2020 First Student Teacher Grants

Amanda Smith, 5th Grade Teacher, Meadow Lakes Elementary School was awarded a grant for her Health and Safety: First-Aid, Inquiry-Based Learning Project. Amanda writes: "First-Aid skills are essential for youth of all ages to learn, especially those that frequent the Alaskan wilderness. First-Aid is a topic covered in the health curriculum, The Great Body Shop, and is a topic that students in my 5th grade classroom became immediately engaged in. Students were curious about various First-Aid and CPR (a topic mentioned but not taught in the curriculum) skills, they had many questions, and shared a great deal of knowledge of basic First-Aid, as well. The Great Body Shop teaches 4 lessons of basic "First-Aid Facts", however, students initiated taking their learning to a deeper level through their level of engagement, questioning, curiosity, and research. The topic of First-Aid has expanded beyond the basic facts and information the curriculum provides. This inquiry-based project has become hands-on, providing students with opportunities to learn relevant skills pertinent to First-Aid. Students have practiced putting on and properly removing medical gloves, demonstrated fullunderstanding of emergency response steps determining which emergencies they are able to handle and which they cannot, and have demonstrated knowledge of how to properly care for minor burns, allergic reactions (through the use of an EpiPen training device), minor cuts, bloody noses, and poisoning. The project continues to engage students through hands-on experiences, which will include students participating in an unofficial First-Aid certication, demonstration of CPR skills and when to use it, and researching the contents of a First-Aid kit and the use for each item. Finally, each student will create a First-Aid kit with all of the necessary supplies needed to perform First-Aid in an emergency situation. Upon completion, students will take their completed First-Aid kits home, to keep."

Stephanie Udy, Librarian at Cottonwood Creek Elementary School was awarded a grant for her "Library for All - inside and outside" project. Stephanie described the project: "Our project is making relative books accessible to students in many ways. The first part is placing a "Little Free Library" outside the school that families are able to visit and take a book home. This will be stocked through purchases and donations. Inside, our school library collection is in need of a big update. The average publication date of our books is 1993, with only 8% of our books published after 2014. In addition, our collection has more 4th and 5th grade reading level books than any other. To make reading more accessible, we need to add to our 1st-3rd grade reading levels and interests."

Amy Ehmann, 4th Grade Teacher at Pioneer Peak Elementary School was awarded a grant for her Ergonomics in the Classroom Project which will impact all three classes of 4th graders. Amy describes her project: "Our school has shifted to an online learning curriculum due to the current COVID pandemic. We are now a 1:1 school. Students have limited areas to sit in our classrooms which promote proper posture. They can easily sit at their desk but must wear a mask when in their pod. These portable desks would allow students to easily move around the room to maintain a six-foot distance between classmates. They would be able to have their laptop at a more appropriate ergonomic level to help them actively engage in the new online curriculum.

2018 Teacher Grants

The Gorilla Fireworks $1000 Grant was awarded to Lance Swick, PE teacher at Houston Middle School for the restoration and upgrade of equipment with the purchase of new volleyballs, basketballs and playground balls.

The Mat-Su Schools Foundation Grants were awarded to four district teachers. Congratulations to:

Cheryl Williams, science teacher at Palmer High School, was awarded $1000 for her "Things are Looking Up - Drone Powered Data Collection" project. Cheryl said that drones can do more than deliver your pizza or spy on your neighbors! Having a top notch drone will allow students to investigate river bank erosion, document seasonal changes, study air, water and soil pollution sources, map the invasion of non-native plants, estimate migratory bird populations and many more student designed and led investigations. Drone technology is now a powerful tool in data collection. Biology and environmental science students will use the drone to investigate and collect data for projects that they design. Partners include the University of Montana (Clean Air and Healthy Homes Project) and GLOBE. All "drone driven" projects assist our STEM focused curriculum at PHS. The drone will be available for students to use without additional costs for multiple school years.

Rebecca Menzia, Elementary Music Specialist at Snowshoe Elementary School, was awarded $837.55 for her Trailblazer Melodica Program. The melodica was originally invented in Germany for the purpose of teaching children music. It is a small, durable, hand held wind instrument with piano keys. The instrument is played by simply blowing into the mouthpiece and pressing the keys, and has an instantly gratifying sound. Rebecca's plan is to purchase a class set of melodicas to incorporate into Snowshoe's music education curriculum. These instruments will last for many years and the mouthpieces are easy to remove and disinfect.

Constance Service teaches at Big Lake Elementary School and was awarded $1000 to help her students experience Alaska. The fourth-grade classes at Big Lake Elementary are planning an overnight field trip to Seward. The trip includes a hike to Ressurection Bay to see Alaskan landforms first hand. Students will then spend the night in the Sea Life Center and participate in two classes which cover Marine Mammal Adaptations and Cephlapods. The following day students visit the Alaska Native Heritage Museum to see authentic housing of the native cultures. The trip reinforces their science and Alaska studies curriculum.

Emily Spears, art teacher at Academy Charter, was awarded $1000 for carving tools, print surface, rollers, and matte boards for her "Printmaking for Community Development" program. K-12th grade students learned about the history and famous artists of historical and modern print-making. They created prints while journeying through the process individually of plan, draw, carve, ink, print, hang. Students work influenced them individually as well as their larger community through art show and hangings in the community. Students learned the tactile therapeutic art of printmaking with the intention of sharing the art with the community. Some of their prints are hanging in the MSBSD Adm building.

2017 Teacher Grants

• Samantha Youmans, of Houston High School, was awarded $1000 to purchase drum line drums, a marching snare drum and a marching bass drum. Drums will be used during sporting events, assemblies, local events and concerts.
  
  
• Finger Lake Elementary School was awarded $1000 for Marcy Farris’s innovative idea for a makerspace. The staff at Finger Lake uses the station rotation model in the library for blended learning to increase engagement and differentiate instructional needs for students. A makerspace is a collaborative workspace for making, learning, exploring and sharing that uses high tech and no tech tools. These spaces provide hands on learning, helps with critical thinking skills, and also expose students to skills in the fields of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM).
  
  
• Maps! Palmer High teacher Rebekah Kitchin was awarded $819 her proposal to display detailed, durable, high-quality, mural-sized maps around the school building. Mounted permanently and having a protective coating, they will be accessible to all students for years to come. Having large maps readily available and highly visible will serve to remind students of their place in the world, and enrich their understanding of cultures, ecology, and geography of our planet.
  
  
• Mary (Chrissy) Lovelace's 4th grade students at Big Lake Elementary School are studying salmon in their science curriculum and Alaska history and Native cultures in social studies. Her $1,000 grant will help fund educational activities on a field trip to Seward including an overnight stay at the Sealife Center, marine studies in Kachemak Bay, Homer, and a visit to the Alaska Native Heritage Museum on their return trip. 

Gorilla Fireworks 2017

Grant recipient Kristopher Wagoner of Houston High School was awarded $1000 for the Houston High School Spirit Shop. Business Skills students will focus on creating, marketing, and distributing items that help build the spirit of Houston High School. Students will create individual project proposals, and be granted seed money needed to carry out their plan. Students will be required to pay back their seed money before they can earn money for their account, whether that be for a sport they are involved it, a club or other on campus activity.

2016 Teacher Grants

• Michael Backus, Teeland Elementary School: $1000 grant for a IoT (Internet of Things) Smarthome for their new computers elective course. To enhance the usual computer skills such as how to type, how to send email, how to create documents, etc., the students learn programming by solving programming puzzles online, building simple apps, and programming robots.
  
  With the addition of IoT Smarthome students will learn how various sensors work, the difference between analog and digital sensors and how to use various protocols for communicating with sensors. Students will also learn to use a simple API to send/stream information to the Internet and retrieve information and commands from the Internet via a web based control panel. With IoT technology the students be able to control objects in the physical world from the Internet. They will outfit a dollhouse with electronics and turn it into a demo smarthome.
  
  
• Becky Moren, Talkeetna Elementary School: $1000 grant towards their “Project Ocean” field trip to Homer. The 4th and 5th grade five day field trip is the culmination of a 9 week long academic program that includes student initiated projects and intensive instruction in marine science and outdoor education. The academic program includes hands-on classroom projects and intensive instruction in marine science and outdoor education. The curriculum integrates math, science, reading, research, technology and PE skills.
  
  
• Sharon Johnson, Dena’ina Elementary School: $1008 grant to build a leveled library of “just right” books primarily for grades K-2. They will also be useful to the struggling reader in grades 3-5. The library will help the students become more successful readers. The books will provide young readers with a diversity of non-fiction and fiction stories. These books capture students' attention because they cover a variety of subjects and the characters are diverse. The leveled library will be used over and over again for many students, classes, and years.
  
  Fortunately, the book company is running a “buy one get one free” deal so they will be able to buy double the books.
  
  
• Connie Bamburg, Teeland Middle School: $968 grant for fidget-friendly items. Research by a number of experts supports a fidget-friendly mindset. A 2008 study found that children actually need to move to focus during a complicated mental task. The children in the study - especially those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) - fidgeted more when a task required them to store and process information rather than just hold it. This is why students are often restless while doing math or reading, but not while watching a movie. The materials would enhance the curriculum by allowing children to focus on the work required of them, while still allowing their bodies to move.
  
  Connie said the materials would allow for growing bodies to "fidget" while keeping the brain focused on what they are doing. Items include Hokki Stools, Bouncy Bands for chairs, Fidget Pencil Toppers, Balls in Bands, Air Stability Wobble Cushions, Tangle Junior Fidget Toys, and Bouncy Ball Chairs with Bases.
  
  
• Diane Clawson, Palmer Jr Middle School: $950 grant for mini quadcopters. The quadcopters will inspire students and develop problem-solving skills, logical thinking, organization, precision, inquiry, perspective, responsibility, collaboration and sportsmanship.
  
  Students spend much of the school day sitting, reading, listening, and writing. While these are excellent and necessary activities, they don't always allow genuine curiosity and hands-on investigation. Flying a mini quadcopter will bring students to the margin of their abilities and give them authentic reasons to push beyond the horizon.
  
  
• Chris Gooch, Colony High School: $1060 grant for equipment to study physics video analysis of motion. Video analysis is analyzing videos specifically for scientific purposes. In physics many phenomenon happen so fast it is impossible to observe with the human eye. By recording the video with a high definition camera, the video can be slowed down and examined to see physics in action. Rotational motion specifically is better studied with video analysis. Students are not only engaged in watching and studying motion but they are also highly engaged in capturing the video as well.
  
  This grant will allow Chris to purchase 2 GoPro Hero5 cameras, 2 GoPro 3-Way camera mounts, and 2 SanDisk 64 gig micro SD cards.
  
  
• Nicole Kelpe and Joshua Rockey, Sutton Elementary School: $1000 grant for their 5th grade field trip to the state capital. The trip will focus on government and science and will be the culmination of a yearlong study about civics and government. This great opportunity allows students to observe our states legislature in session, and meet the people who make the laws we live by. For the science portion, students will get to compare their local boreal forest to that of the non-tropical rain forest in Juneau. They will be taking a boat tour focused on marine science where they will learn about glaciers and the local sea life. Joining the class on the trip will be a local environmental educator who has been teaching weekly lessons to the class. They will have a strong base of knowledge to build from, and an expert along to guide them! This will help the students compare these two vastly different ecosystems.
  

2015 Gorilla Fireworks Grant

• Shane Artz - Houston High School
  Houston High School has a 40 student Concert Choir, 35 student Concert Band, 25 student Guitar Lab, and a 12 student Treble Choir. HHS only has 28 ergonomically designed chairs that are industry and district standard for school music programs so some students are using folding chairs. These folding chairs are too low to the ground, slippery and have strange seat and back angles that inhibit the kind of breathing necessary for playing instruments or singing. They want to purchase more chairs.
  
  Student will be using these chairs while studying music—more specifically vocal and instrumental music. Students will study a wide breadth of topics including: history, theory, composition, improvisation, rhythmic, melodic and harmonic dictation and sight-reading, performance standards, cultural, artistic context to make purposeful creative decisions in performance.

They will be purchasing 15 new Wenger student chairs.

2015 Teacher Grants

• Shelli Franckowiak - Palmer High School
  Relevant, cutting-edge 3-D printing technology will be used by art students to create original artwork. Beginning art students will design and print one-of-a-kind plastic cookie cutters which will then be used to cut shapes from clay slabs, and joined to form a sculpture. Ceramists will design and print stamps for patterning or signing clay work. IB Visual Arts students will scan pre-existing objects and distort/alter them using design software to change their meaning, and then print in plastic. This grant will help in the purchase of a MakerBot Replicator 5th Generation 3-D printer and consumable plastic filament in a variety of colors.
  
  Art students will learn technology skills needed for manipulating 3-D printer software, (Autodesk 123D) including designing artwork in 3 dimensions, modifying or distorting 3-D scans of pre-existing objects, and printing their original creations using a hard plastic filament or flexible plastic filament.
  
  
• Emily Forstner - Wasilla High School
  Journalism at Wasilla High and the Warrior Word is an on-going and growing communications course. WHS students have opportunity to work with real world applications and situations with the Warrior Word and the Mat-Su Gazette. The Warrior Word comes in print and in digital format. They also partner with CHS to quarterly produce the Mat-Su Gazette, a 16-page color newsmagazine. Additionally, they are working closely with WHS's Digital Media to produce broadcast news to be aired on Palmer Free Radio. This grant will purchase high quality cameras, lens, holster and a scanner.
  
  WHS journalists can have their writing published in 3 different sources:The Word, the weekly Frontiersman Schools Page and the Gazette. The Gazette is published quarterly in partnership with the local Frontiersman newspaper. The collaboration between business and school as well as the quality of the paper itself has gained the attention of the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Conversations have started as to how to collaborate with UAF to strengthen the students’ career and college readiness.
  
  
• Prudence Plunkett - Colony High School
  Prudence Plunkett and Trevor Townsend will donate their time to provide a one-day workshop for up to 100 students (and parents) who want to experiment with creating illuminated journal pages. The workshop combines creative writing, art, and electronics as students use copper tape, mini-LEDs and coin-size batteries to create mini-circuits on the pages of their journals. Words, art, and light make the participants' ideas come to life on the page.
  
  CHS has many students who enjoy creative writing, poetry, and art; this journal project gives them an opportunity to practice their skills while learning new ways to enhance their art. A full-day workshop provides a unique opportunity for extended learning and practice not available within the confines of the school day. It also provides a creative activity to students and parents, giving them a chance to work together on an activity that we can't offer to all students.
  
  
• Heidi Johnson - Tanaina Elementary School
  This grant will create a unique opportunity to improve the existent leveled book library. The current leveled library has a limited supply of books that are appropriate for the primary grade levels. These "just right books" can be checked out and supply students with high interest stories for their personal reading in the classroom. Teachers work hard to match books to the students’ current reading level and interests. The library will be further developed as funds become available.
  
  When students pick up a “just right” book and quickly find that they can successfully read it, their face comes alive with a new glow. Matching their current level of reading with high interest stories creates an environment where students begin devouring books. Their fluency, vocabulary and comprehension all increase by reading real books. Within our current basal reading series we have some ability to provide different levels of texts for students to read, but not to the extent we need.
  
  
• Kaye Foster - Wasilla High School
  Wasilla High School’s newly created Warrior Music Booster Club seeks start up capital to develop a sustainable fundraising operation run by students with adult supervision called "Warrior Music Coffee Cart". This Coffee/Hot Cocoa Cart will allow the Students to sell hot tasty beverages at sporting events such as football and basketball games, for many years to come in order to generate revenue which will be used for augmenting the quality of curriculum currently offered at WHS.
  
  Primarily, this activity will assist WHS's music dept. in becoming more concurrent with contemporary music academia. Students will also experience the entrepreneurial spirit firsthand by generating funds in a sustainable fashion. The independently acquired revenue will be used to make purchases such as:

  - a more complete selection of orchestral instruments,
  - updated sheet music
  - choral gowns and band uniforms
  - recording gear for capturing performances and auditions
  - compact risers
  

2014 Grant Recipients:
Teacher Grants

• Cheryl Williams - Palmer High School
  Equipment for "Unzip Your Genes", DNA and STEM Technology, $1000
  The equipment will allow students to run electroporesis gels. Gel electrophoresis separates DNA into bands or stripes, with each species or organism having a unique pattern of bands. We loved the idea of going beyond the usual in the science classes and can only imagine the spark it will generate in the students.
  
  Today's biology classroom is more than frog dissections and creepy ceramic human body models. Today's biology classroom includes DNA technology. Whether it is a serum for Ebola or a cure for genetic diseases, the opportunities are endless and exciting. The standard curriculum allows students to learn about biotechnology, but not to do it themselves.
  
  Palmer Grant Report
  
  
  
  
• Mead - Colony High School
  Media Studio Expansion, $1000
  Funds to improve the TV and audio studio space by building a free standing corner wall and deck with a light bar. Acoustical foam panels will be also purchased to allow for quality sound.
  
  The Media Studio supports a career pathway with five classes that students can take throughout their entire high school career. The studio is used, besides during these classes, by students assigned video projects by other teachers. The school's weekly radio show, Teen Talk, is expanding to other classes and schools.
  
  
• Mary Feldman - Birchtree Charter School
  Business Math Startup Funds, $1000
  The startup costs for the students' jump rope business will include two jump rope winders, skeins of yarn and startup operational supplies for advertising.We loved the idea of going beyond the classroom lessons on business math to actually use what the students are learning to run an actual business.
  
  
• Wendy Bowen - Larson Elementary School
  "The Keys to Music - A Life Long Skill", $1000
  Wendy will purchase keyboards, stands, cords and headphones for Larson's music program. She wants to give her students the opportunity to learn keyboard skills and develop a love for music and a better understanding of playing a keyboard.
  
  Wendy says that with the new keyboards, the students will learn important theory and practice of music. They will develop greater coordination and rhythm. Their ability to read and produce written music will increase. And they will open a door to their creative brain and ultimately develop an outlet for finding inner peace and satisfaction.
  
  “Keyboards are cool! If you learn basic keyboarding skills, you can transfer that to the piano. I’m really glad we got the grant! Thank you!” -Killian, 4th Grader, Larson Elementary
  
  
• Carrie Fia - Valley Pathways
  The Walking Classroom" - $1000
  Funds will be used to implement a Walking Classroom. Carrie will be purchasing ten (10) pre-loaded MP3 players at $100 each. Per Carrie, "The Walking Classroom" provides lessons on a MP3 player that students can listen to while walking with their peers. The teacher will set the stage with a short introduction and then assign a lesson to students while they are walking. On completion of the lesson, teachers have the opportunity to discuss the content with students and then give a quiz. This type of innovative program allows needed movement to kids who are struggling learners and need a variety of modalities to learn concepts.
  
  We loved this ingenious idea to combine learning with physical activity.
  

2014 Gorilla Fireworks Grant awarded to:

• Shane Artz - Houston High School
  Guitars, $1000
  For the Houston High School music program, Shane will purchase six (6) acoustic guitars and two (2) new electric guitars. The new guitars should allow a broader range of performance and competition options for the music program. Shane also said that additional guitars that are not assigned to students would be available for lunch time practice sessions, impromptu jam sessions and lunch time concerts.
  

2013 Grant Recipients:
Teacher Grant

• Kathleen Trump - Susitna Valley High School
  Romeo and Juliet Set and Costumes, $500
  When the high school burned the drama department lost everything. They will be buying sturdy theater canvas, other set materials and makeup, etc.
  Photos

"We are so grateful for the money bestowed on us from the Mat-Su School’s Foundation. Thirty-four kids participated in Romeo and Juliet and over 350 community members came to the show. That makes for a lot Shakespeare in one small town. We made enough money to be self-sufficient from now on. The best part of the experience, of course, is spending the day reading and rereading the greatest writer in the English language, and collaborating with students in an organic and holistic way. This undertaking was one of the richest of my teaching career." - Kathy Trump, Su-Valley High teacher

“After receiving the role of Juliet, I was sculpted into character by my costume designer, vocal coach, and goddess of a director. I am honored to have been given the role, and I will remember the warmth of the stage lights for many years to come.” - Senior Emily Hartley, Juliet

• Connie Bamburg - Machetanz Elementary School
  Auditory Acquisition: Listening to Learn, $380
  (6 mp3 players, headphone sets, cases, memory cards, chargers, usb cable, storage container) Connie will establish a listening center in her classroom. Mp3's will be loaded with below benchmark stories, at benchmark and above benchmark stories. Reading Street and Imagine it! curriculum will be utilized. Plus they will provide higher learners with more in-depth materials.
  
  
• Marcy Farris - Finger Lake Elementary School
  LEGO Education BuildToExpress, $500
  BuildToExpress program creates a hands-on learning environment, to illustrate how they "view" the main idea of a story or how they visualize a historic event.
  

"Thank you Mat-Su Schools Foundation! It took a while for our Legos to arrive, but they were worth the wait. My students were completely engaged the last hour of Friday afternoon-a miracle :) "

"In our first lesson, I read a short story to my students, and then I asked them to build something that would express the theme of the story. After they completed their theme construction, they shared and explained their models to their classmates. They loved it! "When can we do this again?" was asked as soon as we completed the activity. Thank you so much!" - Marcy Farris, Finger Lake Elementary 5th grade teacher

• Sharon Johnson and Samantha Artz - Goose Bay Elementary School
  Tech Savvy Listening Centers, $500
  Update all 7 1st grade classroom listening centers. Headphones and headphone splitters, & CD's.
  
  
• Jill Showman - Wasilla High School
  After School Yoga Program, $500
  Purchase of yoga straps and yoga blocks for after school yoga program for the students and community members. Donations from yoga classes will be used to help students at My House.
  
  
• Kathryn Sharp - Wasilla Middle School
  Music Exploration through Native Studies, $500 for drum kits, (skins, ties, frame)
  Students of Music Exploration class will learn how to make a traditional skin hand drum and play it. The drums will become part of WMS music department for future focus on native studies.

2013 Gorilla Fireworks Grant awarded to:

• Kathy Barney, Shari Qual, and Lisa Humphreys - Houston High School
  $1000 for a Houston High School Student Government Espresso Cart. Start up funds for supplies and building of a cart. Espresso machine to be obtained elsewhere. The benefits include money for activities, projects, dances, and special events as we as attendance awards, job and life skills, business skills, volunteer opportunities and learning experiences. Student government members will develop a peer mentor program with their special education students working to develop life skills.

2012 Grant Recipients:

• Carol Boatman – Snowshoe Elementary – Resources for parent workshops using the Parenting the Love and Logic Way
• Donna Ishmael – Pioneer Peak Elementary – Books and other materials for literacy and math family nights.
• Marcy Farris – Finger Lake Elementary – Lego machines for science & engineering experiential learning projects
• Joel Moorman – Glacier View K-12 – Soil, soil testing, and equipment for Wolverine Garden – students grow vegetables and learn about science, health, and wellness
• Michele Menzia – Midnight Sun – Vermicomposting worms develop soil in classrooms
• Brenna Reintsma and Elizabeth Palmer – Big Lake Elementary -Collaborative Occupational Therapy for Teachers – teacher training on improving students’ fine motor, visual, and sensory motor skills for reading, writing, listening, and speaking
• Connie Bamburg - Machetanz Elementary – Dictionary Divers literacy program –  materials donated from Goose Bay Elementary library
• Kelly Dau - Houston Middle School - Math materials and/or iPads

2012 Gorilla Fireworks Houston School Grant

• Isaac Moll - Houston High School - Post High School Education Transition Support, ACT & SAT test preparation software and instructional resources.

2011 Grant Recipients:

2011 Grant Recipients:
Connie Bamburg -- Fronteras Spanish Immersion Charter School -- reading "phonics      phones"
Carrie Day -- Wasilla Middle School -- after-school program materials
Diony Tribble -- Burchell High School -- robotics materials
Misty Holler -- Academy Charter School -- community portrait/biography materials
Michelle Booth -- Academy Charter School -- "Where in the World" geography      materials
Jared Schumacher -- Academy Charter School -- avalanche awareness science unit      equipment
Debbie Melton -- Machetanz Elementary -- emergent readers library books

2011 $1,000 Gorilla Fireworks Grant:
Kris Wagoner, Houston High School -- Business Professionals of America Club

2010 Grant Recipients:

MSBSD Inside News Article on some teacher grants awarded for FY10 (see page 6).

• Claudia Berkley/Glacier View, Grades 6-12, Classroom sets of Fahrenheit 451 and The  Hound of the Baskervilles with posters
• Paula Davies, Meadow Lakes Grades 1-5, Materials to make Native drums and Kuspuks for music performance
• Karen James, RN, Colony High Grades 9-12, “Fatal Vision” kit – alcohol and driving
• Barb Smith, Meadow Lakes Grade 5, Using photography as a motivational tool to understand the elements of Art
• Elizabeth Chinama, Snowshoe Elementary, Seward Sea Life Center and Resurrection Bay boat field trip
• Joe Page, Talkeetna Grades 6, “Project Ocean” – Sea Life Center and Center for AK Coastal Studies
• Carol Taylor, RN, Teeland Middle, Science Olympiad

2010 $1000 Gorilla Fireworks Grant:
Janelle Maki, Houston High School -- Graphic Novels for the Library

2009 Grant Recipients:

• Cherie Koss, Goose Bay Elementary, Purchase of Russian books
• Jenny Hoeger, Machetanz, Speech Evaluation Materials
• Jamie Kitzman, Machetanz, School Store Start Up
• Frances Graves, Tanaina Elementary, Video Equipment
• Brandy Bishop, Houston Middle School, Shakespeare Performance
• Leland Fishback, Houston Middle, Weather Recording System
• Roy Stone, Houston Middle Video Camera for Art Department
• Sean Williams, Sherrod, Lego Robotics

2010 Greenhouse Production Class
The first step: Glacier View High School students did a market analysis for what plants are in demand for the surrounding community. The data was then analyzed, a budget developed and a plan was made for producing plant starts.

The second step: the class designed and built a greenhouse using Mat-Su Schools Foundation grant funds. The greenhouse will also be utilized for science classes for students in elementary, middle and high school levels.

See greenhouse building slideshow

In the end, the students wrote a summary of their experiences. Many thought learning how to use the budge was the most meaningful part of the class. Others felt the experience of coming to a consensus was important. Lastly, the actual process of building something was new to many student. Some learned how to swing a hammer for the first time.

2009 Project Ocean - Talkeetna Elementary School

Overlooking Kachemak Bay

On behalf of the Talkeetna Elementary School 6th grade, I want to thank
you for your generous support of our 2009 Project Ocean field studies.
Thanks to your financial assistance, our students were able to experience
five wonderful days in Kachemak Bay. Thank you so much. Project Ocean Report

Joe Page, Teacher
Talkeetna Elementary School

2009 Native Alaska Drums and Kuspuks - Meadow Lakes Elementary School

Meadow Lakes Elementary School purchased material to make Eskimo drums and kuspuks to perform a musical history of Alaska to celebrate our 50th Anniversary of statehood. Performing native Alaskan songs using drums and kuspucks was a highlight for the students.

Each student at Meadow Lakes used the drums during class and we continue to use them as we learn more about the native musical culture. We were invited to sing at the Champions for Children banquet at Evangelos on May 8th where the students will get to perform with the drums and kuspucks. We are also working with the District Federal Programs to bring James Afcan out to Meadow Lakes and teach the students more about native drumming. The Miracle Dance group will be coming out to do an assembly for us at the end of the year.
As you can see, with the generous support of people like you, the students have had a hands-on learning experience that will continue to benefit them throughout their education at Meadow Lakes.

Thank you again for your support of education in the Mat-Su Valley.
Sincerely,
Paula Davies, Music Teacher
Meadow Lakes Elementary

Article from MSBSD Inside newsletter/magazine

Click to enlarge photos...

Fatal Vision Goggles for Colony High School

Thank you for the grant money that allowed me to purchase the Fatal Vision goggles for CHS. I made these available to the staff and parent and student groups. Several teachers used the goggles and accompanying data and lesson plans in their classrooms. There was an article in the school newspaper about the Fatal Vision goggles and their purpose. Featured Article in Knightly News

I have had numerous students come to me with their stories of how this program has impacted them, and other students who are curious as to what this is all about. They wanted to experience the impact of the goggles for themselves. This has created wonderful teaching moments about the effects of alcohol consumption, and some of the dangers involved. Even the students are participating in the teaching - one student presented a project to her class using the goggles and materials.

I think this was a very good use of grant money. Fatal Vision is a program that every high school would benefit from.

Karen James, RN
Colony High School

Seward Sealife Trip - Shaw Elementary School

Wow! What an adventure we had on our May 18-19, 2009 Seward
Field Trip! The weather couldn't have been more perfect and the adult-student ratio was ideal—14 adults to 26 students! ... trip details

Lynda Chud and Jana DePriest
4/5 multiage teachers at Shaw Elementary School

Click to enlarge photos...