Grants
The Nelson County Education Endowment Fund, Inc. made its first grant awards with the opening of the 2001-2002 school year. Four projects were funded.
By the end of the 2007-2008 school year, 105 grants had been awarded to enhance the education of the children of Nelson County.
Grants approved for 2008-2009 included the following:
Bloomfield Elementary School
“Cultural Awareness Day,” Awarded $700, Students in grades K - 5
The goal of this project is to raise awareness, acceptance and respect for cultural differences through a school-wide cultural study. Students will learn through research, but also be active participants through music, clothing, language, etc.
Bloomfield Middle School
“Reading/Writing/Fables,” Awarded $1,000, Students in grade 7
This project brings Richard Albin back to BMS to work with students on their creative writing. Mr. Albin’s one-week workshop will concentrate on idea development, an area that continues to need improvement in students’ portfolio pieces.
“Global Positioning System,” Awarded $3,000, Students in grade 8
Use of 15 GPS units will allow eighth-grade students to work in pairs to download information from 24 satellites orbiting the Earth, displaying earth science information such as latitude, longitude, elevation, maps and points of interest, etc. This project will integrate math, science and social studies as well as language arts, using high-interest, hands-on technology.
“World History Day,” Awarded $500, Students in grade 7
Students will create artifacts, native foods and costumes from various periods of history, with identifying documentation, to be exhibited in the Bloomfield Middle World History Museum. The unit of study will culminate in a “World History Day” during which a variety of activities will take place.
“Operation Montserrat,” Awarded $625, Gifted Students in grade 8
Students will participate, via the internet, in a simulated Challenger E-Mission. This project specifically targets gifted students.
“Historical Quilts,” Awarded $400, Students in grade 8
Students will practice math/geometry skills, study history, and use their artistic abilities to design and make their own quilts. This is an enrichment project for the fourth-quarter of the 2008-2009 school year.
“Functional Theater Art,” Awarded $300, Students in grade 8
As part of a study of the history and origins of theater, students will be able to create their own masks, providing a hands-on learning opportunity as one component of this unit of study.
Nelson County High School
“Mini Language Lab,” Awarded $1,644, Students in grades 9 - 12
The goal of this project is to challenge students who excel in target languages (French and Spanish) and increase their speaking proficiency. Three desktop computers, three Rosetta Stone software packages and three headsets with attached microphones will be purchased.
“Numb3rs@NCHS,” Awarded $1,000, Students in grades 11 - 12
This project will integrate math and writing by creating a monthly periodical focusing on pop culture and current events at NCHS.
“We’re All in This Together,” Awarded $700, Students in grades 8 - 12
Students from marching band, cheerleaders, pom squad and dance team will prepare and perform in an integrated half-time program to promote school spirit and collaboration between extracurricular groups. Costs include musical score, costumes and rehearsal materials.
Old Kentucky Home Intermediate School
“2Know! Classroom Response,” Awarded $2,000, Students in grades 4 - 5
This system allows teachers to gather immediate, specific knowledge of students’ understanding of lessons. Teachers can create questions and have students answer by “clicking,” enabling them to immediately target those students who do not understand materials just presented and to develop specific interventions or plan more enriching materials for students who do understand the concepts. This can be used with any subject material.
Old Kentucky Home Middle School
“Bridge to Learning,” Awarded $750, Students in grades 6 - 8
Construction of a walkway/bridge over the OKHMS outdoor classroom wetlands will provide access for students to chart animal/plant succession, document their observations through writing, art and photography without disturbing the habitat.
“Teaching Through Technology,” Awarded $378, Students in grade 8
Purchase of the Ken Burns series The Civil War, Baseball and Lewis and Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery will give students the opportunity to gain additional understanding of the historic times, supplementing current materials with “first person” types of accounts of historic events.
Joint Project: New Haven School and Boston School
“On the Road to Learning,” Awarded $2,000, All grade levels
Summer learning opportunities will be provided, connecting families to the participating schools, with a focus on intervention. Target areas will be county areas with limited resources and limited summertime activities. A van full of instructional activities will hit the road, going to the target areas weekly for eight weeks during the summer of 2008. At-risk students will be invited to participate.
