On a particularly chilly night perfectly suited for paddle tennis, the District 39 Educational Foundation held its first ever Paddle Classic on Saturday, March 12th, from 7-10 pm at the Wilmette Platform Tennis Club. This was the first in-person event sponsored by the foundation since the start of the pandemic and it was a great success! After two years of virtual events, it was a joy to mingle with fellow district parents while supporting the foundation’s mission.
[Read more…] about Paddle Classic 2022Celebrating the Unexpected & Rewarding Moments During Covid-19
In the spring of 2021, the D39 Educational Foundation launched Silver Lining Project. D39 students and families were asked “What is your Silver Lining?” The goal was to find and share the positive amongst the unknown of COVID-19.
[Read more…] about Celebrating the Unexpected & Rewarding Moments During Covid-19Foundation Awards Two Spring Gripp Grants
Two Spring Gripp Grants totaling $8,705 were awarded to 12 teachers, library professionals, and administrators, which will positively impact every student in the District by addressing needs encompassing those resulting from the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Virtual Bingo Night Was A Success!
The District 39 Educational Foundation’s 7th Annual Bingo Night — and the Foundation’s first ever virtual event — was held on Saturday, February 6th. Sponsored by North Shore Community Bank, the event looked a little different this year, held on an especially chilly and snowy winter evening when staying home was a blessing.
[Read more…] about Virtual Bingo Night Was A Success!Gripp Grants Enable New Ways to Experience the Digital World
Thanks to a D39 Educational Foundation Gripp Grant, we have brought innovative technology to our schools, allowing students to imagine and create in a three-dimensional world. Apps such as Tinkercad and CoSpaces empower kids to design and interact with structures and spaces using virtual modeling and programming. Merge Cubes bring augmented reality to the classroom by letting students hold virtual 3D objects in the palms of their hands. The future is here at D39, thanks to your support.
Visit d39foundation.org to learn more about Gripp Grants, make a donation to our Annual Appeal, and help support our D39 teachers and students.
Fall 2020 Gripp Grant Awarded to Romona!
Kristin Johnson, Early Childhood LBS teacher, Elizabeth Foley, Early Childhood LBS teacher, Stacy Levine, Kindergarten teacher (Romona), Kristen Olsen, Comprehensive LBS (Romona), Stephanie Boron, Early Childhood SLP, Cindy Anderson, Principal (Romona), Lisa Anderson, Assistant Principal (Romona), and Amanda Barton, Early Childhood Coordinator, received a grant to build an all-seasons outdoor classroom to be used by the District’s Early Childhood program, as well as Romona Elementary students in grades K-2. The wooden structure will take the form of a cafe including a “mud kitchen”, dining area, and work table, and will be called the Romona Mud Cafe. The goal of this project is to provide a space that allows students a year-round, nature-rich environment to learn through play-based, imaginative, and collaborative experiences. In addition, the space can be used for curriculum based lessons and will be universally accessible to the diverse community of students at Romona.
Gripp Grants Making It Easier for Students to Stay in Shape!
Educational Foundation announces a $3,000 gift to District 39 to support implementation of SORA
The Board of Trustees of the District 39 Educational Foundation proudly announces a $3000 gift to District 39 to support the implementation of SORA – the Student Reading App, from Overdrive.
Gripp Grants Fuel Innovation and Creative Learning
Trivia Night 2020
The District 39 community never fails to impress with their clever Trivia Night team themes and costumes as well as their amazing trivia skills! This proved true again at our 8th annual Trivia Night fundraiser on Saturday, February 1st at St. Joseph School in Wilmette.
[Read more…] about Trivia Night 2020Foundation Awards Over $17,000 In Spring Gripp Grants!
Five Spring 2020 Gripp Grants totaling $17,104 were awarded to 12 teachers, positively impacting students and inspiring learners at each of the District 39’s six schools.
Bonny Skutch, Differentiation Specialist Teacher at Central, received a grant to bring Tang Math ‘Math Mania Days’ to each of the District 39 schools, which will be co-funded by the district. Math Mania Days will provide an immersive full day experience at each school for students, teachers and parents in the 2020/21 school year and will include: student assemblies, materials for teachers and students, professional development training for teachers, and family math nights led by Greg Tang. The goal of this program is to enhance mathematical fluency for students, develop best practices for teaching math fluency for teachers, and educate parents about how to support math fluency at home.
Learning Behavior Specialists, Julia Ryan (Romona), Kristen Olsen (Romona), Jen Archer (Central), Amanda Kahana (Central), Nate Rahn (McKenzie) and Cori Piper (McKenzie) received a grant to purchase 37 curriculum tasks from ‘Shoe Box Tasks’. These task boxes will allow students with low incidence disabilities to have access to instruction that is systematic, direct and conducive for academic growth. In addition, task boxes can be used in inclusion opportunities with peers.
Jessie Kerber, 4th grade teacher at Harper, and the fourth grade team at Harper will pilot The Nora Curriculum for the 2020/21 school year as a possible social emotional learning (SEL) program for the district. The goals of this SEL curriculum are to promote inclusion and empathy in the classroom in a rich, involved, hands-on, regular basis through consistent curriculum throughout the school year.
Andrea Dwenger, 7th grade math teacher, and Jennifer Wood, 8th grade math teacher, received a grant to transform the math office space connected to their shared classroom. The Math Zen Den will provide a more relaxing space for small group testing, reteaching and when students need a break to refocus and relieve anxieties associated with math assessments. Students actively participated in the designing of the space.
Nicole Martin, 2nd grade teacher at Romona, and Sammi Zauner, teacher for the visually impaired , received a grant to install a specialized Braille Panel and Braille Labels for the planned new playground at Romona School. The Braille Panel and Labels will promote inclusion with all students while in social settings. In addition, the Braille Panels and Labels would be used during lessons on Helen Keller and for disability awareness activities.
Foundation Donates $5,000 To District’s Angel Fund To Help D39 Families In Need
In April 2020, the Foundation donated $5,000 to the District’s Angel Fund. This fund provides qualifying families facing hardship with financial support to cover a variety of needs (school lunch, transportation costs, extracurriculars, etc.) but during the COVID-19 crisis, the fund is being directed to support food stability and Remote Learning resources. Donations can be made securely through this link: https://wilmette.
There Was Lots To Share And Learn At LAB39 Open House
Current students, prospective students and community members gathered at the WJHS Cafeteria on Saturday, February 22nd to see what LAB39 students had been doing since December. They were amazed at all they saw!
[Read more…] about There Was Lots To Share And Learn At LAB39 Open HouseHallway Sensory Path Encore Gripp Grant Awarded in November to McKenzie School
Congratulations to Paula Lundell, McKenzie School OT, for the Encore Gripp Grant awarded to her for a hallway sensory path. Encore Grants are awarded for Foundation-funded projects that have previously been successful within D39 schools. In this case, sensory paths were awarded to each D39 elementary school last spring and are being used by students in each school with great success. McKenzie’s hallways were carpeted at that time so a sensory mat was purchased to use in the school’s motor room. Now McKenzie School has new linoleum hallways and is ready to have the same sensory path experience for its students. This Encore Grant will allow McKenzie students to benefit from a path that engages them in a sensory motor activity during transitions.
“Attire to Inspire” Fashion Show Wowed The Crowd!
Our sixth annual “Attire to Inspire Fashion Show” was standing room only at the Westmoreland Country Club on November 13th. A new venue provided the setting for some fun twists to this event. Featured fashion ran the gamut from casual to high style.
What A Sensational Night at Family Bingo Friday, October 4th!
With winners galore and prizes for all, our sixth annual Family Bingo Night was a blast!
Players young and older packed the Highcrest Middle School cafeteria for an evening of many different bingo games. Families also enjoyed JP McCarthy’s pizza and salads from The Noodle. Thank you to these local restaurants for their partnership.
Many thanks to everyone who joined in the fun and helped us raise money for the D39 Educational Foundation Gripp Grants which provide innovative, outside-of-the-box learning opportunities for students in all six district schools.
Foundation Contributes $42,000 to District Schools for Innovative Classrooms
The District 39 Educational Foundation Board voted on May 15th to approve a donation towards the Board of Education’s strategic planning initiative to outfit innovative classrooms in all six D39 schools. A total of $42,000 will be donated — $6,000 earmarked for each elementary school, $9,000 for Highcrest Middle School, and $9,000 for Wilmette Junior High School.
Two Spring 2019 Gripp Grants Awarded
Cheri Bridge and Jill Forti, Technology Specialists at WJHS, were awarded a grant to purchase 29 MERGE cubes to support the initiation of the D39 Augmented Reality program, which builds upon the existing Virtual Reality program. MERGE cubes allow students to visualize complex systems by turning 3D models into a virtual object that students can manipulate, allowing them to better ‘experience’ the content they are studying.
All four elementary schools will benefit from the grant for Sensory Paths to be installed in each of the schools. A Sensory Path is an organized course typically placed in a school hallway that encourages a routine, predictable motor break and provides students with an additional place to take ‘brain breaks’ during the school day. This grant was a collaborative effort involving 10 staff members, namely: Elyse Adamo (Romona LBS), Michelle Mermelstein (Romona OT), Lindsey Barnes (Romona Early Childhood OT), Gabrielle Young (Romona 1st Grade Teacher), Muffy Pinney (Harper Librarian), Anne Clark (Harper LBS), Emma Hearty (Central LBS), Kathleen Peth (Central PE Teacher), Andrea Zito (Central Nurse), Paula Lundell (McKenzie OT).
“Empowered to Be Yourself” Creative Self Portraiture Photography Project
On June 4th, WJHS students displayed creative self portrait photographs at a public art show and wowed viewers with their captivating images. They should all be very proud! The D39 Educational Foundation’s SAM Arts Fund sponsored the project for WJHS students.
[Read more…] about “Empowered to Be Yourself” Creative Self Portraiture Photography ProjectWilmette Pub Crawl Success Leads to $4,070 Gift to Foundation
The Wilmette Pub Crawl on Thursday, May 16th was a great success with perfect weather this year!
It was be a fun night to meet friends and enjoy Wilmette dining and bar establishments.
Many thanks to the Wilmette Pub Crawl founders, Ted Zaller and Peter Lipsey, for the $4,070 gift they bestowed upon the D39 Educational Foundation. We are very grateful for your support.