2024 Teacher Grants in Action
The Teacher Grants Program is the signature program of the APSF. To date, across 5 grant cycles, the APSF has funded programs that have the potential to impact the educational experience of over 14,000 Apex-area students annually. Each spring, grant recipients from the previous year report back to the APSF on implementation of their grant proposal. APSF volunteers have been busy reviewing data from our 2024 grant recipients and are happy to share this information with our generous supporters and Apex-area community.
Musical Exploration Through an Orff Lens
Olive Chapel Elementary School
Students impacted: 1000
Recap: This project’s goal is to provide learning opportunities that allow students to explore music creation through instrumental ensembles. Students will use communication and collaboration skills to learn, play, and create musical works as a class. The project will also allow students to develop music literacy and rhythm, and fine motor skills as they are asked to demonstrate rhythmic patterns and correct instrument playing technique.
Implementation feedback:
Higher engagement and excitement for coming to music
Improved expression of the differences in instruments
Increased retention of information regarding the technique of these instruments & how to play them
Video with Ms McConnell and OCES students using instruments
Trebuchets Away!
Apex Friendship Middle School
Students Impacted: 90
Recap: Using Pitsco Trebuchet Kits, students will learn about the inventor of the Trebuchet (Mariano Taccola), learn the difference between catapults and trebuchets (all trebuchets are catapults, but not all catapults are trebuchets), learn about momentum, build a working trebuchet, and learn how variables such as weight of projectile and angle of launch can affect launch distance.
Implementation feedback:
“Hands-on project of building trebuchets with kits engaged students in a way that written work does not”
Moving forward:
Kits will be reused for 5 years with project impact on total of 450 students
Mirrors and Windows in Diverse Classroom Libraries
Oakview Elementary School
Students impacted: 150
Recap: Books provide students with windows that offer diverse views of the world around them. These windows also allow readers to see their own lives and experiences as part of a larger human experience. Readers seek for characters in their books that mirror who they are, in return granting greater engagement in their learning. The project's mission is to provide students with books that feature culturally diverse literature honoring who they are.
Implementation feedback:
Positive influence on students’ overall awareness and appreciation of diversity
Students reading & enjoying books they likely wouldn’t have chosen on their own
Texts supported growth in fluency, comprehension, and meaningful communication around literature.
Opportunities for diverse learners to connect with characters who reflect their own lives and experiences.
Increased student engagement
Fostered a love of reading
Spicing Up Our Sensory Routine!
Apex Friendship HIgh School
Students impacted: 50
Recap: This grant proposes to fund new equipment to help upgrade and enhance AFHS PEPI program. (ECS classrooms+reg. Ed students) This is a program where students with and without disabilities come together through team sports and socialization, in which the equipment will help challenge our students while increasing participation and enjoyment. Students will get exposed to new hobbies and activities they can take with them after high school.
Implementation feedback:
Increased engagement in activities for students with fine and gross motor difficulties
The Collaboration Workshop
West Lake Elementary School
Students impacted: 585
Recap: The WLES Collaboration Workshop will consist of a well equipped classroom space at West Lake Elementary School that will serve as the homebase for a sustainable, flexible, ongoing series of vocational projects that envelope all the facets of STEM and teach practical skills that will benefit students for their lifetimes. Workshop projects could also be created to involve elements of the Social Studies curriculum. These projects will be designed to encourage collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving skills among participants.
Implementation feedback:
“The grant continues to make a significant impact on students. They have been able to use tools and techniques that were not available to them prior to the grant. Students have employed practical applications for math topics/objectives (measuring, weighing, estimating), science topics/objectives (force/motion, ecosystems, habitats), and ELA topics/objectives (creating a plan, timelines, schedule creation, proposal writing). Practical skills have been learned that the student will benefit from throughout life. Confidence has been found through the process of perseverance & trying new things.”
Community partnerships: 2 community members (a home builder and a brick mason) visited to share their expertise
Moving forward:
More workshop visitors scheduled for next school year
Projects for next school year include outdoor classroom benches, repair of a garden shed, a hypertufa experience, more birdhouses, etc...)
MCES: TV in Action
Middle Creek Elementary School
Students impacted: 50
Recap: Our 4th and 5th grade Middle Creek Elementary School TV clubs are producing a school news show to be broadcast to our school community. Students are collaborating to create an engaging, informational program.
Implementation feedback:
students worked directly with the equipment to experiment with various parts of production- scripting, directing, editing, being videotaped, etc.
All 650 students attending the school experienced the results of this work as all students view school news show
Multiple teachers across grades/subjects involved in determining content
The APSF Teacher Grant Program is driven by the generosity of our community, the creativity of our educators and the engagement of our students. Keep on innovating, Apex!