The Classroom Grant opportunity continues to impact thousands of students throughout Collier County’s schools, both public and independent. This provides the ability for teachers to experience the support of a community committed to a variety of learning experiences. Even with such an uncertain start to the school year, teachers utilized the Classroom Grant portal to request what they needed for their classrooms, and the community responded graciously.
The Classroom Grant online portal allows teachers to request classroom grants that are funded directly by the community to create innovative learning experiences for their students. 100% of these contributions go directly into the classroom for teachers to use with students immediately.
“The impact of this grant will continue to be evident as we progress through this year and years to come.”
– Kathleen Lawler, Pelican Marsh Elementary School
Below are just two examples of the 170 fully funded projects from the 2020-2021 school year:
Project: Picturing Writing: Fostering Literacy Through Art
Teacher: Carole Burns
School: Veterans Memorial Elementary School
Grade(s): 1st Grade
Impact: 34 students impacted
Cost: $484.80
Investor: Suncoast Credit Union
“The art comes to life throughout the year in our kindergarten classroom as the students explore key social studies and science concepts and standards through art and language using a process called Picturing Writing: Fostering Literacy Through Art.
Each student created water-color crayon resist artwork to represent learnings during the Science and Social Studies curriculum. The students then wrote poems about fall and about USA symbols, accessing descriptive language and literary devices from their paintings.
These pictures provide an example of how essential concepts, important language arts skills, and the arts can be integrated into one dynamic learning experience.”
– Carole Burns, Veterans Memorial Elementary
Project: Close Emotionally – while social distancing – WE DINE TOGETHER, thanks to you!
Teacher: Anna Bowe
School: Lely High School
Grade(s): 9 – 12 Grades
Impact: 1,000+ students impacted
Cost: $999.01
Investor: Perna-Rose Foundation of Hope
In its second year, the “Friendship Garden” at Lely High School continues to flourish. As a project of the We Dine Together International Club, the students designed and created the garden in the 2019-20 school year as a place of relaxation, conversation and connection.
During this school year, the garden has taken on a deeper meaning as students navigate the COVID-related restrictions and learn how to make this a space to foster connection in the midst of separation. The students are learning not only how to plan a garden space, but also how to consider others and create a space for emotional growth and healing.
The Classroom Grant portal is currently closed for individual grants, but will reopen in July 2021 for new grant requests for the 2021-2022 school year.
To support teachers’ great ideas and donate to the general Classroom Grants Fund for 2021-2022, click HERE or text “APPLE21” to 44-321.