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Strategic Innovation Grants

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Background

The grant program supports teachers who create proposals for projects that support deeper learning. The grants are provided by the Goochland Education Foundation and projects are selected by a team of volunteer judges.

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2017-18 Grants and Awardees

Byrd Cam – Jermelle Dandridge (BES), Megan Donovan (BES), Sandy Wilcox (BES)

This project will provide students with the opportunity to care for animals, experience firsthand the origin of food, and learn about the life cycle through hands-on activities.

Come Grow with Me: The Best is Yet to Be – Sarah Brown (GES), Amanda Brownson (GES), Donna Dickerson (GES), Leslie Stanley (GES), Wendy Travis (GES)

Students will explore and create “naturescapes” on the school playground through activities like gardening and composting.

Crank Up the Music – Annelise Ware (BES/GES), Kim Watts (BES/GES)

Students will design, develop, and build an automated musical instrument.

Goochland on the Green – Beth Ferguson (RES), Jennifer Gates (RES), Katie Hadd (RES), Christian Mock (RES), Suzanne Taylor (RES)

This project will take students on a journey into the five districts of Goochland County, including a showcasing of Goochland’s Courthouse Green.

Grow Right, Eat Right – Jay Brockman (GMS), Happy Krickovic (GMS)

Students will design, construct, and utilize raised beds in the Goochland Middle School courtyard in order to grow plants connected to the school-wide project completed last school year in association with the GMS’s 2016 Partners in the Arts grant.

Hummingbird Robotics – Joe Beasley (GES), Nicole Carter (GES), Sarah Prusinowski (GES), Amanda Steeley (GES)

Students will work in teams to design and build their own inventions using materials such as motors and circuits.

Kindergartners as 21st Century Authors – Whitney Neiditch (RES), Jaime Sprouse (RES), Maryanne Tysinger (RES)

This project will leverage instructional technology to help students produce self-directed electronic books.

Low Ropes Challenge Course – Wes Farkas (GHS), Jason Funkhouser (GHS)

Students will design and construct a low ropes challenge course that will be used by a variety of student and community groups for years to come.

Maker Mondays – Tanya Elliott (BES), Holly Swift (BES)

Byrd Elementary School will host a family S.T.E.A.M. night (science, technology, engineering, art, mathematics) the first Monday of each month.

Project Guardian – Bryan Doppel (GHS)

This project asks students to become archaeologists in the creation of their own newly discovered civilization.

Reading Around the Courtyard – Lisa Creasey (BES), Cheryl Johnston (BES), Zoe Parrish (BES)

Students will work in cross-grade-level teams to develop an interactive story by using Byrd Elementary School’s courtyard as the setting.

The Science of Sound – Alden Blevins (RES), Jennifer Eastwood (RES), Stacey Wilson (RES)

Students will participate in the development and construction of a marimba instrument under the guidance of a professional musical clinician.

The Spring 2017 Symposium

This past year we concluded this effort through a two-day professional development symposium on June 6 & 7, 2017. During this event, winners of these grants came together to share what they learned, collaborate on new ideas focused around deeper learning, and share how their risk-taking can be implemented in regular instructional programming.

We spent the second day in the city of Richmond on Segways and conducting a photo walk!

What are the grants for?

Students Minecraft

Imagine you always wanted to try something, but the cost involved made the dream impossible. We want the members of Team Goochland to think outside the box, to design truly engaging learning experiences for our students. More than likely, you’ll have an idea for a cool G21-style project, and want to use a resource that is not currently available. In short, these grants are to be used on learning experiences for students. The committee reviewing applications will provide higher point values to applications that articulate how the money will be spent to promote a project-based learning experience and horizontal collaboration at the school level between classrooms. Vertical collaboration experiences spanning elementary, middle, and high will receive the highest point values. The other consideration about your idea(s) is sustainability. Is this a “single shot to the moon” type experience, or is it something we might test out now, and continue as a new tradition in the future?

GHS Student Presentation

What is the timeline?

The application opens on August 15, 2017 and closes on September, 15, 2017. The grant application takes place through the Goochland Education Foundation.

Can you give me some ideas on how I could spend this money?

We’d really like you to come up with something that hasn’t been thought of yet! But the following things might give you some ideas:

  • special software or apps
  • books
  • travel
  • guest speakers
  • tech accessories
  • tools
  • materials or supplies
  • ???

Student Costume

Where do I apply?

All the information is on the Goochland Education Foundation website.

Students