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HARVEST 2024
Scholarships & Grants
Reunions
Innovative Grants
2024 Teacher Grant Award Recipients
$27,960.00 TOTAL GRANTS AWARDED
Each year, the AEF awards grants to Watertown School District educators for innovative programs and materials that are beyond the scope of the regular school district budget to enhance the educational experience of our students.
We are pleased to announce this year's recipients:
Marissa Stone
Sensory & Emotional Regulation - $3,000.00
Mrs. Stone McKinley Elementary received a grant for $3,000.00 for sensory and emotional regulation kits. This grant is aimed at reaching every student within the school, the kits feature sensory inputs for all senses, including visual, auditory, tactile and movement experiences.
Garrett Buchanan & Ron Stary
Influencing future musicians - $2,000.00
Mr. Buchanan & Mrs. Stary Band Instructors at the Intermediate school received a grant for $2,000.00 for influencing future intermediate school musicians. Unable to make the picture was Mr. Stary. Reminder that if you have any used instruments, they can be donated to the band program.
Kim Gilmour & Jacqueline Blaha
Purposeful Play Storage & Magnetic Building Tiles $2,600.00
Mrs. Gilmour & Mrs. Blaha McKinley Elementary received a grant for $2,600.00 for Purposeful Play Storage and Magnetic Building Tiles. This grant will help enhance learning through cooperative play, visual images, manipulating objects, creating structures and working together with their peers and sparking their creative side! Unable to make the picture was Mrs. Blaha.
Jennifer Doescher, Emily Borkhuis & Ashley Stricherz
Ninja Skills - $3,000.00
Mrs. Doescher, Mrs. Borkhuis & Mrs. Stricherz McKinley School received a grant for $3,000.00 for Ninja Skills books which empowers students navigate difficult and emotional feelings.
Jalyn Feininger
Libros En Espanol - $4,000.00
Mrs. Feininger Middle School Librarian received a grant for $4,000.00 for Libros en Espanol this grant will impact the English learners and the multilingual learners.
Karen Olson
Classroom Books - $1,000.00
Mrs. Olson Lincoln Elementary will be moving grades next year and received a grant for $1,000.00 to build her 4th grade classroom library.
Kristi Koll
Calm down/peace corners - $2,500.00
Mrs. Koll received a grant for $2,500.00 for calm down/peace corners to help students notice and manage their emotions so they can return to a learning state of mind.
Kelsey Heller
3rd grade classroom books - $1,000.00
Mrs. Heller Lincoln Elementary will be moving grades next year and received a grant for $1,000.00 to build her 3rd grade classroom library
Amanda Spaniol & Kiara Borkhuis
Flexible Seating - $3,500.00
Mrs. Spaniol & Mrs. Borkhuis Intermediate School received a grant for $3,500.00 for Flexible Seating to Promote Learning. The flexible seating will allow students to select the seating choice that suits their learning preferences best and will help increase focus during learning activities. Unable to make the picture was Mrs. Borkhuis
Kami Dilworth & Jacqueline Blaha
Sensory Time - $1,800.00
Mrs. Dilworth & Mrs. Blaha Mellette Elementary received a grant for $1,800.00 for Sensory Time. Sensory materials play a crucial role in early childhood education. Unable to make the photo was Mrs. Blaha
Christen Clausen
Versatiles - $810.00
Mrs. Clausen Mckinley Elementary received a grant for $810.00 for Versatiles which will help students build math & literacy proficiency.
Katelyn Howard
Megna Tiles Corner - $500.00
Mrs. Howard Mellette Elementary received a grant for $500.00 for Growing Mind, Creativity and Calmness - the Megna Tiles Corner. Student will be able to build social skills and social - emotional learning. Giving kids the opportunity to clam their bodies and be creative
Kristina Bransrud & Sarah Radtke
Set Up for Success-$2,000.00
Mrs. Bransrud and Mrs. Radtke received a grant for $2,000.00 for their Set up for Success grant. The students will be empowered to spend most or all of their day in the classrooms by helping them identify, understand and effectively regulate their emotions.
McKenzie Bakken
Rock Your School Day - $250.00
Mrs. Bakken received a grant for $250.00 for Rock Your School Day. Rock Your School Day is a world-wide one day event held on Sept 27th - a day of learning that the students will never forget!