This fall the D39 Educational Foundation awarded two Gripp Grants totaling $5,201.81.
One grant was awarded to the Highcrest Middle School orchestra department for StringRise instruments. The other grant was awarded to Romona Elementary for permanent and traveling communication boards. These Gripp Grants will provide innovative educational opportunities for our D39 students.
The D39 Educational Foundation awarded $952 to Highcrest Middle School for the purchase of Stringrise instruments, which are designed as pre-instruments to support the development of proper technique and posture for students in beginning orchestra. The grant covers the cost of four ½ size box violins, two ¾ size box violins, four ½ size cellos, two ¾ size cellos, one ⅛ size box bass, and one ¼ box size bass. The Stringrise instruments look, feel, and function in the same way as traditional instruments, but are significantly lighter, don’t produce sound, and include guides to help scaffold the learning process for students. This allows beginning orchestra students a new way to connect with their instrument to develop proper posture and technique which will ultimately allow students to achieve higher levels of musicianship. Congratulations to Anne Huynh McTighe, HMS orchestra teacher!
The D39 Educational Foundation also awarded $4,249.81 to Romona Elementary for the purchase of communication boards to help facilitate communication among all students. The goal with this project is to create a culture of belonging at Romona.
A communication board is a board that displays symbols, pictures, or photos that a person can use to communicate with those around them. These boards will provide students with differing language capabilities the ability to express themselves thus helping them feel included and understood. The grant includes purchasing one permanent communication board for the main playground, two removable communication boards for the kindergarten and early childhood playgrounds, and two traveling communication boards that can be moved from the cafeteria to gym and other places within the building. The communication boards represent a new and innovative model of neurodiversity affirming education, which seeks to uplift students of differing abilities and create environments that foster their growth while educating the broader community about how to adjust communication and learning styles to be inclusive of all students.
These communication boards support D39’s Statement of Inclusion which states “D39 believes inclusion plays a vital role in student growth. We are committed to providing a safe and equitable learning environment that fosters a mindset of empathy, respect, and belonging for all D39 students and staff.” Congratulations to Kristen Olsen, LBS specialist at Romona, for submitting this grant application!
