Minnetonka Public Schools Foundation Awards $65,000 in Grants

The Minnetonka Public Schools Foundation recently awarded 35 grants totaling more than $65,000 to Minnetonka teachers and staff via the annual Teacher Grant Program.

Grants will be implemented in the 2012-13 school year and include funding for new technology, curriculum enhancements in math, science, reading and writing, multi-cultural initiatives, and youth citizenship development. In addition, several grants that support the fine arts were funded by the Minnetonka Alumni Association.

Since its inception in 1999, the Teacher Grant Program has provided over $600,000 in grants for classroom initiatives and special projects at all six District elementary schools, both middle schools, the high school and Early Childhood Family Education.

For more information about the 2012-13 Teacher Grants, visit the foundation’s website.

Clear Springs Elementary School
Grant #9: Making Music ‐‐ Nashville Style

Lead Teacher/Staff: Nicole Snedden

Summary: This project will enable 5th grade students at Clear Springs the opportunity to experience the music process as a whole, beginning with inspiration, then creating, and finally performing in front of a live audience. The grant will partially fund a music residency called “Makin’ Music – Nashville Style” by singer/song‐writer Jeff Dayton. Students will learn by working in teams and collaborating to reach a common goal/product, and the project will culminate with live performances of their own songs to the school community. Awarded $1,000

Grant #18: Learning to Learn Using iPad Technology Lead

Teacher/Staff: Nancy Mallak‐Kirsch

Summary: This grant provides OT instructors the ability to further establish a continuum of OT services throughout the district for their students. iPads and educational apps directly address student needs in the areas of motor and sensory differences and allow students to develop their skills with technology. Some examples are: hand writing apps, visual perception apps, video modeling, dexterity, and apps for multi‐lingual learners. iPads allow differentiation for each student’s unique needs. Awarded $1,950

Grant #25: Can You Hear Me Now?

Lead Teacher/Staff: Joan Larson

Summary: This grant provides USB stereo headsets for use by student researchers. At project conclusion, students will use the technology to deliver presentations to classmates and teachers. The headsets allow students to deliver their findings in a creative, lively and entertaining fashion, using technology to enhance the production value of presentations. Awarded $480

Deephaven Elementary School
Grant #39: Standing Desks Lead

Teacher/Staff: Karl Boberg

Summary: The grant will fund the purchase of several standing desks for a fifth grade classroom. The standing desk allows students to move while learning. Studies show how much more students are moving in this digital age and kinesthetic learning is at an all‐time high. Standing desks will replace the sitting desks of the past. This physical differentiation of education allows more student needs to be met. The desks are also equipped to use stools to allow kids to sit if standing is not a successful choice. Awarded $2,445
Excelsior Elementary School

Grant #22: Fourth Grade Nook Clubs for a Generation of Readers Lead

Teacher/Staff: Tim Ketel

Summary: The goal of this grant is to bring a spirit of innovation to classroom book clubs, to build student enthusiasm for collaborative reading and discussion, and to teach students literacy skills using 21st century tools. Digital literacy will be strengthened using Nook tools such as built‐in dictionaries, note‐taking options, and comment sharing with other readers. Using Nooks will help build enthusiasm and interest in meeting and book discussion among students. Awarded $2,150

Grant #27: Music Infusion: Jamming In the Classroom

Lead Teacher/Staff: Tim Ketel

Summary: The goal of this grant is to bring music into the classroom in a frequent, meaningful way, by engaging students in music‐making in a variety of contexts. Students will be taught to correctly use simple instruments and through making music, will build community, strengthen sense of rhythm, and increase their learning. Music is an innovative way to differentiate instruction. Students will be able to create or adapt music to summarize, share, and extend learning and understanding in every subject area. The students will perform and record music for sharing with others. Awarded $269 from the Minnetonka Alumni Association Fine Arts Endowment Fund

Grant #28: Family Culture Fest Lead

Teacher/Staff: Jennifer Kitt

Summary: To promote cultural awareness, knowledge of arts from other countries and community building, Excelsior will again host a Family Culture Fest. The grant supports the goals of educating students, families and staff about other cultures in a fun, inclusive way and prepares children to be
global citizens. The event exposes students and their families to other cultures and arts through volunteer ambassadors that represent food, art, artifacts, games and interesting facts about the culture of their choice. Awarded $750 from the Nick Duff Multicultural Fund

Groveland Elementary School
Grant #1: Groveland's Young Authors Conference Lead

Teacher/Staff: Jennifer Hahn

Summary: The intent of the project is to inspire student passion for writing and offer opportunities for students to enrich their experiences with writing in an interactive way with effective role models. The grant provides funding for teachers, staff and community members to lead a Writing Conference for 4th & 5th grade students at Groveland, which will consist of a series of breakout sessions on a variety of writing topics and experiences such as “poetry in motion” or “how to publish a piece of writing.” Sessions may be videotaped to be used in classrooms throughout the district. Awarded $1,100

Grant #42: Using Innovative Technology to Develop Beginning Reading Skills Lead

Teacher/Staff: Daryl Siefert

Summary: The Reading Mentor, an innovative technology tool, provides students of all developmental levels with highly interactive, multi‐sensory reading learning experiences. Students build, hear, see, say and write words that are aligned with their reading development. Students learn to independently use the tool to practice letter identification, sounds, decode and pronounce words, and master sight words and sentences. The technology will increase independence, enable students to manage their own learning and help them identify when to move to a more challenging word skill. Awarded $1,729

Minnewashta Elementary School
Grant #2: Paging for Practice Lead

Teacher/Staff: Monica Hahn

Summary: This grant will be used to purchase a paging system that will provide a way for orchestra students to be discreetly and effectively notified that it is time for their orchestra “pull‐out” lesson. Each day, orchestra students will be given a pager that will activate when it is time for their lesson. It is expected that that use of a paging system to notify students, rather than calling individual teachers and classrooms, will reduce classroom disruptions that negatively impact learning time, as well as, increase regular, on‐time attendance for orchestra. Awarded $1,559

Grant #3: Apps and Apple Devices for Kindergarten Spanish Immersion Classroom Lead

Teacher/Staff: Rebekah Wunderlich

Summary: This grant funds the purchase of iPods and applications that will be used in small learning centers in a Kindergarten Spanish Immersion classroom setting. iPods with various language arts, math, and other content applications in classroom learning centers will significantly increase student learning for young Spanish language learners because it is an engaging way to reinforce lessons. Awarded $1,070

Grant #15: USB Microphones for Easy Speaking Spanish!

Lead Teacher/Staff: Maria Chopite

Summary: This grant will create student centers for reading, practicing oral skills, and listening in their target language, using Easi‐Speak Digital Microphones. These microphones, which are fun and easy to use, will inspire first graders to relax, communicate, and be themselves when speaking and being recorded. Digital portfolios can be created with the recordings, to be used for assessment, student feedback, or to share with parents. The microphones are a great tool for oral communication as well as boosting young students’ 21st century skills. Awarded $910

Grant #23: Let’s Get Jumping Lead

Teacher/Staff: Sarah Becher

Summary: The intent of this grant is to start a Jump Rope “club” for students. Jumping rope is a life‐long activity that has many health benefits. The club is an opportunity to get students involved in a fun exercise that promotes healthy lifestyles. Students will learn individual and group skills to use during the club and on their own. Awarded $405

Scenic Heights Elementary School
Grant #31: Inventing Rocks Lead

Teacher/Staff: Kim Diekmann and Anita Britton

Summary: This grant is for an Artist in Residence for 21st Century/STEM skills. Linda Pollack will work with third grade classroom teachers to implement “Inventing Rocks!”, an interactive curriculum designed to teach innovation, collaboration, creativity, engineering, critical thinking, entrepreneurship, leadership, investigation and independent thinking. With a comic book curriculum and hands‐on activities, the Inventing Rocks! course is a seven‐week fun, interactive approach that teaches students how to take their ideas into the business world. The course takes students through the real‐life process of inventing and the first two phases of bringing a product to market. Awarded $1,000

Grant #34: Bringing the World to Scenic Heights

Lead Teacher/Staff: Melinda Barry

Summary: Award winning multi‐cultural books will be purchased and promoted for students at Scenic Heights. These award winning books, although not particular to any specific curricular areas, will enrich curriculum and reflect and celebrate diverse learners. Books will be selected from the following awards: Pura Belpre, Children’s Africana Book Award, IRI Notable Books for a Global Society, Middle East Book Award, and Coretta Scott King Award. Awarded $415 from the Nick Duff Multicultural Fund

Grant #51: Chinese Red Drums

Lead Teacher/Staff: Mary Renz

Summary: Red drums are used in special ceremonies and festivals in the Chinese culture. As a Chinese immersion school, all students will engage with and perform on the drums in class and at concerts. This
idea builds on a successful Foundation‐funded Chinese music residency last year where students learned drum cadences using body percussion. The drums will add to Scenic Heights’ multi‐cultural curriculum. Awarded $1,290 from the Nick Duff Multicultural Fund

Joint Elementary Schools Grant

Grant #48: 21st Century Skills call for 21st Century Tools

Lead Teacher/Staff: Jane Meyer

Summary: This program, that encompasses all Minnetonka elementary schools, envisions using iPads in art classes to demonstrate skills and knowledge through projects and performances, and communicating with audiences. Contemporary multipurpose media through the device will improve student creative and critical thinking skills and provide a platform for collaboration and effective communication. Students will create visually powerful digital books, art works, animations, videos, websites, posters and portfolios. Opportunity exists for all elementary grade levels. Kindergartners could create digital alphabets, making drawings of something that begins with each letter of the alphabet, adding their own voices saying the relevant letter. Fifth graders may create digital mixed media self‐portraits, with photography, text and sound, incorporating feelings and hopes, not just external definitions. Thousands of Minnetonka students will be impacted by this grant. Awarded $11,000

Joint Middle Schools Grant
Grant #14: Rachel’s Challenge

Lead Teacher/Staff: Deanne Hoppe

Summary: This purpose of this grant is to start a chain reaction of kindness and compassion among middle school students. A presentation about Rachel, one of the students killed in Columbine, will motivate students to positive change in the way that they treat others. Student leaders and staff will be trained to guide students to sustain the momentum of change. Parents and community members will be shown how to reinforce the choices kids are making. Rachel’s Challenge will inspire and motivate all participants to make healthy, positive changes to relationships they have and will encourage students to reach out to others who are struggling with fitting in or need assistance. Awarded $4,815

Minnetonka Middle School East
Grant #13: Nooks in the Classroom

Lead Teacher/Staff: Sandy O’Neil

Summary: This grant will provide funds for the purchase of e‐readers (Nooks) to be used in reading classes at the middle school level. The e‐reader technology is easy to use, cost effective and engaging, and is intended to increase reading proficiency, test scores, and independence. Using Nooks will enable students to develop increased enthusiasm and interest in reading while at the same time developing technology skills. Awarded $790

Grant #24: Advanced Robotics Programming Software LabVIEW

Lead Teacher/Staff: Dawn Sorenson

Summary: This grant will purchase updated software that will enable middle school students, who currently use Tetrix robots, to use them to their fullest potential. Students will be able to view live sensor data, perform analysis, and experience simulated real‐world challenges. The updated software will also allow students to use radio control to manipulate movement of the robots. With this software, students will be at the forefront of robotic technology. Awarded $1,251

Grant #38: Creative and Critical Thinking Lead

Teacher/Staff: Karen Gotz

Summary: A composer‐in‐residence from MacPhail Center for Music will work with MME band and orchestra students to guide and instruct them in creating a music composition. This special project will allow students to further develop creative and critical thinking, and communication, through music. Awarded $1,600

Grant #57: Fostering 21st Century Skills in Science

Lead Teacher/Staff: Andrea Hoffman

Summary: In science laboratories, process is just as important, if not more, than the end result. This grant funds iPod touch devices to engage learners in the scientific process with capabilities including science probe apps such as iCelsius for temperature recording and graphing, FaceTime for collaboration and communication of geology and meteorology field work studies, Skype for connections with science professionals, and apps to explore topics such as stars, planets, moon phases, elements and atoms. The iPods will be employed for whole‐class, project‐based, inquiry exploration. Awarded $2,360

Minnetonka Middle School West
Grant #12: Virtual Field Trips

Lead Teacher/Staff: Danielle Pittel

Summary: This grant enables the purchase of Polycom video conferencing equipment so students can participate in “virtual field trips” during scheduled class periods. Virtual field trip capability will be used initially within the fine arts/drama area at the middle school level, and can be extended to other disciplines within the District. Virtual field trips aim to have students actively engaged with resident artists and offer exploratory classes in dance through incorporation of technology in innovative ways. Awarded $4,792 from MPSF and $1,000 from the Minnetonka Alumni Association Fine Arts Endowment Fund

Grant #17: 21st Century Learning Connections—iPads for Special Ed

Lead Teacher/Staff: Debra Buehler

Summary: Using iPad technology allows Special Ed instructors flexibility and personalized learning experiences for their students. Innovative apps that can be accessed on the iPads give students avenues to success not available in traditional teaching methods. Some goals and objectives to be reached using iPads are in the areas of: social skill, academics, speech and communication, data collection, fine motor skills, organization, note taking, vocabulary and language, relaxation and motivation. iPads will allow students to showcase their abilities and to help with inclusion and performance. Awarded $3,850

Grant #32: MMW Student Government Leadership Grades 6‐8

Lead Teacher/Staff: Mary Benson

Summary: The grant will fund a speaker on leadership to enhance the goals of Minnetonka Middle School West Student Government including: to provide students with the power to influence and make decisions at the building level; to give students input and an opportunity to serve in an advisory capacity to the school district, PTO, and MMW leadership committee, and building administration; to allow students to have a stronger sense of ownership over their school climate and culture; and to operate an educational vehicle for hands‐on learning about how government functions at both the school and global level. Awarded $750 from the Youth Citizenship Development Fund

Grant #56: Music Composition: Creative and Critical Thinking

Lead Teacher/Staff: Dan Mollick

Summary: A composer‐in‐residence from MacPhail Center for Music will work with MMW band and orchestra students to guide and instruct them in creating a music composition. This special project will allow students to further develop creative and critical thinking, and communication, through music. Awarded $1,600

Minnetonka High School
Grant #5: Vex Robotics ‐ A Hands on Approach to STEM

Lead Teacher/Staff: Mitch Burfeind

Summary: The goal of this project is to expose high school engineering students to all aspects of ‘STEM’ (science, technology, engineering and math) simultaneously within a real world, problem solving situation. This grant funds the purchase of robotic equipment kits that will be used to apply STEM theory and concepts building and programming robots. Awarded $1,540

Grant #6: Performers in the Classroom

Lead Teacher/Staff: Maggie Pistner

Summary: This project provides resources to high school English teachers to enhance core curriculum by augmenting classroom texts and lessons with the use of outside actors and artists. Student engagement and learning is significantly increased with visiting actors and artists because these professionals are able to bring alive the very same material a teacher delivers, but in an entertaining, refreshing and unexpected way. Awarded $3,000 from the Minnetonka Alumni Association Fine Arts Endowment Fund

Grant #29: Final Frontier

Lead Teacher/Staff: Brian Olson

Summary: This grant funds purchase of components to assemble a school portable VHF/UHF amateur radio station with satellite capabilities and to assist students in obtaining an Amateur Radio License. Before and after school training sessions will be held to instruct students on wireless technologies and
satellite communications systems. Once students obtain an amateur radio license the goal is to apply for an ARISS contact. ARISS is Amateur Radio International Space Station. The ARISS program is a cooperative venture of NASA, the ARRL and AMSAT and other international space agencies that organizes scheduled contacts via Amateur Radio between astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station and classrooms.
Awarded $1,690

Grant #35: MHS Legacy Project Lead

Teacher/Staff: Laurie Lokar

Summary: The grant will fund collaboration with Social Ventures Partners of Minnesota and the Legacy Project, which takes serving and leadership development of Minnetonka students to the next level by creating potential for class wide engagement. Each class will research, evaluate and choose a “cause” to focus on for their four years of high school and will learn that they can play a vital role in creating social change through the 21st century movement of engaged philanthropy. The intended learners will initially be the Class of 2015 (750 students). The goal of the Legacy Project is for each freshman class to choose a cause to be their focus, such that eventually each of the four classes at MHS (2,800 students) will be working to affect real change in their chosen area of service. Awarded $1,500 from the Youth Citizenship Development Fund

Grant #44: MHS Math Department goes even Greener

Lead Teacher/Staff: David Surver

Summary: The math department at MHS provides graphing calculators for student use. Throughout the math department there are 136 calculators that use 4 AAA batteries each that last for less than a year. Thus, the math department had been discarding nearly six hundred batteries per year. This grant completes a program started last year to purchase rechargeable batteries and a charging station to go “even Greener!”, as rechargeable batteries last over five years. Money saved will be redirected to classroom projects. Awarded $320

Grant #45: Minnetonka Hydration Station

Lead Teacher/Staff: David Surver

Summary: 80% of MHS students carry water bottles and this grant funds a dedicated, optimized water bottle fill station. The station is much more efficient and effective filling bottles compared to conventional water fountains. Studies show students perform 10% better when hydrated. Clearly, students understand with so many carrying bottles! Awarded $1,000

Grant #47: Portable ‘Smart’ Light Board Lead

Teacher/Staff: Erik Paulson

Summary: This grant funds a portable light board console used during One‐Act plays and is compatible with current lighting technology. The state‐of‐the‐art board will be invaluable controlling specialty lighting effects including moving lights, color‐mixing LEDs and color faders through multiple control channels for many events at various venues during the school year. Awarded $2,300 from the Minnetonka Alumni Association Fine Arts Endowment Fund

Grant #49: Classroom Jeopardy

Lead Teacher/Staff: Donna Peszek

Summary: This grant engages students using an interactive, electronic game creating a social learning experience with active players. An electronic version of the classic TV show, students enter ‘questions’ to ‘answers’ on the Smartboard. Teachers and students can create question and answer challenges. Electronic means have proven effective for students with learning styles that are not well served by a traditional lecture format. Awarded $963
Minnetonka Community Education/Early Childhood and Family Education

Grant #4: Community Superhero!

Lead Teacher/Staff: Margaret Coldwell

Summary: This grant will provide teachers in the Early Childhood Family Education program with materials for young children to have the opportunity to experience the role of community workers thought dramatic play. As part of the ECFE curriculum, children learn what constitutes a community super hero and who is responsible for making the community work. Lessons on community will be implemented through role playing materials funded with the grant, and will be enhanced through the use of SmartBoard technology and iPad applications. Awarded $750 from the Youth Citizenship Development Fund