SOCES PTA has awarded 12 teacher grants totaling nearly $9,000 to support students’ academic, developmental and social emotional growth at William O. Schaefer Elementary School and Cottage Lane Elementary School!
“Teacher grants are a direct way that SOCES PTA can support our teachers and staff, and in turn, our students,” said SOCES PTA President Andrea Kheocha-on. “We love seeing the innovative ways our teachers use the grants to enhance the education, support, culture and overall community for our students and district. We are so fortunate and proud to be able to award teacher grants, which would not be possible without the support from our parents and community. Congratulations to all of this year’s recipients!”
William O. Schaefer Elementary School Kindergarten teacher Liane Kolesar wrote a grant requesting funds to provide all kindergarten classes with “connectors,” which are colorful, interlocking disks that students can use to build. This morning, her kindergartners were busy constructing a variety of creations, including giraffes, windmills and spaceships.
“Due to pandemic safety protocols, we had to remove shared stations–play kitchens, easels and blocks–from kindergarten classrooms. With the SOCES PTA Teacher Grant, we were able to order six connector kits per classroom, which provides each child with 40-50 pieces of their own to use. Connectors facilitate problem-solving, fine motor skill development and creative play and kindergartners have multiple opportunities throughout their day to use them,” Kolesar explained.
Teacher Grant recipients and their projects will be highlighted as supplies arrive and projects launch in the weeks ahead. Stay tuned!
