Waukee Community Schools Foundation Board Approves $32,000+ in District Grants
During the Foundation's first grant cycle of this academic year, the Board of Directors approved over $32,000 in district grants. Plus, several other grant applications were resourced through other means, not requiring dollars to meet the needs and opportunities. Thank you to our Impact Committee, board members, and district partners who ensure this process delivers needed results for the district staff driving innovation, wellness, and belonging across the district.
Grant Highlights:
Velocity Based Trainers, technology that tracks and coaches the movement speed of weights being lifted, will be purchased and installed in Northwest High School's weightlifting room. This grant will impact all student athletes involved in strength and conditioning and all NWHS students who take Intro to Weightlifting as part of their school day. This grant aims to drive the safety and efficacy of weight training for all students who interact with the weight room.
Say Poetry, a curriculum-based spoken word poetry program in Des Moines, will be added to the roster of extracurriculars available to students at Prairieview, Timberline, Waukee Middle School, South Middle School, and Trailridge Middle School. This grant aims to increase access to alternative education opportunities and culturally-relevant extracurriculars at the middle-level buildings, a stage many students are working to find a sense of belonging in academics and social circles.
South Middle School has an organically established Film Production group and now, with a grant from the Foundation, they'll have all of the equipment they need to grow this program. South's film program aims to inspire leaders to engage in, grow, and learn from the art of filmmaking as well as share their projects with the community. This program will benefit all 900+ SMS students and their projects will reach the entire district.
The Foundation returns with its third year of support for the Mercer Leadership Program, impacting students with mentorship and academic support at select buildings. The goal of this program is to connect more students to their strengths and potential in leadership and academic excellence, while giving them the support needed to drive their positive youth development outcomes, ensuring all students are on track for on-time graduation and have a plan for their future.
Our classroom grants are in addition to the work we do through our Financial Hardship assistance. Grants are focused on new and innovative ways to engage students in the classroom and Financial Hardship funds support the immediate and critical needs of students in support of their day-to-day success in the classroom.
