PCEF Prepares for School in the Fall with $250,000 in Classroom Grants : Our Stories : News & Events : Park City Education Foundation

OUR STORIES

June 16, 2020

PCEF Prepares for School in the Fall with $250,000 in Classroom Grants

Teachers answered the call! In spite of an uncharted spring, we received over 40 Classroom Grant requests from all PCSD schools. Thanks to the generosity of PCEF donors, we were able to fund 33 grants and find outside funding for eight other grant proposals!

“The Programs Committee and the Classroom Grant Committee put in an incredible amount of hard work including research, countless meetings, and using expertise from their own backgrounds as former teachers, PTO members, community and classroom volunteers. We are lucky to have this level of dedication to our students, both from these volunteers and the amazing teachers and admin. We know the #1 influence on student success are classroom teachers, and we are privileged to support them,” said PCEF Programs Director Kara Cody.

“The applications that came through were a mix of tried and true favorites that students love as well as some new ideas, which is commendable during this uncertain time,” she continued. “It’s through the Classroom Grant program that we fund things like Smart Music at Ecker Hill, Robotics at TMJH and PCHS, and the Mindful Schools certification training for teachers, which is moving to PCHS this year.”

“Smart Music has been a lifesaver during this (school closure) and has kept the band kiddos moving forward and the kids are sounding great. Can't thank you, your staff and supporters enough. We have seen every program across the country move to this platform and we were already up and running and there has been no break in the learning and joy music brings to the kids and their families. Thanks again!” - Kelly Wallis, EHMS Band Teacher

“I am delighted to have received funding for both LIA and Debate! Thank you so much for not only supporting me but for being a champion for the students in our district. I feel fortunate to work in a place where community allies support teachers, students and important programs that might not otherwise exist without the generosity of the PCEF.” - Anna Martinez Williams

New this year is a Commissioning Project for the PCHS Percussion Studio and funds to start an RC Race and Engineering Club for 4th and 5th graders at Trailside. “Sam Thompson started a very successful Afterschool club at TMJH,” noted Cody, “and underlying the fun is learning engineering concepts about design, building, and maintaining the vehicles. Now Sam is at Trailside, and he wanted to try it there. It’ll be interesting to see how younger students engage with the concepts.”

It’s exciting to support teachers and schools through our biggest granting program, but there is still worry about the future ahead. “We scaled back a bit on our allocated funds for this program,” said PCEF Executive Director Abby McNulty, “because we need to ensure we can fund our other programs children love, too, like EVA art and PCCAPS. We know the academic gaps this next year will be greater, and needs for our programs that help close those gaps, like Preschool and Afterschool, will be greater, too. And, no one knows what the fundraising landscape will look like next year. School budgets will be cut. We will need the support of every parent in the district this fall so we can maintain the programs parents and students depend on.

“We want to wholeheartedly thank everyone who supported us this past year, especially this spring. We can’t fund these awesome programs without the awesome donors who support PCEF.”

With gratitude for their support of the Classroom Grants program:

The Thomas H and Carolyn L Fey Foundation

Deer Valley Resort Fund

2020-2021 Classroom Grants:

All Schools

· K-12 Computer Science

EHMS

· Special Ed Community Outings

· Ecker Hill Honors Music Program

· Ecker Hill Student Pathways to Success

· Ecker Hill Afterschool Program

· IXL in 6th Grade Math