Balloons bouncing behind her petite frame, Lynn Juniel knocked on the classroom door with the awards in hand.
She hadn’t expected the entire Creekside Elementary third grade class to be meeting in one room, and its five teachers didn’t expect Juniel, the Issaquah Schools Foundation Development Manager.
The third graders won a $550 grant from the foundation to improve the schools’ Northwest Indian curriculum, a favorite among students. It was among the smallest of the $8,189 in grants the organization awarded that day, but it went to the most teachers.
As the teachers expressions melted from confusion to surprise, their students erupted in an applause.
“Without them (ISF), so much of what we’d do wouldn’t be possible,” said Bethany Mensik, a teacher.
While the Classroom Enrichment Grants are among the smaller awards, they support some of the most unique ideas.
A few of the grant applications turned into fully backed foundation programs throughout the district, including robotics and a financial literacy program for middle schoolers.
Teachers have a good perspective on what can help their students learn. These grants give some the resources to meet those specific needs, Juniel said.
The grants also are an opportunity to promote the foundation among parents. Students took home stick-on tattoos and the school hung an ISF banner. About 87 percent of ISF money comes directly from parents.
Grant Winners
Summer Slide No More! Blast-off to Reading: Susan Mundell, Apollo Elementary
eBooks For Science Students: Amber Peterson, Beaver Lake Middle
Preparing all Kindergarten Students for Academic Success: May Pelto, Clark Elementary
Northwest Coastal Native American Storypath Enrichment: Bethany Mensik, Megan Norman, Gayle Melton, Shannon Karr, Jennifer Widden; Creekside Elementary
Take Home Books for Struggling Readers: Megan Lusk, Grand Ridge Elementary
Keeping Current in Cooking: Camille Wright, Maywood Middle
Illuminated Orbiter: Marla Crouch, Maywood Middle
Moon Phases and the Solar System: Marla Crouch, Maywood Middle
Updated library media collection: Michelle Ensy, Sunny Hills
Science books and media: Karen Kline & Sandy Mullis, Sunset Elementary
ISF awarded 10 grants Thursday. From the left, teachers Jennifer Widden, Bethany Mensik and ISF’s Lynn Juniel. BY CELESTE GRACEY
Teacher Bethany Mensik holds balloons and a banner celebrating a grant she received from the Issaquah Schools Foundation. BY CELESTE GRACEY
