On March 21, 2023 at a virtual meeting of the Currituck Education Foundation, four projects supporting Currituck County Schools were awarded mini-grant funding.
Jennifer Barnes of Central Elementary School was awarded a grant for the “Word Mapping – The Science of Reading” to purchase interactive and engaging materials for word mapping activities, backed by the Science of Reading and our LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) training which we are currently engaged in throughout the county. Examples of materials: Sound Phoneme Mirrors with Speech Pictures, Word Mapping Paddles, Push Pop Bubble Squares, Magnetic Wands and Chips. Our goal for this grant is to increase student performance at Central Elementary School, which is currently a low socioeconomic and low performing school. We are looking for ways to engage the students and close reading gaps.
Shelly Haskell of Knotts Island Elementary School was awarded a grant for “Purple Star Military Families Library” to purchase 2 military book sets that help elementary students explore and understand our various military branches. “Military Families” has titles like “My Mom is in the Navy” and helps younger readers understand different jobs in the various military branches. “Inside the Military” introduces young readers to military vehicles, including information about how they are used, the history of military vehicles and what is planned for military vehicles in the future. This set is also valuable to those who have family working in the shipyards. Other titles we would like to add are a few picture books that show kids dealing with deployment. These books will allow all students to explore more about our military services, and perhaps encourage future career choices.
Sue Walker Boone of JP Knapp Early College High School was awarded a grant for “Lego of your Worries Wall” to purchase the green Lego bottom plates and the Lego building packs. A Lego building wall will also be constructed. The Office of Student Services/School Counseling Services has seen an increase in anxiety as well as other mental health issues in students this school year. This trend is nationwide. We have started a “relax your mind” area in the Media Center using puzzles, fidgets and coloring posters. We would like to incorporate a “Lego of your Worries Wall” into this area.
Valerie Person of Currituck County High School was awarded a grant for “Coming Full Circle: Seniors Write a Customized Children’s Book for a CCS First Grader” project where CCHS Seniors in English IV partner with Knotts Island Elementary School first graders to interview, design and write customized books for each first grader. Because there are more seniors than first graders, we will actually present text sets to each first grader. These text sets will address interdisciplinary needs with a variety of genres (fiction, informational, verse, etc.) for the first grader. This grant will fund the cost of the Barebooks, illustration materials, bus driver costs to take the field trips to each school and the cost of cupcakes/decorations at the grand finale celebration. This mini-grant was sponsored by Sharon United Methodist Women (Poplar Branch).