Seven Acalanes High School groups will receive individual grants of between $2,000 and $8,000 from Acalanes Parents' Club (APC) this spring, says APC President Wendy Poling. Poling says the grants are part of a "first-ever" program, and "an exciting new avenue for both AHS [Acalanes High School] and AUHSD [Acalanes Unified High School District]."
The idea was first presented at a summer parent's club meeting by AHS Treasurer Farshid Arman.
The grant committee, comprised of AHS Principal Aida Glimme, Poling, APC's Mary Newman (vice president) and Arman, received 17 applications. Actual dollar amounts for the winners were unavailable, as the recipients have not yet made their purchases.
Grant disbursements will be overseen by Glimme and a faculty advisor to ensure the funds are spent in accordance with site goals and standards. Glimme says the grants "encouraged our staff to be creative and innovative. It allowed them to go beyond what a typical classroom looks like, all in an effort to improve learning."
The math department received two grants, one for a "classroom flipping" pilot program and another for a wireless T1 Nspire calculator system. The visual and performing arts department received a grant, which, along with financial aid from Lafayette Partners in Education, will establish a digital student gallery in the Performing Arts Center. The school's world language program received a grant for books, DVDs and a field trip to support culture immersion. The AHS student club will use its grant money for promotional materials and support for its Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) program, and the English and journalism department will bring a live performance by the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival to the AHS campus and put Blueprint, the school newspaper, online.
The Acalanes Parent Club operates on a budget of $377,000 for the 2011-2012 school year. Poling says their funding "comes from the generous donations of Acalanes parents."
"We're hoping the launch of the program is successful and that we can continue offering grants in the future," she said. "We've already added it to the discussion list when 2012-2013 budget meetings start with administration next month."
The idea was first presented at a summer parent's club meeting by AHS Treasurer Farshid Arman.
The grant committee, comprised of AHS Principal Aida Glimme, Poling, APC's Mary Newman (vice president) and Arman, received 17 applications. Actual dollar amounts for the winners were unavailable, as the recipients have not yet made their purchases.
Grant disbursements will be overseen by Glimme and a faculty advisor to ensure the funds are spent in accordance with site goals and standards. Glimme says the grants "encouraged our staff to be creative and innovative. It allowed them to go beyond what a typical classroom looks like, all in an effort to improve learning."
The math department received two grants, one for a "classroom flipping" pilot program and another for a wireless T1 Nspire calculator system. The visual and performing arts department received a grant, which, along with financial aid from Lafayette Partners in Education, will establish a digital student gallery in the Performing Arts Center. The school's world language program received a grant for books, DVDs and a field trip to support culture immersion. The AHS student club will use its grant money for promotional materials and support for its Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) program, and the English and journalism department will bring a live performance by the San Francisco Shakespeare Festival to the AHS campus and put Blueprint, the school newspaper, online.
The Acalanes Parent Club operates on a budget of $377,000 for the 2011-2012 school year. Poling says their funding "comes from the generous donations of Acalanes parents."
"We're hoping the launch of the program is successful and that we can continue offering grants in the future," she said. "We've already added it to the discussion list when 2012-2013 budget meetings start with administration next month."
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA