OVER $441,114 GIVEN TO SUPPORT OUR SCHOOLS!

Aurora Schools Foundation offers Educational Enhancement Grants.

EDUCATIONAL ENHANCEMENT GRANTS

These grants, secured through applications, are made available to the staff of the Aurora Schools twice a year to accommodate the two semesters. Information regarding these grants, including the instructions required for the application process, is sent to the entire ACS staff via school email. The goal of these grants is to support innovative, imaginative, and creative programs, experiences, or opportunities that would not otherwise be available to the students of the Aurora Schools. This grant program is designed to enrich the student experience within the areas of ASF endorsed Pathways to Excellence which include:

Fine Arts
Communication
Value Diversity
Math/Science/Technology
Global Perspective
Leadership
Wellness
Civic Responsibility
Critical Thinking

Any individual or group seeking consideration for a Educational Enhancement Grant or interested in the criteria or application process should contact the ASF Grant Committee at grants@auroraschoolsfoundation.org or submit an online application by clicking here.

APPLICATION DUE DATES

FALL
Application Deadline – October 1
Notification to teachers – November 15

SPRING
Application Deadline – March 15
Notification to teachers – June 1

2021-2022 Fall Grant Allocation

$2,225 – Leighton Outdoor Seating: Jackie Skeels (Leighton) Leighton has an outdoor learning area that seats 16 students. Jackie Skeels has requested tables and seating to accommodate a full class for outside learning. Any class could use the space.
$2,000 – Brain Bins: Erin McBenttes and Kelly Wilk (Craddock 2^nd Grade) The second grade teachers want to begin their days with a “soft start” and they are looking for materials to create “Brain Bins” such as building blocks, interlocking cubes, Legos, etc.
$2,700 – Driving a SPIKE into an Engineering Future: Shannon Gagel (Leighton) This grant is for six LEGO Spike prime robots to replace outdated rec club robots (over 12 years old).
$250 – Maximizing Intervention/Therapy Time by Use of Paging System: Pam Altman, Crystal Wise (Craddock Intervention) Students who need to leave their home classroom to receive therapies with a specialist don’t know when to leave because they can’t tell time. This grant is for a basic pager system to alert students it is time for their therapy.
$875 – Sensory Paths for Student Wellness: Lindsey Ambrosia (Craddock) This grant is for giant floor stickers (sensory paths) to adhere to the floors at Craddock to give students the opportunity to access a sensory/movement break that is self directed. Allows students to reset their bodies and minds and self-regulate.
$2,445 – Math Fluency Kits: Cara Morelos (Craddock/Leighton) This grant is for math fluency kits in Craddock and 3rd and 4th grade. Craddock currently has seven kits which were funded by the Curriculum Office and they have been very well received. The grant asks us to complete the Craddock set (3 kits) and requests kits to pilot multiplication and division kits in 3rd and 4th. These kits are not online math programs but more hands on tools for learning math facts.
$4,000 – Matching Books to Interests: Innovation through Non-Fiction: Jen Miller (Craddock) This grant is to supply all Craddock classroom with non-fiction books that pique the interest of young readers. Students would have a say in which books were selected for their classroom. Students would have opportunities to present and share what they’ve learned from these new books.

2022 Grant Allocation for Spring

$549 – Enhancing Roman Legacies through STEM building: Noah Goodman (Harmon)

This grant is for a Lego Colosseum set for the 7th grade. The idea is that the set would be built by the social studies classes and enjoyed for years to come.

$5,000 – New Lightboard for AHS Auditorium: Rob Albrecht (Entire District)

The AHS drama club is looking to upgrade the lightboard in the auditorium. The current lightboard doesn’t have enough outputs to create lighting displays that are up to current standards. This grant is approved with additional funding from the Alumni Association and Student Council.

$1,800 – National SAVE Promise Club Youth Summit: Melissa Foster (High School)

The SAVE Promise Club (Students against violence everywhere) at AHS educates students on staying safe from gun violence, suicide,and mental health issues by teaching inclusivity to be “upstanders versus bystanders.” This grant is for the travel and accommodations for 2-3 students to travel and attend the 2023 summit to keep the AHS program going after the current ambassador graduates.

$495 – “The Story Of….” Biography Museum: Jennifer Bindus (Leighton)

This grant is for a full set of third grade biography books called, “Story Of…” book for Mrs. Bindus’ team. They give students choice, voice, and consistency in selecting biography study materials.

$960 – AP Human Geography VR Headsets: Nicholas Kukarola (High School)

This grant is for three Oculus headsets for high school geography and history. They would provide immersive experiences into all areas of learning about world cultures, geographies, and populations.

$2,340 – Making Learning FUN – PE and Recess: Stacey Slackford-Barnes (Miller)

This grant is for super stickers, stencils and roll-out activities at Miller. The stencils are for the playground. The stickers are for the gym, hallways, and brain break areas.

$700 – Cardio Drumming: Music & PE: Katherine Lauson-Iriarte (Miller)

This grant is a collaboration between PE and Music to pilot cardio drumming at Miller and then roll out to Craddock and Leighton as well. Cardio drumming gets kids outside to play games involving both movement and rhythm.

$835 – Literacy with Focus on Equity & Inclusion: Barb Kudley and Lindsey Ambrosia (Miller/Craddock)

This grant is for Diversity and Inclusion themed books for Miller and Craddock libraries.

$3,580 – Art Demonstration video setups for district wide art classes: Leigh Jacobson (Entire District)

The art departments had to get creative during covid with how to teach art. Mrs Jacobson created her own demonstration system using homemade lighting and camera system. Now that students are back at school, she uses the system to show students up-close on a TV in the classroom what she is creating. She says the system has revolutionized how she teaches and as the head of the department, she has shown the other schools’ art teachers what she created and they want to incorporate it as well.