- CCMES
- DHS
- JVES
- PWL
The Minden Rotary Club has awarded grants to five Douglas County School District staff members: Angela Goff of PWL, Alicia Hill of CCMES, Pam Gilmartin of JVES, and Ethan Petite and Kelly Yost of DHS.
This generous support aims to enrich student learning through music, art, history, coding, and innovative project-based learning programs.
Angela Goff at Pau-Wa-Lu Middle School received $1,000 to ensure that every student has the opportunity to discover the universal language of music. "With this grant, we're not just fixing instruments; we're creating opportunities for our students to explore, develop discipline, and build confidence. Music is a powerful tool that inspires and unites," Angela remarked.
Alicia Hill from C.C. Meneley Elementary School was granted $1,972.93 to bring more coding robots into the classroom, making hands-on learning accessible to every child. "This grant allowed us to buy 12 more robots. Now, we can have smaller groups of one to three students programming robots to mimic water cycles and food chains. It's a game-changer for us," Alicia shared.
Pam Gilmartin at Jacks Valley Elementary School received $451.74 to support the second semester of their innovative "Explorations" program. JVES is spearheading a shift towards project-based learning with a unique twist. "We introduced 'explorations'—an hour and a half every Monday for students to dive into various passions," she explained. Teachers were encouraged to share something they're passionate about, leading to an impressive array of 26 passions including coding, robotics, sewing, theater, and cooking, to name a few. After 8 weeks of Exploration Mondays, Gilmartin observed three key outcomes: increased attendance on Mondays, heightened student motivation, and a noticeable drop in disciplinary issues. This initiative not only deepens students' engagement but also showcases the power of passion-driven education.
Kelly Yost at Douglas High School will use the $962.41 grant to transform the 500 building hallways into art galleries, showcasing students' artwork. This initiative aims to celebrate and elevate student creativity, turning everyday spaces into exhibitions of young talent.
Ethan Petite at Douglas High School utilized his grant of $335.00 to purchase a Greek Corinthian Spartan helmet for his classroom to inspire a deeper understanding and appreciation of historical cultures and warfare.
Thank you, Rotary Club of Minden, Nevada for your impactful generosity!
- DHS
- JVES
- PWL
- ccmes