMBIA RIDGE ELEMENTARY

Jody Stadelman: $300 for Engaging Alphabet ELL Learning Strategies for All

The "Engaging Alphabet ELL Learning Strategies for All!" grant will provide materials to support 21 kindergarten students in improving letter recognition, sound recognition and fine motor skills. The funds will be used to purchase a set of alphabet books, writing practice cards, magnetic letters and sensory alphabet letters. These resources will help engage students through visual, auditory and hands-on activities, including building letters and words. The materials will be used during daily lessons and small group interventions to ensure all students, including those with autism spectrum diagnoses, receive developmentally appropriate and engaging learning experiences. Regular assessments will track progress and guide further instruction.

 

Laura Mietenkorte, Julie Kessel, Chantel Park, Miranda Stump, Debbie Sisson: $1,000 for Reading Rockstars: Encouraging Literacy Development and Engagement Through Hands-on Learning

The "Reading Rockstars" grant will provide hands-on phonics tools for first graders at Columbia Ridge Elementary to help make learning to read more fun and engaging. Roughly 100 students will use items like magnetic trays, wands and letter tiles in their small reading groups every day to practice sounding out words and building their reading skills. Teachers will work together to group students by skill level and adjust groups based on each student’s progress. These tools will make reading practice more exciting and help students remember what they learn. 

Mietenkorte

Kessel

Park

Stump

Sisson

 

Audra Middleton, Jody Clark, Ali Mantese, Gary Klepec: $300 for Phonemic Awareness for Reading Readiness

The "Phonemic Awareness for Reading Readiness" grant will help 81 kindergarten students at Columbia Ridge Elementary learn to read by using fun, hands-on materials. The teachers will use new books, sorting games, and the "Secret Stories" program to help children learn letter sounds. These activities make learning fun and will help participants remember the sounds letters make. The new materials will help all students, including those who learn best by seeing or doing things with their hands. 

Middleton

Clark

Mantese

Klepec

 

Judy Dillin: $300 for Leveled Bilingual Books to Provide Equity

The "Leveled Bilingual Books to Provide Equity" grant will be used to purchase three sets of bilingual books for 60 multilingual students, aimed at supporting reading and vocabulary development in both English and Spanish. These leveled books will be used in the classroom for reading intervention and vocabulary building. Students will also have the opportunity to borrow them to practice reading at home with their families. The project will help students improve reading accuracy, fluency and comprehension, while fostering language development in both languages.

 

Scarlett Wilson: $300 for Tiger Zone Project

The "Tiger Zone" project will use grant funding to expand a designated emotional regulation space to every classroom at Columbia Ridge Elementary, benefiting 500 students. Each classroom will have a "Tiger Zone" equipped with sensory and Social Emotional Learning (SEL) materials, such as an emotional velcro chart, yoga pose flip cards, stress balls, breathing charts and other calming items. This initiative will help students struggling with emotional challenges to self-regulate and return to class quickly, ensuring they can stay engaged in core instruction. The project supports the school’s "Show Your Stripes" initiative, promoting safety, respect and responsibility, while providing all students access to tools for emotional self-management.

 

Eli Garcia: $300 for Classroom Calming Corners

The "Classroom Calming Corners-Sensory" project will use grant funding to create designated calming spaces in classrooms at Columbia Ridge Elementary, serving 480 students from Kindergarten through 4th grade. These spaces will be equipped with sensory items such as sensory bins, fidgets, bottles and age-appropriate books on social-emotional topics. Activities like coloring, origami and visual puzzles will also be available to help students self-regulate and manage their emotions. The project aims to teach students effective coping strategies, reduce disruptive behavior, improve focus and enhance emotional well-being, ultimately supporting academic success and fostering lifelong self-regulation skills.

 

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EPHRATA MIDDLE SCHOOL

Shawn Beeman: $300 for Bowling Buddies

The "Bowling Buddies" project will use grant funding to introduce 25 students in the Adapted PE program at Ephrata Middle School to the sport of bowling, a popular event in the Special Olympics. The funds will cover the cost of games and shoe rentals for a trip to the nearest bowling alley, Lake Bowl in Moses Lake. Students will also receive training on using the Grant Transit Authority bus system to enhance their community awareness and independence. This project aims to provide students with lifelong physical and social activity opportunities while fostering collaboration and self-esteem.

 

Tiffany Montgomery: $300 for Growing Minds

The "Growing Minds" project will use grant funding to expand a gardening program for Life Skills students at Ephrata Middle School. The funds will be used to purchase seeds, gardening supplies and materials for a seed library, allowing students and their families to grow and harvest flowers, vegetables and herbs. Students will learn gardening basics through a cross-curricular approach, integrating science, math, reading and health. They will collaborate with peer mentors and participate in community outreach, including sharing flower arrangements with local assisted living residents. Additionally, the project will partner with the Washington State University Master Gardener Program for expert horticultural guidance. This initiative aims to build lifelong gardening skills, enhance social-emotional development, and foster community engagement.

 

Colleen Grigg, Adria Aparicio, Jessica Jenkins: $900 for Cascade Learning Loop Exploration

The "Cascade Learning Loop Exploration" project will use grant funding to provide 25 Life Skills students at Ephrata Middle School with educational day trips focused on the history, geography and ecology of central Washington. The grant will cover transportation, activity fees and materials like fishing poles and tackle. Students will visit locations such as Dry Falls, Wanapum Heritage Center and participate in outdoor activities like fishing, bird watching and hiking. The project will also introduce students to public transportation through the Grant Transit Authority, enhancing their community awareness. These experiences aim to enrich students' understanding of science, history and self-regulation while fostering inclusivity and social-emotional growth.

Grigg

Aparicio

Jenkins