SJSD educators surprised with grant funding for innovative learning projects

Oct. 17—Six St. Joseph educators are bringing learning and creativity to a whole new level, and now, they have the funding to do so thanks to the Apple Seed Grant.

On Thursday, Oct. 17, the "prize patrol" comprised of the SJSD Foundation, visited six local schools starting at Central High School then moving to Truman Middle School, then Parkway Elementary School, Hillyard Technical Center, Bode Middle School and finally ending with Robidoux Middle School.

Each educator was given a certificate and a gift bag as they accepted the grant, which funds innovative programs designed to give students one of a kind, hands-on experiences.

Prior to being selected for the grants, educators were instructed to submit either a classroomwide, schoolwide or districtwide proposal with a brief description of their idea.

Angela Claywell of Parkway Elementary School received a grant for the Super Science Club, which aims to enhance learning with hands-on STEM activities that take place outside the classroom. Her goal is to teach fourth through sixth grade students the different ways science impacts their daily lives through problem-solving skills. Super Science Club will meet for one hour after school every Monday and Wednesday where oftentimes students can work in partners or small groups.

"We're going to do electronics, we're going to do robotics, we're going to do all kinds of fun stuff," Claywell said.

Jennifer Fitzpatrick of Central High School's industrial arts program is using the grant money to obtain a laser engraver and cutter for Central's wood shop class. With this new technology, the students will have tools that better align with current industry standards in digital design and precision manufacturing.

Kathryn Kasl of Truman Middle School is working on a digital content creation project. The grant will fund video and audio equipment for Truman's Digital Publication II class. This project targets the development of interpersonal skills and media skills through the creation of a bi-weekly newsletter submitted to the school community and online.

"They're actually turning them in right now and transferring them from the devices that they have onto the computer system," said Kasl. "So it'll be so much easier when we have other recording devices when we create content," Kasl said.

This semester, she said the students are focusing on writing and creating narratives with a goal of strengthening the bond between the schools and the St. Joseph community.

Melissa Morrison of Hillyard Technical Center is working with each middle school to design garden beds. Her plan is to have different teams who are responsible for drafting plans, budgeting and presenting to the class. From there, different classes will vote on the design and the winner will have their garden bed built by the Hillyard construction class. The middle school students will then install the bed and take on the planting and maintenance throughout the years

"They get to choose what they want. Will it be vegetables, will it be fruit, will it be flowers?" said Morrison.

Ashley Zeiler, also of Hillyard Technical Center, wants to utilize sewing machines in gifted education classrooms to teach aspects of geometry, proximity and how things are put together. Through this project, students can design things like parachutes and community-oriented products.

"It's a STEM based project, but we get to actually have the resources to buy fabric and machines and all those extra things we need," said Zeiler.

Zeiler said students will start out learning the components and functions of a sewing machine, then they will apply math and project design for measurements using geometry and more. Students will work throughout the year to test and refine their products to increase functionality. At the end, each child will be expected to discuss their designs, their challenges and any learning mathematical or engineering principals they utilized.

Lastly is Joyce Stohr of Robidoux Middle School who wants to take her seventh graders on a field trip to the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City.

"The Nelson-Atkins art museum has one of the best collections in the country of actual artifacts from those civilizations. And I wanted the students to be able to see that in real life," said an emotional Stohr.

She predicts this field trip will expand and deepen the students' knowledge of the civilizations they're learning about in class.

"I just think it's so magical for them to be able to visualize and really see the reality of what we're studying," said Stohr.

"Many of them probably haven't left St. Joseph and many of them have definitely never been to the Nelson-Atkins" said Cobb.

Julie Cobb, executive director of the foundation, said giving back is what fuels the foundation.

"School district budgets are stretched so tight, and it's so meaningful to be able to fill the gap and give them experiences," she said.

Cobb hopes these innovative proposals will pique students' interests and teach them that coming to school is fun.

"There's a whole world to explore out there that's pivotal. That's where students will begin to engage," said Cobb.

She said one of her favorite parts of delivering the grants was seeing all the teachers and students in their element and observing the impact these educators have on the student's lives.

"To see the students and teachers high-fiving and engaging ... The students know that their staff at their respective schools care about them," said Cobb.

The SJSD Foundation has been providing the Apple Seed grant for more than 25 years. This year the grants collectively totaled close to $13,000.