Sept. 22: West Irondequoit Foundation awards three grants for 2023-2024 school year
The West Irondequoit Foundation, a non-profit organization that benefits the West Irondequoit schools, has announced three grants it has funded for the 2023-24 school year. Grants must be initiated by teachers/staff; applications are voted on by the Foundation Board of Directors. This year’s grant total is $30,152.44, increasing the amount awarded to the District since 1990 to $1,068,125. Established in 1987 to receive gifts/donations to enhance educational opportunities, the WIF raises money to underwrite grants for innovative projects, equipment and programs. It does so via an annual fundraising campaign, fundraising events, gifts, donations and more.
The Foundation’s fourth Cornhole Tournament, brought to you by Diamond Packaging, is scheduled for Friday, Sept. 29 at 6 p.m. at the Irondequoit Sports Center.
To donate to the Foundation online, click this link. The 2023-24 grants are:
Little Minds, Big World: Globes for 3rd- and 4th-grade classrooms
Globes in classrooms increase the desire for learners to be curious about the world around them. Uses for globes include promoting comprehensive and tactile learning, conceptualizing geography faster, building a deeper historical understanding, providing cross-cultural perspectives and supporting climate, weather and biome units. The globes can be used cross-curriculum within lessons, themes and units. Grant requestors: Teachers, led by Bernadette D’Amato.
Irondequoit High School Sensory Room
A sensory room creates a multi-sensory environment designed to help children use their bodies and environment to calm and organize themselves. This room will work to improve students’ mental health and confidence to give them more independence in their social, behavioral and academic abilities. Self-regulation can be a challenge for many, especially students on the autism spectrum. Self-regulation is an individual’s ability to manage emotions, energy levels, attention and behaviors. If students don’t have adequate time to interpret and manage the sensory stimulation in their environments, they can have difficulty throughout their school day. Having access to a sensory room at school will
result in better attention and increased readiness to learn at school. Grant requestors: Corrine McCarthy, Special Education Teacher; Lindsey Lasch, Special Education Teacher; Andy Casini, Occupational Therapist.
Enhancing and Updating High School Archery Unit
The grant funds the replacement of outdated archery equipment for Irondequoit HS physical education. It will bolster the current archery unit, which is an introductory unit for students, and also supports staff wellness. Many staff members enjoyed archery sessions at a recent Supt. Conference Day, exposing them to a new sport that can enhance concentration, focus and relaxation. Grant requestors: Scott Carrick, Marc Callari, Dan Fichter, Jeannine Graves, Chuck Miller, Kelly Moroni and Kimberly Schon.
Learn more about the Foundation at its website: westirondequoitfoundation.com and follow the WIF on Facebook!